108

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Camp: ISKCON Durban, Beachfront Jaganath Rathayatra Festival, South Africa

 

> Hare Krishna! All glories to the trancendental sound vibrations of the

> Maha Mantra and to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for delivering us this yuga

> dharma. My question is in regard to the meaning of 108 as an auspicious

> number.I have always received the answer that there are 108 principle

> gopis.Seeing that 108 is also an auspicious # in buddhism I feel that 108

> gopis may be a symptom of some deep metaphysical explination of the

> meaning of 108 and not necessarily the sole cause of it's auspicious

> reputation.No disrespect intended to the gopis.Do you have any insight

> toward any other possible explinations as I have been seeking?

> thank you for your wonderful forum,helping to keep me absorbed in Krishna

> bhava.A most fallen soul seeking water in this desert,bhakta chad

 

I had already answered this. Also Bhanu Swami has written:

 

> numerological 108 is a combination of 2x 2, 3x3 x3, which is somewhat

> symmetrical. The other explanation I can think of is the one that sadaputa

> has given for its significance as a constant in measuring the

> circumference of the earth. 108 times x = circumference of earth. It is

> also a constant in distancese of earth from other planets. Why it is so

> we dont know. It is also probably significant in cellular structure, but

> that would have to be investigated.