If you follow the Hindu religion, then you must have heard about the number 108. There are “108 Shiva Lingam, JapaJapa Mala with 108 beads,” “108 times chanting of Mantras,” “108 Names of Lord Krishna,” and many more. What is the secret behind the number “108”? In Hinduism, this number is considered a holy number, as “786” in the Islamic religion. In many pujas and tantric rituals, many expert tantriks use 108 lotus flowers. There are many points mentioned in Hindu mythology, like the Veda and the Upanishads, which emphasize the number 108 as a sacred number in Hinduism.
According to Vedic cosmology, the number “108” represents the whole universe and our existence. In number 108, “0” represents the “sunya” or the whole universe, “1” represents “life,” and “8” represents “death.”. So the number “108” as a whole represents the “cycle of time” or “cycle of life.”. If we add the numbers 1 and 8, it becomes 9. The number 9 is also significant in Hinduism. It is represented as a universal number. If we multiply any number by 9 and then add the digits, it comes to 9. In Hindu mythology, the number “9” represents the “brambha,” or creation. Rishi Vedavyasa created 9 purans, 108 mahapurans (1+8=9), or Upanishads. Mahabharata has 18 chapters (1+8=9), Gita has 18 chapters, and Bhagavatam has one lack of eight thousand slokas.
In Hindu tradition, the significance of 108 extends across spiritual, cosmic, and philosophical dimensions. The number is said to represent the sacred journey between the divine and the earthly, echoed in the 108 Upanishads and the 54 letters, each carrying masculine and feminine energies that together equal 108. The prayer beads used during chanting—known as japamalas—often contain 108 beads, allowing practitioners to recite mantras that draw them closer to divine consciousness. In yogic practices, 12 postures of Sun Salutations, performed cyclically to reach 108 movements, embodying devotion through physical discipline. Intriguingly, ancient texts suggest the sun’s distance from Earth is roughly 108 times the diameter of the sun—a cosmic alignment reinforcing this number’s mysticism. Today, reverence for 108 even finds echoes in emergency response systems and ambulance services, symbolizing protection and healing in times of need.
According to Ayurveda, there are “marma points” or “vital points,” which represent the vital parts of our body. Acupressure treatment uses these parts, or marma points, in our body. The best palmist in Kolkata uses them.
In astrology, there is also a huge significance to the number “108.”. The diameter of the sun is 108 times bigger than that of the Earth. The distance of the sun from Earth is the 108th time of the sun’s diameter. The distance between the Earth and the moon is 108 times longer than the diameter of the moon. According to Vedic astrology, there are 12 houses and nine planets. Again 12*9=108. Top astrologers use this method for horoscope calculation and analysis.
According to Indian astronomy, there are 27 nakshatras, and each has 4 directions, or padas, namely dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. These directions represent our purusharthas, or the inherent values of the universe. So if we multiply 27 by 4, it will come back to 108.
In Hindu mythology, the number “108” also associated with the holy river Ganga. The longitude of the Ganga is 12 degrees, and the latitude is 9 degrees. Again 12*9=108
According to Hindu tantra, there are 108 “chakras,” or energy lines, that lead to the heart chakra, located at the center of our body. These chakras control different emotions, self-realization, and health aspects of our body. In meditation, if you can breathe properly 108 times a day, you will be able to achieve enlightenment.
In Sanskrit, there are 54 alphabets, and each has one masculine and one feminine form, representing the “shiva” and “shakti.”. Again 54*2=108
According to some experts, there are 108 feelings in a human being: 36 from the present, 36 from the past, and 36 from the future; that is a total of 108. the best astrologer in India.
Skanda Puran says, there are 108 “gopis,” or girlfriends, of Lord Krishna. According to Hinduism, there are 108 names of the goddess “Durga.”. So during Durga Puja, we use 108 lotus to chant her 108 names.
