The number 108 and why its considered auspicious

[rr_sai_bhakt]

108’s auspiciousness partly depends upon its parts. There are three digits in 108, and these three digits (  1 + 0 + 8  ) add up to nine, a number that itself consists of three threes. And three itself is a magical number.

108 is considered the numerical equivalent of OM—the syllable so significant in yoga that, when chanted, is said to align chakras and resonate the frequency of divine consciousness throughout the body.

Traditional Hindus count 108 Upanishads, the ancient scriptures that emphasize mediation and the importance of the guru-student relationship.

Planetary connections: The distance between the moon and earth is 107.6 (roughly 108) times the diameter of the moon, while the distance between the earth and sun is 107.6 times the diameter of the sun. The sun’s diameter is 108 times that of the earth.

Astrological connections (and we know how important these are”and we know how important these are): There are 12 constellations (and 12 houses in an astrological chart) and nine arc segments called namshas or chandrakalas. 9 X 12 = 108.

Japa malas are strings of 108 prayer beads that Hindus and Buddhists (and Catholics with their rosary beads) use to keep count of prayers.

Hindu deities have 108 names. Recital of these names, often accompanied by counting of 108-beaded Mala, is considered sacred and often done during religious ceremonies. The recital is called namajapa.

It is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam that Krishna dances with 108 'Gopis' (cow-herd girls) in His Vrindavan pastimes, and later marries 16,108 wives in His city of Dwarka. Hare Krishna devotees thus hold 108 as a number of great significance.

Siva Nataraja dances his cosmic dance in 108 poses.

The total of all digits of 108 (1+0+8) is 9, which in Hinduism is said to represent the 9 tattvas[citation needed]. If you divide 108 by 2 or multiply by 2 the total of all digits again equals 9.

2^2 * 3^3 = 108 ( (2 * 2) * (3 * 3 * 3) )

In Hindu Astrology there are 12 Rashis or Zodiacs and 9 Planets or Navagrahas. 12 X 9 = 108. There are 27 Lunar mansions or Nakshatras which are divided in 4 Padas or quarters each. 27 X 4 = 108.

Many Buddhist temples have 108 steps.[1]

Hindu Kshatriya Dhangars have 108 clans. The lineage of these clans is from solar and lunar dynasties.

Sahasranamastotra or Sahasranama (1008 names (List of 10,000 names is given to a rishi called Tandi by Shiva; the rishi gives it to Upamanyu, and the latter to Krsna in an abridged. He gives only one tenth of the names, viz. 1008 names)) has a total of 108 shlokas.

108 signifies the wholeness of the divinity, perfect totality.

108 is founded in Dharmic metaphysical numerology. One for bindu; zero for shunyata and eight for ananta.

Heart Chakra: The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is said to be the path to Self-realization.

Marmas: Marmas or marmastanas are like energy intersections called chakras, except have fewer energy lines converging to form them. There are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body.

In the comprehensive book The Yoga Tradition, Georg Feuerstein writes that there are 108 mudras, or symbolic gestures, in yoga. And though there are many more, he admits, this is the official, traditional count.

The Lankavatara Sutra repeatedly refers to the 108 steps.

[rr_sai_bhakt]

From http://www.swamij.com/108.htm

9 times 12: Both of these numbers have been said to have spiritual significance in many traditions. 9 times 12 is 108. Also, 1 plus 8 equals 9. That 9 times 12 equals 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 (Harshad is from Sanskrit, and means "great joy")

Desires: There are said to be 108 earthly desires in mortals.

Lies: There are said to be 108 lies that humans tell.

Delusions: There are said to be 108 human delusions or forms of ignorance.

Heart Chakra: The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is said to be the path to Self-realization.

Sanskrit alphabet: There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.

Pranayama: If one is able to be so calm in meditation as to have only 108 breaths in a day, enlightenment will come.

Upanishads: Some say there are 108 Upanishads, texts of the wisdom of the ancient sages.

Sri Yantra: On the Sri Yantra there are marmas where three lines intersect, and there are 54 such intersections. Each intersections has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti qualities. 54 times 2 equals 108. Thus, there are 108 points that define the Sri Yantra as well as the human body.

Pentagon: The angle formed by two adjacent lines in a pentagon equals 108 degrees.

Marmas: Marmas or marmasthanas are like energy intersections called chakras, except have fewer energy lines converging to form them. There are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body.

Time: Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, 36 related to the present, and 36 related to the future.

8 extra beads: In doing a practice of counting the number of repetitions of the mala, 100 are counted as completed. The remaining are said to cover errors or omissions. The 8 are also said to be an offering to God and Guru.

Chemistry: Interestingly, there are about 115 elements known on the periodic table of the elements. Most of those, around or higher than the number 100 only exist in the laboratory, and some for only thousandths of a second. The number that naturally exist on Earth is around 100.

Astrology: There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments called namshas or chandrakalas. 9 times 12 equals 108. Chandra is moon, and kalas are the divisions within a whole.

River Ganga: The sacred River Ganga spans a longitude of 12 degrees (79 to 91), and a latitude of 9 degrees (22 to 31). 12 times 9 equals 108.

Planets and Houses: In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108.

Goddess names: There are said to be 108 Indian goddess names.

Gopis of Krishna: In the Krishna tradition, there were said to be 108 gopis or maid servants of Krishna.

1, 0, and 8: Some say that 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for infinity or eternity.

Sun and Earth: The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance from the Sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun.

Moon and Earth: The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon.

Silver and the moon: In astrology, the metal silver is said to represent the moon. The atomic weight of silver is 108.

Numerical scale: The 1 of 108, and the 8 of 108, when added together equals 9, which is the number of the numerical scale, i.e. 1, 2, 3 ... 10, etc., where 0 is not a number.

Meditations: Some say there are 108 styles of meditation.

Breath: Tantra estimates the average number of breaths per day at 21,600, of which 10,800 are solar energy, and 10,800 are lunar energy. Multiplying 108 by 100 is 10,800. Multiplying 2 x 10,800 equals 21,600.

Paths to God: Some suggest that there are 108 paths to God.

Smaller divisions: The number 108 is divided, such as in half, third, quarter, or twelfth, so that some malas have 54, 36, 27, or 9 beads.

Hinduism: 108 is said to refer to the number of Hindu deities. Some say that each of the deities has 108 names.

Islam: The number 108 is used in Islam to refer to God.

Jain: In the Jain religion, 108 are the combined virtues of five categories of holy ones, including 12, 8, 36, 25, and 27 virtues respectively.

Sikh: The Sikh tradition has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads.

Buddhism: Some Buddhists carve 108 small Buddhas on a walnut for good luck. Some ring a bell 108 times to celebrate a new year. There are said to be 108 virtues to cultivate and 108 defilements to avoid.

Chinese: The Chinese Buddhists and Taoists use a 108 bead mala, which is called su-chu, and has three dividing beads, so the mala is divided into three parts of 36 each. Chinese astrology says that there are 108 sacred stars.

Stages of the soul: Said that Atman, the human soul or center goes through 108 stages on the journey.

Meru: This is a larger bead, not part of the 108. It is not tied in the sequence of the other beads. It is the quiding bead, the one that marks the beginning and end of the mala.

Dance: There are 108 forms of dance in the Indian traditions.

Praiseworthy souls: There are 108 qualities of praiseworthy souls.

[GaneshHariharan]

holy goodness sir, you have exhausted every plausible explanation possible for why 108?. u must write a spiritual book for ordinary people sometimes . very interesting as all your other posts sir. tks.

[manmeet]

rr ji
 om sai ram
                  Thank u so much for for information sir. you r the ocean of knowledge. thank you once again

[sainetras]

MERE RR BETE,
Tumhe apna kehne me bhi bahut garv mehsus hota hai.
I am very very proud of you my son.
WHATEVER MAY BE THE SUBJECT ...YOU STUDY IT DEEPLY AND GIVE INFORMATION IN VERY SIMPLE WORDS.
 so that every one can understand it.
Thank you bete. 
In my opinion you are a blessed person.
Aap toh aam-aadmi bilkul nahi ho..aapko toh GYANI...YA ..SANT ..ka dill aur dimaag mila huva hai. Buss isii tarah sabhi ko apna samajke achhe karm karte raho.
Apne vidya ke saath vinay ko bhi jode rakhana. tabhi khud ka aur dusaronka bhala kar sakoge.
Jeevan ke her mod pe ye hameshya yaad rakhana ki,.....
VIDYA VINYEN SHOBHITE.
Mere saibaba aapko yash de ---khush rakhe.
om shri saibabaya namaha.

[sagarika]

OMSAIRAM...

Dear rr_bhakt ji,

Thank you so much for sharing the essence of number 108... its really wonderfull...

Baba bless you

OMSAIRAM