What is the significance of the number 108??
The number 108 has long been considered sacred in many religions around the world.
Many people often do 108 sun salutations (Yoga sequence)
Renowned mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence.
1, 0, and 8: Some say that 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for infinity or eternity.
The number 108 also connects the sun, moon, ad 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.
Sun and Earth - The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance from the Sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun. The mala is believed to maintain our harmony with the sun and moon energies effecting our quality of life and good health.
Moon and Earth - The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon. The mala is believed to maintain our harmony with the sun and moon energies effecting our quality of life and good health.
Silver and the moon - In astrology, the metal silver is said to represent the moon. The atomic weight of silver is 108.
Energy Chakras - The chakras are the intersections of energy lines throughout the body, there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra wearing a mala which supports the vital flow of energy through ‘ The seat of the self’, as taught in traditional Yoga.
Body Temperature - 108 degrees Fahrenheit is the maximum internal temperature the body can maintain it’s function, it is believed the mala balances and maintains the body’s inner harmony, and heat and can help us avoid illness.
Pranayama - It is said that If one is able to be so calm in meditation as to have only 108 breaths in a day, enlightenment will come.
Meditation - Some say there are 108 styles of meditation.
Astrology - In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 X 9 = 108. A mala is often worn to alleviate the influence of the planets or ‘stars’ in our life and thus avoid afflictions and the problems generally predicted in ones astrological chart.
Hinduism - 108 is said to refer to the number of Hindu goddesses or deities.
Islam - The number 108 is used in Islam to refer to God.
Sikhism -The Sikh tradition has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads.
Buddhism - Some Buddhists carve 108 small Buddha’s on a walnut for good Courage. Some ring a bell 108 times to celebrate a new year. There are said to be 108 virtues to cultivate and 108 defilements to avoid.
Chinese Buddhism & Taoism - The Chinese Buddhists and Taoists use a 108-bead mala, which is called a "Su-Chu".
Chinese Astrology - Chinese astrology says that there are 108 sacred stars.
Japanese Rituals - During Japanese New Year Services, a bell is rung 108 times.
Stages of the soul - It is believed that the "Atman", the human soul, goes through 108 stages on the journey.