10 Interesting Facts About The Sacred Number 108

In Sanatana Dharma, number 108 has held great importance. According to Puranas, Lord Shiva has 108 mukhya shivaganas; Lord Vishnu has 108 Divya Desams; 108 gods and demons took part in Samudra Manthan. The number 108 appears so many times in many ancient Hindu texts and scriptures. Some claim it must be a reflection of a spiritual dimension of the Universe.

108 Beads in a Rudraksha

We have seen many old people, carrying their rosaries, chanting mantras. The rudraksha or the rosary beads have to be counted 108 times to the mantras to be successful that rosary consists of 108 beads.

Roots in ancient mathematics in India

According to ancient mathematicians in India, 108 was the product of a very precise mathematical operation. This means 1 power 1 x 2 power 2 x 3 power 3 which equals 108. Such a number was known to have super numerology significance as well.

108 in the Sanskrit Language

In the Sanskrit language, there are 54 alphabets as opposed to the 26 in English. Each has masculine and feminine, Shiva and Shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.

The Sun and the Earth

The distance between the Sun and the Earth is 108 times the Sun’s diameter. Also, the distance between the Moon and the Earth is 108 times the Moon’s diameter. This makes it so the moon appears the same size as the sun during eclipses.

108 and Sikhism

In Sikhism, devotees use a mala or a sacred string that has 108 knots tied up in a string of wool instead of beads.

108 in Chinese culture

In China, the Taoists and the Buddhists use a 108 bead mala known as su-chu. This mala or sacred string has three dividing beads so that the string is divided into three parts, each containing 36 beads each.