Why 108 is So important for Hindus | How the Number 108 Binds Us to the Universe | What’s So Sacred About the Number 108?
There are 108 mala on a string
Traditionally, mala—garlands of prayer beads—come as a string of 108 beads (plus one for the “guru bead,” around which the other 108 beads turn like the planets around the sun), notes Rae. A mala is used for counting as you repeat a mantra—much like the Catholic rosary.
Mathematicians and 108
Rae notes that renowned mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence. This number also connects the Sun, Moon, and Earth: The average distance of the Sun and the Moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters. Such phenomena have given rise to many examples of ritual significance.
108 and the Sanskrit Alphabet
The Sanskrit alphabet is also part of why this number is so significant in yoga. The sanskrit alphabet is comprised of 54 letters. Each letter in the alphabet has both a masculine (Shiva) and feminine (Shakti) energy. 54 multiplied by these two energies is 108.
108 in mystical traditions and numerology
Numbers can be seen as messengers. When the number 108 appears in our life it may mean that we are about to attain a long-desired goal or achievement. The number 108 consists of the individual numbers 1, 0 and 8. The number 1 represents authority and leadership. It also represents new beginnings, taking initiative, and embarking on a new path of progress.
The number 0 is a mysterious one in that it represents both nothingness and eternity, but when combined with other numbers it will amplify the vibrational influence of the other numbers.
The number 8 is related to power and influence, abundance and achievement and the power to manifest desired outcomes. When this vibration becomes dominant in our lives we can expect to wield a great amount of influence in the chosen area of interest or in our professional lives.
During a puja, have you ever chanted a mantra for ten minutes or 25 times? Probably not! You may recall being told to recite it 108 times. Many Hindus have some form of 108 in their passwords, in their mobile numbers and license plates. Companies have made great marketing plans and logos with 108. But why is 108 viewed as holy? The answer, just like every other answer you will get from your parents, is that it lies in math and science. Vedic sages, pre-dating modern mathematical formulas, had it all figured out! According to Vedic cosmology, 108 is the basis of creation, represents the universe and all our existence. In Hinduism, we believe that outer cosmology should mirror our inner spirituality because our ultimate realization is that we are one in the same. It is said that the number 108 units represent the distance between our body and the God within us.
https://dai.ly/x8ekrcdwe have 108 marma points (vital points of life forces) in our body. So, this is why all mantras are chanted 108 times because each chant represents a journey from our material self towards our highest spiritual self. Each chant is believed to bring you 1 unit closer to our god within. 108 has significance in meditation as well. There are said to be 108 styles of meditation. In pranayama, the yogic practice of regulating breath, it is believed that if an individual can be so calm as to only breathe 108 times in one day, enlightenment will be achieved. Furthermore, an average person is said to breathe 21,600 times in a 24-hour period. Half, 10,800, are solar energy (breaths during day), and the other half is lunar energy (breaths during night). 100 multiplied with 108 equals 10,800. Also, in Kriya yoga, the maximum number of repetitions per session is said to be 108.
Hindus also believe our body contains seven chakras, starting at the top of the head and ending at the base of the spine. Each chakra is said to be an energy center within our body. The heart chakra, located at the exact center of the chest, is associated with transformation and love energy. It is believed that opening this energy center will lead to joy and compassion. The heart chakra is said to have 108 nadi (energy lines) that converge to form this energy center. Also, in Hinduism there are 108 Upanishads, the sacred texts of wisdom from ancient sages. Additionally, in the Sanskrit alphabet, there are 54 letters. Each letter has a feminine, or Shakti, and masculine, or Shiva, quality. 54 multiplied by 2 equals 108. These reasons explain why Hindus considered 108 holy. However, other religions recognize the mystical power of 108 as well. In Buddhism, for example, there are said to be 108 Earthly desires, 108 lies, and 108 delusions of the mind. This illustrates that the power of 108 has permeated into Eastern philosophies, but it does not stop there. In fact, 108 is not exclusive to religion, as it appears in our natural world.
https://www.jyotishgher.in108 can be noticed with the approximate relationships the Sun, Earth, and Moon. The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of Earth. The distance from the Sun to Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun. The distance from the Earth to Moon is 108 times the diameter of the moon. Lastly, there are 12 astrological houses and 9 planets. 12 multiplied by 9 equals 108. Additionally, 108 is associated with the River Ganga and Stonehenge. River Ganga spans a longitude of 12 degrees (79 to 91) and latitude of 9 degrees (22 to 31). 12 multiplied by 9 equals 108. Stonehenge’s diameter has been measured to be 108 feet in diameter. Lastly, 108 is a Harshad number. Such a number is an integer divisible by the sum of its digits. In Sanskrit, harsa means “joy” and da means “give”. Thus, Harshad translates to “joy giver.” No wonder the Cubs experienced the joyous moment of winning the World Series for the first time in 108 years!
