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Have you
ever wondered why a typical beaded neclace from the East, called a mala,
is always strung with 108 beads? You'll find this to be the case not only
in Hindu traditions but also Buddhist, Sikh, Jain and virtually any tradition
that has it's roots in India. If you've ever been initiated into the use
of a mantra you've probably been told to chant your mantra at least 108
times a day, not fifteen minutes a day. Why? In Japan the Zen temple bells
ring 108 times to bring in the New Year. Obviously this number is significant.
But why not a more round number like 100?
The early
Vedic sages were renowned mathematicians and in fact invented our number
system. 108 was definitely the number of choice for this simple reason:
108 represents the whole of existence. Here's some interesting reasons
why:
1. The number
9 represents wholeness and 108 when added together equals 9. 1+0+8 = 9.
Interestingly, if you multiply 9 times ANYTHING, the answer is always
9 when you add the numbers together. Try it! 1x9= 9. 2x9=18 1+8=9. 285x9=2565
2+5+6+5=18 1+8=9. 8543x9=76887 7+6+8+8+7=36 3+6=9 The logic behind this
is that 9 represents wholeness or God and God times anything is always
God since God is all there is!
2. The 9
planets travelling through the 12 signs constitutes the whole of existence.
9 x 12 = 108
3. The 27
nakshatras or lunar constellations spread over the 4 elements - fire,
earth, air, water or the 4 directions - north, south, east, and west.
This also constitutes the whole of existence. 27 x 4 = 108
4. Consider
the 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. The logic behind
this is that 1 represents 1 dimensional reality, 2 represents 2 dimensional
reality, 3 represents 3 dimensional reality. When you mulitply their powers
together then you encompass the whole of existence.
5. The universe
is made up of 108 elements according to ancient texts. The current periodic
table claims a few more than 108.
6. The diameter
of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the earth (give or take a few
miles).
Jai
Sri Ram
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