Wishesh June 2015 Online E-Magazine

Indian SPIRITUAL
SIGNIFICANCE OF NUMBER
IN HINDUISM
108 has a very important role in Hinduism. One can see that many aspects of Hinduism are
related to the number 108. 108 is considered to be a spiritually powerful and auspicious.
108 is an abundant number and a semiperfect number. It is a tetranacci number.
Mukhya Shivaganas are 108 in number and hence Shaiva sects, particularly Lingayats, use 108 Rudraksha
beaded lace for japa. They recite supreme lord Shiva’s 108 names daily during their morning Shivapuja.
In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, there are 108 gopis of Vrindavan. Recital of these names, often accompanied by
the counting of a 108-beaded mala and is considered sacred and often done during religious ceremonies.
Srivaishnavism has 108 Divya Kshetras of Lord Vishnu, called as 108 DivyaDesam.
The well known bas-relief carving at the famous Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia relates the Hindu story of a
serpent being pulled back and forth by 108 gods and asuras (demons), 54 gods pulling one way, and 54 asuras
pulling the other, to churn the ocean of milk in order to produce the elixir of immortality.
According to the Oriental Architecture site there are 5 monumental guardian gates to the fortified temple
city of Angkor Thom. In front of each gate stand giant statues of 54 gods (to the left of the causeway) and 54
demons (to the right of the causeway), totaling 108, which represent the churning of the ocean.
78
9 TIMES 12 - Both of these numbers have been said to
have spiritual significance in many traditions. 9 times
12 is 108.
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
HARSHAD NUMBER - 108 is a Harshad number,
which is an integer divisible by the sum of its digits
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(Harshad is from Sanskrit, and means “great joy”)
DESIRES - There are 108 earthly desires in mortals.
LIES - There are 108 lies that humans tell.
DELUSIONS - There are 108 human delusions or
forms of ignorance.
HEART CHAKRA - The chakras are the intersections