Mantras - 12

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Significance of 108

 

It is the practice in every calculation and transaction of the currency

or any thing to round off the figure to one, by removing the decimals

and also to ten, hundred and thousand so on. But in every pooja, we

worship God/Goddess in 108 names which we call it as

" Ashtottara " . Why not 100 a round figure? If we go deep into

its significance:

 

The Indian Subcontinent rosary or set of mantra counting has 108 beads.

108 has been a sacred number in the Indian Subcontinent for a very long

time. This number is explained in many different ways.

 

The ancient Indians were excellent mathematicians and 108 may be the

product of a precise mathematical operation (e.g. 1 power 1 x 2 power 2

x 3 powers 3 = 108) which was thought to have special numerological

significance.

 

Powers of 1, 2, and 3 in math: 1 to 1st power=1; 2 to 2nd power=4 (2x2);

3 to 3rd power=27 (3x3x3). 1x4x27=108

 

Sanskrit alphabet: There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each

has masculine and feminine, Siva and Sakti. 54 times 2 are 108.

 

Sri Yantra: On the Sri Yantra there is marmas where three lines

intersect, and there are 54 such intersections. Each intersection has

masculine and feminine, Siva and Sakti qualities. 54 x 2 equals 108.

Thus, there are 108 points that define the Sri yantra as well as the

human body.

 

9 times 12: Both of these numbers have been said to have spiritual

significance in many traditions. 9 times 12 is 108. Also, 1 plus 8

equals 9. That 9 times x 12 equals 108.

 

Heart Chakra: The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and

there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the

heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is

said to be the path to Self-realization.

 

Marmas: Marmas or marmastanas are like energy intersections called

chakras, except have fewer energy lines converging to form them. There

are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body.

 

Time: Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, 36

related to the present, and 36 related to the future.

 

Astrology: There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments called

namshas or chandrakalas. 9 times 12 equal 108. Chandra is moon, and

kalasa are the divisions within a whole.

 

Planets and Houses: In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12

times 9 equal 108.

 

1, 0, and 8: 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or

completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for infinity or

eternity.

 

Sun and Earth: The diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the

Earth.

 

Numerical scale: The 1 of 108, and the 8 of 108, when added together

equals 9, which is the number of the numerical scale, i.e. 1, 2, 3 ...

10, etc., where 0 is not a number.

 

Smaller divisions: The number 108 is divided, such as in half, third,

quarter, or twelfth, so that some malas have 54, 36, 27, or 9 beads.

 

Islam: The number 108 is used in Islam to refer to God.

 

Jain: In the Jain religion, 108 are the combined virtues of five

categories of holy ones, including 12, 8, 36, 25, and 27 virtues

respectively.

 

Sikh: The Sikh tradition has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of

wool, rather than beads.

 

Chinese: The Chinese Buddhists and Taoists use a 108 bead mala, which is

called su-chu, and has three dividing beads, so the mala is divided into

three parts of 36 each.

 

Stages of the soul: Said that Atman, the human soul or center goes

through 108 stages on the journey.

 

Meru: This is a larger bead, not part of the 108. It is not tied in the

sequence of the other beads. It is the guiding bead, the one that marks

the beginning and end of the mala.

 

Dance: There are 108 forms of dance in the Indian traditions.

 

Pythagorean: The nine is the limit of all numbers, all others existing

and coming from the same. i.e.: 0 to 9 is all one needs to make up an

infinite amount of numbers.

 

There are 108 Upanishads contained in the Muktikopanishad. The same are

given hereunder, in four categories according to the particular Veda to

which each of them belong.

 

Rigveda(10): Aitareya , Atmabodha, Kaushitaki, Mudgala, Nirvana,

Nadabindu, Akshamaya, Tripura, Bahvruka, Saubhagyalakshmi.

 

Yajurveda(50): Katha, Taittiriya , Isavasya , Brihadaranyaka, Akshi,

Ekakshara, Garbha, Pranagnihotra, Svetasvatara, Sariraka, Sukarahasya,

Skanda, Sarvasara, Adhyatma, Niralamba, Paingala, Mantrika, Muktika,

Subala, Avadhuta, Katharudra, Brahma, Jabala, Turiyatita, Paramahamsa,

Bhikshuka, Yajnavalkya, Satyayani, Amrutanada, Amrutabindu, Kshurika,

Tejobindu, Dhyanabindu, Brahmavidya, Yogakundalini, Yogatattva,

Yogasikha, Varaha, Advayataraka, Trisikhibrahmana, mandalabrahmana,

Hamsa, Kalisantaraa, Narayana, Tarasara, Kalagnirudra, Dakshinamurti,

Pancabrahma, Rudrahrudaya, Sarasvatiirahasya.

 

SamaVeda(16): Kena, Chandogya, Mahata, Maitrayani, Vajrasuci, Savitri,

Aruneya, Kundika, Maitreyi, Samnyasa, Jabaladarsana, Yogacudamani,

Avyakta, Vasudevai, Jabali, Rudrakshajabala.

 

Adharvanaveda(32): Prasna , Mandukya, Mundaka, Atma, Surya,

Narada-Parivrajakas, Parabrahma, Paramahamsa-Parivrajakas,

Pasupatha-Brahma, Mahavakya, Sandilya, Krishna, Garuda, Gopalatapani,

Tripadavibhuti-mahanarayana, Dattatreya, Kaivalya, Nrusimhatapani,

Ramatapani, Ramarahasya, Hayagriva, Atharvasikha, Atharvasira, Ganapati,

Brhajjabala, Bhasmajabala, Sarabha, Annapurna, Tripuratapani, Devi,

Bhavana, Sita.