108

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Significance of 108 was previously discussed here a couple of times. Here is

some material I copied into a file at that time:

 

There are many explanations given for the mystic number 108,

and its use in a japa-mala [rosary].

 

One is from the yoga standpoint. The number of breaths in a day

[24 hrs.] averages 21,600; in 12 hrs., the no. is 10,800; if one can

concentrate on the mantra at least 100th [= 108] of this time [7-10

min.], the mental strength and self-confidence will increase.

 

There are excellent discussions on this subject at:

 

http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/teachings/japayoga.htm

 

http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/download/20instrch.htm

 

 

 

http://www.sriramakrishnamath.org/magazine/vk/2001/10-4-2.asp

 

Counting the number of recitation, however, is to be done following specified

methods. Usually, one unit of recitation consists in repeating the mantra 108

times. The question might immediately cross one's mind: Does the number bear any

spiritual significance? Well, the number may not directly refer to anything

spiritual, but it does symbolize some mystic experience. The symbolic

significance could be understood with the help of some examples.

 

The sun that rises in the east represents knowledge. Thus, we are reminded of

sunrise or the rising of the sun of knowledge whenever we remember east. Let us

refer to another example. The needle of a magnetic compass always points to the

north. It may be turned to different directions, but it always stops with its

needle directed to the north. In the same way, our mind must always be pointed

towards God amidst our duties in the world. Sri Ramakrishna would say, 'A

maidservant in the house of a rich man performs all the household duties, but

her thoughts are fixed on her own home in her native village.' The needle of a

compass reminds us of the northern direction. The example of a maidservant

points to a God-centered life. Hence, the northern direction is a reminder of a

life entirely given to the quest of God. This, presumably, is the reason why the

scriptures instruct us to sit facing east or north for taking the name of the

Lord, practising meditation, doing ritualistic worship, etc. These directions

inspire a sense of sanctity in the minds of the sadhakas.

 

The following incidents aptly explain how even apparently inconsequential things

can stimulate lofty ideas and principles, through association.

 

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna narrates an incident from Sri Chaitanya's life.

'Once Chaitanyadeva was passing through a village. Someone told him that the

body of the drum used in the Kirtana was made from the earth of that village. At

once he went into ecstasy.'

Once Sri Ramakrishna paid a visit to the Kolkata zoo. On seeing a lion, the

Vahana (mount) of the Divine Mother, he was charged with deep spiritual fervour

and went into a trance. In his own words : 'I was taken to the Zoological

Garden. I went into samadhi at the sight of lion, the carrier of the Mother

Herself.'

From what is stated above it follows that there are certain things which are

representative of some mystical or spiritual truths. But what is the

significance of the odd number 108 which is believed to be very much useful in

uttering the sacred mantra? The reply in brief is: the number 108 suggests total

identification or oneness of the individual self (jiva) with the supreme self

(paramatman).

 

But this requires a little explanation. First of all let's turn to a few

evidences in the Upanishads. The Varahopanisad says:6 'The height of every human

body measures 96 fingers (of one's own), placed one above another (Shariram

sarvajantunam shannavatandula atmakam).' And, 'The seat of Paramatman in human

body is just above the navel at a distance of 12 fingers put one upon another

(Adho nishtya vitastyante nabhyamupari tishthati)', says the Mahanaryana

Upanisad.7 Hence, the total number adding 96 to 12 is indicative of oneness of

jiva and Paramatman. The spiritually illumined souls bear testimony to the fact

that the being of a jiva merges into Paramatman gradually, as a result of

repeating the name of the Lord with sincere, single-minded devotion.

 

The point in question could be interpreted in a slightly different way as well.

Every human body, as we have already quoted, measures 96 fingers placed

horizontally from toe to head. According to some of our scriptures, the self in

the solar orb is a composite of 12 parts. The innermost self, Pratyagatman

residing in every individual and the Pratyagatman or the self in the solar orb

are one and the same. This is what the Taittiriya Upanisad teaches:8 Yashchayam

purushe yashchasavaditye sa ekah. Here also the figure obtained through the

addition of numbers 96 and 12 points to the oneness of jiva and Ishvara.

 

The Akshamalika Upanishad9 tells us that the letters of Sanskrit are like beads

in a rosary string. Ramprasada, a great devotee of Divine Mother from Bengal and

a spiritual aspirant of high calibre sang _ Mother Kali is the embodiment of 50

letters of the alphabet and each letter is Her name. The total number of letters

in Sanskrit alphabet is 50. The number comes to 100 when the letters are recited

both-ways. To this are added 5 basic elements (pancha bhuta)--earth, water,

fire, air and akasha and 3 gunas-- sattwa, rajas and tamas. Thus the figure 108

refers to Brahman, the reality which is immanent and all-pervading. The slightly

raised bead at the centre of a rosary which is called 'Sumeru' symbolizes the

highest Reality called Para Brahman which is formless and attributeless. Hence

the instruction _ don't cross it. The Katha Upanishad says:10 Tasminlokah

shritah sarve tadu natyeti kashchana -- all the spheres of existence and

inhabitants therein are sheltered in that; none can go beyond that.

 

Swami Vijnanananda, one of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, used to put

forth another interpretation. Though amusing, it has a practical bearing. He

would say: a jiva or an individual soul while living in mother's womb before his

birth as a complete baby, remembers all his deeds in past lives and the miseries

he had suffered all through those lives as a result of his bad actions (karma).

Further, he keeps on thinking that all his past lives had gone in vain because

of his failure to realize God in those lives.11 He takes frequent pledges that

he would, in no way, waste his ensuing birth and would be constantly remembering

the Lord and taking His name through his every in-breath and out-breath.

Normally, a healthy man breathes 21,600 times through the 24 hour span of a

day.12 But the moment a jiva comes into contact with the ephemeral world, all

the vows he took in the embryo sink into oblivion. The oblivion or forgetfulness

wipes off the last two zeroes of the figure! The figure thus stands 216. Hence,

a person generally repeats the name of the Lord twice daily, morning and

evening. In each sitting he performs japa for 108 times and remains satisfied

that he is performing his duty.

 

In the book In Search of the Cradle of Civilization, the authors say: The

decipherment of the Rig-Vedic code has shown that, remarkably, the Vedic

poet-mathematicians had discovered the astronomical significance of the number

108, which is one-half the number of hymn groups [216], is roughly the average

distance between the Sun and Earth in terms of solar diameters. It is also the

average distance between the Moon and Earth in terms of lunar diameters. These

values can be obtained by simple measurements with the naked eye. For example,

if a pole of a certain height were to be separated from the observer by a

distance that is 108 times this height, its angular size would be exactly equal

to that of the Sun or the Moon. The above discovery also would seem to explain

why 108 beads are used in Hindu rosaries. A full round on the rosary represents

a symbolic journey from the earth to the sky.13

 

We breathe on an average 21600 times in one day. Let the half hours of

night go. Thus, it becomes 21600/2 = 10800 times we breath in day-time.

 

The Lord says to the devotee: " You take my name once, and for every name

taken once I will multiply it by hundred times on my behalf for you. "

 

Thus 108 * 100 = 10800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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