To: soc.religion.eastern
From: Uma S. Pandey (usp@austin.ibm.com)
Subj: The Number 108 (0000.nmbr108.usp)
Date: unknown

As per Indian mythology, Indian culture has a very special significance of
number 108. What is this number represent, and why is it so important?

I will try to give some answers to it, all the answers I am giving come from
a book on "Mantra Mahavigyan".

1) In one minute, we breathe in approximately 15 times, in 1 hour 900 times,
   and in 12 hours 10800 times, and in a day 10800 * 2 times. A dy consists
   of 24 hours, and if we set aside half the day for our day to day routines,
   then one can spend 12 hours for recitation of one's idol. Therefore, the 
   maximmum number of times that one can recite "mantra", or perform "Jap" are
   10800. If one wants to obtain 100% benefit of its jap, then performing
   jap 108 times will give you the benefit of 100%. That's why in a "Mala", 
   there are 108 beads. It is written in Vedas, that 1 Jap corresponds to 
   1 mala (which has 108 beads), therefore performing jap of 108 malas will
   result in 100% benefit.

2) Astronomically, there are 27 constillations in our galaxy, and each one them
   has 4 directions, and 27 * 4 = 108, In other words he number 108 covers
   the whole galaxy.

3) According to Indian scriptures, letter 9 corresponds to Lord Brahma (the
   creator of universe). Mathematically, the interesting property of 9 is
   9x1 = 9 
   9 x 2 = 18 (8+1 = 9)
   9 * 3 = 27 (7+2 = 9)

   9 * 12 = 108 (1+0+8 = 9)

   I don't know what it leads to.

4) In Hindu religion, number 9 is very important. Keeping the importance of 
   number 9, Rishi Vyas has created 9 Purans, 108 MahaPuran (Upnishads).
   Mahabharat has 18 chapters, Geeta has 18 chapters, Bhagavat has 108000
   Shloks (verses). 

   The addition of digits of number 108 is 9, and number 9 is related with
   Brahma, that's why 108 is very important, and came into lot of Indian
   scriptures.

5) Indian Vedas, treats  the Sun as God, and Sun has 12 signs (Zodiac signs).
   In Yajurved, Sun is related with Lord Brahma (the number 9), remember -
   12 * 9 = 108; therefore for Gods Prayer, the number 108 is very sacred.

6) According to Indian mythology, there are 4 Yugs
   Satyug - consists of 172,800 years (1+7+2+8 = 18 == (1+8 = 9)
   TretaYug consists of 1296000 years (1+2+9+6 = 18 =  (1+8 = 9)
   DwaparYug consists of 864000 years (8+4+6) = 18 = (1+8 = 9)
   Kaliyug   consists of 432000 years (4+3+2) = 9 

Uma S. Pandey
usp@austin.ibm.com