Type of Ganjifa Cards

The nava-gunjara (Vishnu in the composite form

of nine animals), inspired from Ramayana.

The nava-gunjara (Vishnu in the composite form

of nine animals), set of 16 colours

The Dashavatar set, 16 colours

The Kamasutra set, 52 cards.

The Dashavatar Set, 4 colours with the box

The Dashavatar Set, 52 cards

The nava-gunjara (Vishnu in the composite form

of nine animals), 8 colours

The Dashavatar Set, 52 colours

The Mughal Set, mughal- wazir n shah

The mughal Set from late 18th century,

shows servants, gold coins, flowers

The Ganesh Set

The nava-gunjara (Vishnu in the composite form

of nine animals), one colour has 12 cards

The Dashavatar Set,12 colours

Dasavatara Ganjifa

Ganjifa cards were usually hand-painted. This version was printed chromo-lithographically by the Chitrasala Press in around 1950. Ten suits of twelve cards, each suit is based on one of the ten incarnations of Vishnu. An upper court card, Raja, a lower court card, Pradhan or Mantri, and ten numerals in each suit. Suits are: Matsya (fish), Kurma (turtle), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (lion), Vamana (water pot), Parashurama (axe), Rama (bow & arrow, or monkey), Krishna (quoit or cow), Buddha (conch) and Kalkin (sword or horse).

120 Cards, 2¾" in diameter, printed by Chitrasala Press, Pune, around 1950 with either black, red or white backs.

All of the Pradhans are shown riding on white horses (middle row). The God Vishnu is shown on the

Raja cards (top row).