In many cultures and faiths across the world, the number 108 is considered sacred. Many individuals think that chanting, meditating, or focusing on this number can lead to spiritual awakening and enlightenment. In this essay, we will look at the various ways that the number 108 ties us to the cosmos.
Origin of 108
The number 108 has religious importance dating back to ancient India when it was regarded as a sacred number in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The number 108 is thought to symbolize the entirety of existence since it is a combination of the numbers 1 (representing the divine or awareness) and 0. (representing the emptiness or the infinite). The number 8 symbolizes infinity, eternity, and completion.
In Vedic astrology, 108 is considered an auspicious number since it is thought that there are 108 vital locations on the body, including the chakras or energy centers. There are also 108 sacred spots in India called as pithas that are linked with the goddess Shakti.
The number 108 is also significant in Buddhism, where it is thought that in order to gain enlightenment, one must eliminate 108 earthly cravings. Monks in Zen Buddhism sing the Heart Sutra 108 times as part of their meditation and spiritual practise.
The number 108 is also significant in Jainism, where it is thought that there are 108 qualities that must be cultivated in order to achieve nirvana.
Mala Beads
Mala beads are one of the most common ways that the number 108 is employed in spiritual practise. A mala is a 108-bead string used for meditation and chanting in Hinduism and Buddhism. The beads are used to tally the number of times a mantra or prayer is chanted, and the practitioner moves to the next bead after each repetition.
Mala beads are thought to help focus the mind and decrease distractions, allowing the practitioner to attain a profound level of meditation or concentration. In this practise, the number 108 denotes the fullness of existence and the link between the person and the cosmos.
The Sun, Moon, and Earth
The relationship between the Sun, Moon, and Earth is another way in which the number 108 is linked to the universe. The diameter of the Sun is stated to be 108 times that of the Earth, while the distance between the Sun and the Earth is about 108 times that of the Sun.
Furthermore, it is thought that the Moon is 108 times smaller than the Sun, and that the distance between the Moon and Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon. Because of these connections between the Sun, Moon, and Earth, many people believe that the number 108 has cosmic significance and represents the universe’s harmony and balance.
Astrology and Astronomy
There are 27 lunar mansions or nakshatras in Vedic astrology, and each nakshatra is split into four quarters, known as padas. The total number of padas in all 27 nakshatras is 108, which is said to reflect the entire cosmic cycle.
In addition, Western astrology has 12 zodiac signs while Vedic astrology has 9 planets. When these numbers are multiplied together (12 x 9), the result is 108, which is thought to reflect the universe’ wholeness and harmony.
Chakras
The chakras are said to be energy centres in the body that correspond to various physical, emotional, and spiritual attributes in Hinduism and Buddhism.
The body has seven primary chakras, each of which is connected with a certain number of petals. For example, the crown chakra contains 1000 petals, but the base chakra has only four. When these numbers (1000 + 96 + 84 + 72 + 64 + 50 + 4) are put together, the total is 1370. 1370 divided by 12 (the number of zodiac signs in Western astrology) is 114.16. We obtain 108 when we round this number to the nearest whole number, which is thought to reflect the link between the chakras and the universe.
Furthermore, the chakras are thought to be linked to the nadis, which are energy channels in the body. There are 72,000 nadis in the body, which when multiplied by the two sides of the body (left and right) equals 144,000. If we divide 144,000 by 1,333 (the number of breaths a person takes in an hour), we get 108, which is thought to reflect the link between the breath, the body, and the universe.
Moreover, the chakras are said to be linked to nadis, or energy conduits in the body. There are 72,000 nadis in the body, which when multiplied by the two sides (left and right) equals 144,000. If we divide 144,000 by 1,333 (the number of breaths a person takes in an hour), we get 108, which is thought to represent the link between the breath, the body, and the cosmos.
