Taramati

Who Taramati is

Taramati, also called Shaibya, was the queen of King Harishchandra. When her husband, to keep his word to the sage Vishvamitra, gave up his kingdom and had nothing left to pay the promised fee, she asked him to sell her, and she and her son were sold as servants. She bore that hardship without complaint. When her son died of a snakebite and she brought him to the cremation ground where her husband now worked, she offered her own garment as the fee — and the gods appeared to reward their truth.

“I gave up everything for truth. A pawn or two is nothing to me.”

How Taramati plays chess

Sacrifice and fortitude: gives material willingly and never loses heart.

The Classicist: Sound, balanced chess: develops, castles and takes what the position offers.

Opening repertoire: Benko Gambit, Fianchetto · Queen's Gambit Accepted, Alekhine · Vienna Gambit, Steinitz

Defeat Taramati in a full game from the normal starting position to earn the achievement Truth Rewarded and open the way to the next guardian.

Sources

• Markandeya Purana
• Devi Bhagavata Purana

Placement on the path reflects chess difficulty only — a game-design choice, not a ranking of anyone's spiritual standing.