One Number That Connects the Cosmos to Your Soul
If you have ever held a mala (prayer beads) in your hands, you have held 108 beads. If you have ever attended a yoga class, you may have done 108 Sun Salutations. If you have ever visited a Hindu temple, you may have noticed 108 lamps lit during a special puja, or 108 names of a deity being chanted.
108 is everywhere in Indian spiritual tradition — and it is not a coincidence. This number has been considered sacred across Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and yogic traditions for thousands of years, and the reasons why are as extraordinary as the number itself.
At Divya India, we celebrate the wisdom encoded in India's sacred traditions. This guide explores the remarkable significance of 108 — from astronomy to mathematics to the human body.
The Astronomical Connection — The Universe in a Number
The most compelling explanation for 108's sacred status comes from astronomy — and it is genuinely astonishing.
The Sun, Moon & Earth
- The diameter of the Sun is approximately 108 times the diameter of the Earth.
- The distance from the Earth to the Sun is approximately 108 times the diameter of the Sun.
- The distance from the Earth to the Moon is approximately 108 times the diameter of the Moon.
This triple coincidence — that the same number governs the relationship between the Earth, Sun, and Moon — was known to ancient Indian astronomers thousands of years before modern science confirmed it. The rishis who encoded 108 into spiritual practice were not being arbitrary — they were encoding the fundamental geometry of our solar system into the fabric of daily devotion.
Every time you complete a round of 108 mantra repetitions on your mala, you are, in a sense, circumambulating the cosmos.
The Mathematical Significance
108 is a remarkable number mathematically:
- 108 = 1¹ × 2² × 3³ (1 to the power of 1, times 2 to the power of 2, times 3 to the power of 3) — a beautiful mathematical expression of the first three numbers raised to their own powers.
- 108 is a Harshad number — a number divisible by the sum of its digits (1+0+8 = 9; 108 ÷ 9 = 12).
- The number 9 — the sum of 108's digits — is itself considered sacred in many traditions. Any multiple of 9, when its digits are added together, always reduces back to 9 (9, 18, 27, 36... 108, 117...).
- There are 108 degrees in the interior angle of a regular pentagon — the shape associated with the golden ratio and the geometry of life.
108 in the Human Body
Ayurveda and yogic anatomy identify 108 as a fundamental number of the human body:
- There are 108 marma points (vital energy points) in the human body — the Ayurvedic equivalent of acupressure points.
- The heart chakra has 108 energy lines (nadis) converging on it — one of which, the Sushumna, leads directly to the crown chakra and is the pathway of spiritual awakening.
- Sanskrit has 54 letters, each with a masculine (Shiva) and feminine (Shakti) aspect — 54 × 2 = 108.
108 in Vedic & Hindu Tradition
The number 108 appears throughout Hindu scripture and practice:
- There are 108 Upanishads — the philosophical texts that form the foundation of Hindu thought.
- There are 108 Divya Desams — the sacred Vishnu temples identified by the Alvar saints.
- There are 108 names (Ashtottara Shatanamavali) of every major Hindu deity — chanting all 108 names is a complete act of worship.
- The Nataraja (Shiva as the cosmic dancer) performs 108 dance poses (karanas) — all of which are depicted in the Chidambaram temple.
- There are 108 beads on a mala — completing one round of 108 repetitions of a mantra is considered a complete cycle of devotion.
- The Sri Yantra — the most sacred geometric diagram in Hinduism — has 108 intersection points.
108 in Buddhism & Jainism
The sacred status of 108 extends beyond Hinduism:
- In Buddhism, there are 108 earthly temptations (kleshas) that a person must overcome to achieve nirvana. Buddhist prayer beads (juzu) have 108 beads. The bell at Buddhist temples is rung 108 times on New Year's Eve to drive away the 108 earthly temptations.
- In Jainism, 108 is considered the number of virtues of the Arihanta (enlightened beings).
- In Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib contains 108 ragas (musical modes).
108 Sun Salutations — The Yoga Tradition
In yoga, performing 108 Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) is a powerful practice traditionally done at the solstices, equinoxes, and other significant astronomical moments. The practice takes approximately 2–3 hours and is considered a complete physical, mental, and spiritual purification.
The 108 repetitions honour the sun — whose diameter is 108 times that of the Earth — and create a moving meditation that connects the practitioner to the cosmic rhythms encoded in this sacred number.
How to Use 108 in Your Daily Practice
- Mala meditation — Use a 108-bead mala to count mantra repetitions. One complete round = 108 repetitions = one mala.
- 108 names — Chant the 108 names of your chosen deity during puja. This is a complete act of worship.
- 108 pradakshina — Circumambulate a sacred tree or temple 108 times on auspicious occasions.
- 108 diyas — Light 108 diyas during special pujas for maximum auspiciousness.
Wearing the Sacred Number
Many devotees choose stoles and sacred accessories that incorporate the number 108 — through 108-bead malas worn alongside their stole, or through stoles featuring sacred mantras that are traditionally chanted 108 times.
Explore our Divine Collection and Religious Stole collection for sacred accessories that honour India's deepest wisdom. Om Shanti! 🕏✨