Day 14310 - The mystic 108 number

Yes – Today I want to write about the mystical, magical number 108. 

 

Hinduism and specifically Vedic literature and practices have always laid an extremely high importance to this number called 108. Be it the number of times “Gayatri manta” has to be recited or be in an “japam” you do , the number has always been 108.  Though I was remotely aware that this number cannot be a mere ordinary number, I didn’t have much details on its significance.

 

Yesterday I was reading my current book called “The Krishna Key” by Ashwin Sanghi , when the answer decided to appear before me.

 

So here we go

• The distance between Earth and Sun is 108 times the Sun’s diameter
• The distance between Earth and Moon is also 108 times Moon’s diameter

And if this didn’t strike a bell, listen to this..

• The ratio of Sun’s diameter to that of Earth is also 108

 

Okay I know even now you are not amused….So let me add more till I can “feel” the “awe” in you….

• According to Marma Adi and Ayurveda, there are 108 pressure points in the body, where consciousness and flesh intersect to give life to the living being
• An official Major League Baseball baseball has 108 stitches
• In some schools of Buddhism it is believed that there are 108 feelings. According to Bhante Gunaratana this number is reached by multiplying the senses smell, touch, taste, hearing, sight, and consciousness by whether they are painful, pleasant or neutral, and then again by whether these are internally generated or externally occurring, and yet again by past, present and future, finally we get 108 feelings. 6 × 3 × 2 × 3 = 108.
• 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.
• Planets and Houses: In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108.
• Pentagon: The angle formed by two adjacent lines in a pentagon equals 108 degrees.

 

Enough to believe its not mere coincidence…. (or is it the work of our beautiful mind….) I let you decide…

 

-Me