Most of us might have heard about the 108 names of Lord Ganesh and Lord Shiva, and some people recite certain mantra 108 times like the Hanuman Chalisas. Numerous gods and sages in Hindu religion have 108 names. The importance of the number is also found in other religions and cultures. So what is the significance of 108? There are numerous explanations given in scriptures to this.
The Vedic system believes that 108 represent the universe or supreme. Lord Krishna had 108 gopis, there are 108 beads in Hindu rosary, there are 108 Upanishads, there are 108 holy places associated with Lord Vishnu (Divyadesams) and Sati’s body split into 108 pieces on hearing Daksha insulting her husband Lord Shiva. The list grows as we dig into scriptures.
Apart from this the distance between the earth and the sun equals about 108 times the sun’s diameter.
8 comments:
Number 108 is significant mathematically also because it is based on the numbers 1,2 and 3. If we raise each number to their own power and multiply the result would be 108. i.e. 1x2x2x3x3x3=108
The set of beads are useful for self practice. One can count each bead for a divine name or attribute. Each bead can be for a personality or their attributes. it can be for prayers, statements, incantations, aspects of religion as a subject, remembrance for ancestors, remembrance for shrines, places of worship, summaries of theory, rites of life. The whole set of beads can used for a single, double, triple, quadruple or more items for repitition. They can be a cue for recitation. The beads can be moved along the cord for each item.
The set of beads is a mnemonic.
In a secular manner it can be used as an abacus like counter or bodily decoration. It can be employed as a mnemonic for secular theories.
Each bead can be a paranormal, supernatural being. Each bead can be a scripture or literary work.
Each bead can be type/form of worship or ritual.
Two repetitive comments have been sent of: 'Each bead can be a paranormal, supernatural being. Each bead can be a scripture or literary work.
Each bead can be type/form of worship or ritual.'
If possible could only one of these statements be kept on the
comments section please. It is an error. Thank you.
There are 27 nakshatras and each have 4 sections. And 27 x 4 = 108
The set of beads can also be used for the remembrance and recitation of prayers and statements of belief. Each bead can have a prayer and then the next one can be linked to the one before. The set of prayers, poems, verses, statements can be about a particular subject.
The session of recitation can be about a subject and details and information related to the subject matter.
Each bead can be for a hymn or a symbol.
If your comments are accompanied with examples it would more meaningful to novice members who have just started using beads to keep count of the mantras they are reciting.
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