Prayer beads: Importance of the number 108
I always wondered why 108 is a significant number...
Why do we have 108 beads in a Rudraksha prayer beads...
Here's something very interesting info I have found...
Why is 108 beads most used and most important?
Astrologically, the Sun is karaka (significator) for the 1st and the 9th houses of an astrological chart. A Rashi (sign) divided into nine amsas (divisions) gives us the Navamsa which shows the inherent qualities of the soul, a native's dharma (purpose), bhagya (luck), and one's spouse. Each Navamsa is 3 degrees 20 minutes. 9 amsas multiplied by 12 rashis (signs) is 108. So the Navamsa is the 108 sign chart held in high esteem in Vedic astrology.
The Moon is karaka (significator) for the 4th house. There are 4 padas (parts) in a nakshatra each equating to 3 degrees 20 minutes. There are 27 nakshatras that when multiplied by 4 padas equals 108. The four padas relate to the four ayana (goals of life): karma (career), artha (sustenance), kama (pleasure/family), moksa (spirituality/liberation). Each pada has a tone, using which can activate a planet within the tone. The Moon has a 108 padas (feet) and 108 tones.
The 3-20 division is the most crucial division. The Moon sign's padas and the Sun sign's navamsas line up with the number 108. 108 is the number where the Moon (manas/mind) and Sun (atman/ahamkar/self) line up. It is where the Moon's cycle can be aligned with the Sun's cycle. 108 is a number that aligns the mind and the soul.
The 3-20 division aligns the Sun and the Moon, which also shows the alignment of Shiva and Parvati/Shakti or the Purusha and Prakritti. The 108 division is the coming together of Purusha and Prakritti, it is the creation of the world. It is a powerful force that can do anything, tantra (both positive and negative) taps into this force. We have a 108 beads upon a mala to tap into this vibration of the supreme creative force of the god and goddess, Purusha and Prakritti.
Additional points
1 + 0 + 8 = 9. Nine is the number of completion. As zero is the first number and after 9 the numbers start to repeat themselves. The 9 substantial numbers are representing the 9 archetypes of human existence (the navagraha). Nine specifically is connected to Ketu, the moksa Karaka (significator of liberation), the planet that brings higher awareness, expanded vision and moksha (liberation). Ketu is connected to the deity Ganesh who guards the door to the Mother Kundalini who gives us Moksha.
In the Durga Saptasati, the goddess Durga has nine forms known as the Navadurga. The number 9 is connected to the goddess Durga whose yantra (geometric symbol) contains the 9 pointed star and who is celebrated on Navratri (the nine nights of the goddess). In Hindu Kalachakra astrology it is Durga who guards the prana of the body, she guards our core vitality.
1 + 0 + 8 = 9. Numerologically, nine is a very special number, it always returns to itself. Look how it behaves with other numbers :
9 x 1 = 9
9 x 2 = 18, 1 + 8 = 9
9 x 3 = 27, 2 + 7 = 9
9 x 4 = 36, 3 + 6 = 9
9 x 5 = 45, 4 + 5 = 9
9 x 6 = 54, 5 + 4 = 9
9 x 7 = 63, 6 + 3 = 9
9 x 8 = 72, 7 + 2 = 9
9 x 9 = 81, 8 + 1 = 9
9 x 10=90, 9 + 0 = 9
9 x 11=99, 9 + 9 = 18, 1 + 8 = 9
9 x 12 = 108
The Rishis (sages) having watched the Sun and divided the Zodiac into 12 houses. As above so below, the twelve houses each signify areas of our body (a point fundamental to ayurvedic astrology). 11 is the number of Rudras (fierce forms of Siva/ energies of transformation) which destroy the body. 12 is the number of Adityas (solar energies) that bring health, vitality and enliven the body and being. 12 is a sacred number for the physical body and physical existence in itself. 9 is the number of moksha (liberation). The conjoining of liberation to the body is 108.
There are 108 Marmas in the body, junction points where Consciousness is tied into the the flesh. When we say 108 mantras it acts as a Kavach (protection) to each point.
There are 108 spokes coming from the Hridaya (heart center) energizing the body. And when we do our mantras 108 times it allows the mantra to flow through each of these channels (as well as each of the 108 navamsas that a planet could be placed in).
When the ocean of milk was churned in the beginning of time, it could only be done with the working unity of the devas (gods) and asuras (demons). They used a great snake to churn the ocean of milk (the milky way) there were 54 devas on the side of the tail and 54 asuras on the side of the heads. They churned the ocean searching for the amrita (the nectar of immortality). Before it arose from the ocean many poisons and blessing arose. These represent our 54 negative qualities that churn with the 54 positive qualities in the spiritual work of looking for the amrita within. This churning allows the kundalini to rise on the mountain axis of our spine with the turtle of the root chakra below.
The 108 navamsa/padas are permanently charted into the zodiac. The Sun traverses these through out the year. The 54 demons are the Sun's Southern Course (Dakshina Ayana) where there is more darkness on the northern hemisphere. The 54 devas are the Northern Course of the Sun (Uttara Ayana). It is the time of the devas, where light is more prevelant.
Namah Sivaya
[By Freedom Cole - Yoga teacher, Ayurvedic practitioner & Vedic astrologer]
Why do we have 108 beads in a Rudraksha prayer beads...
Here's something very interesting info I have found...
Why is 108 beads most used and most important?
Astrologically, the Sun is karaka (significator) for the 1st and the 9th houses of an astrological chart. A Rashi (sign) divided into nine amsas (divisions) gives us the Navamsa which shows the inherent qualities of the soul, a native's dharma (purpose), bhagya (luck), and one's spouse. Each Navamsa is 3 degrees 20 minutes. 9 amsas multiplied by 12 rashis (signs) is 108. So the Navamsa is the 108 sign chart held in high esteem in Vedic astrology.
The Moon is karaka (significator) for the 4th house. There are 4 padas (parts) in a nakshatra each equating to 3 degrees 20 minutes. There are 27 nakshatras that when multiplied by 4 padas equals 108. The four padas relate to the four ayana (goals of life): karma (career), artha (sustenance), kama (pleasure/family), moksa (spirituality/liberation). Each pada has a tone, using which can activate a planet within the tone. The Moon has a 108 padas (feet) and 108 tones.
The 3-20 division is the most crucial division. The Moon sign's padas and the Sun sign's navamsas line up with the number 108. 108 is the number where the Moon (manas/mind) and Sun (atman/ahamkar/self) line up. It is where the Moon's cycle can be aligned with the Sun's cycle. 108 is a number that aligns the mind and the soul.
The 3-20 division aligns the Sun and the Moon, which also shows the alignment of Shiva and Parvati/Shakti or the Purusha and Prakritti. The 108 division is the coming together of Purusha and Prakritti, it is the creation of the world. It is a powerful force that can do anything, tantra (both positive and negative) taps into this force. We have a 108 beads upon a mala to tap into this vibration of the supreme creative force of the god and goddess, Purusha and Prakritti.
Additional points
1 + 0 + 8 = 9. Nine is the number of completion. As zero is the first number and after 9 the numbers start to repeat themselves. The 9 substantial numbers are representing the 9 archetypes of human existence (the navagraha). Nine specifically is connected to Ketu, the moksa Karaka (significator of liberation), the planet that brings higher awareness, expanded vision and moksha (liberation). Ketu is connected to the deity Ganesh who guards the door to the Mother Kundalini who gives us Moksha.
In the Durga Saptasati, the goddess Durga has nine forms known as the Navadurga. The number 9 is connected to the goddess Durga whose yantra (geometric symbol) contains the 9 pointed star and who is celebrated on Navratri (the nine nights of the goddess). In Hindu Kalachakra astrology it is Durga who guards the prana of the body, she guards our core vitality.
1 + 0 + 8 = 9. Numerologically, nine is a very special number, it always returns to itself. Look how it behaves with other numbers :
9 x 1 = 9
9 x 2 = 18, 1 + 8 = 9
9 x 3 = 27, 2 + 7 = 9
9 x 4 = 36, 3 + 6 = 9
9 x 5 = 45, 4 + 5 = 9
9 x 6 = 54, 5 + 4 = 9
9 x 7 = 63, 6 + 3 = 9
9 x 8 = 72, 7 + 2 = 9
9 x 9 = 81, 8 + 1 = 9
9 x 10=90, 9 + 0 = 9
9 x 11=99, 9 + 9 = 18, 1 + 8 = 9
9 x 12 = 108
The Rishis (sages) having watched the Sun and divided the Zodiac into 12 houses. As above so below, the twelve houses each signify areas of our body (a point fundamental to ayurvedic astrology). 11 is the number of Rudras (fierce forms of Siva/ energies of transformation) which destroy the body. 12 is the number of Adityas (solar energies) that bring health, vitality and enliven the body and being. 12 is a sacred number for the physical body and physical existence in itself. 9 is the number of moksha (liberation). The conjoining of liberation to the body is 108.
There are 108 Marmas in the body, junction points where Consciousness is tied into the the flesh. When we say 108 mantras it acts as a Kavach (protection) to each point.
There are 108 spokes coming from the Hridaya (heart center) energizing the body. And when we do our mantras 108 times it allows the mantra to flow through each of these channels (as well as each of the 108 navamsas that a planet could be placed in).
When the ocean of milk was churned in the beginning of time, it could only be done with the working unity of the devas (gods) and asuras (demons). They used a great snake to churn the ocean of milk (the milky way) there were 54 devas on the side of the tail and 54 asuras on the side of the heads. They churned the ocean searching for the amrita (the nectar of immortality). Before it arose from the ocean many poisons and blessing arose. These represent our 54 negative qualities that churn with the 54 positive qualities in the spiritual work of looking for the amrita within. This churning allows the kundalini to rise on the mountain axis of our spine with the turtle of the root chakra below.
The 108 navamsa/padas are permanently charted into the zodiac. The Sun traverses these through out the year. The 54 demons are the Sun's Southern Course (Dakshina Ayana) where there is more darkness on the northern hemisphere. The 54 devas are the Northern Course of the Sun (Uttara Ayana). It is the time of the devas, where light is more prevelant.
Namah Sivaya
[By Freedom Cole - Yoga teacher, Ayurvedic practitioner & Vedic astrologer]
posted by Anuj at
11:13 PM
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