108 | A Number that gave birth to Life

In Hindu tradition, the Mukhya Shivaganas (attendants of Shiva) are 108 in number and hence Shaiva religions, particularly Lingayats, use malas of 108 beads for prayer and meditation.

Similarly, in Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Lord Krishna in Brindavan had 108 followers known as gopis. Recital of their names, often accompanied by the counting of a 108-beaded mala, is often done during religious ceremonies.

The Sri Vaishnavite Tradition has 108 Divya Desams (temples of Vishnu) that are revered by the 12 Alvars in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. There are also 108 pithas (sacred places)

In tantra, It is estimated that we breath 21600 times in one day-night cycle-out of which 10800 is when sun is around(day), and 10800, when its night.

However, in Vedic Cosmology the number 108 places a vital role.

“Renowned mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence. This number also connects the Sun, Moon, and Earth: The average distance of the Sun and the Moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters.”

Relation between the diameters and distances of these celestial bodies. (source : author)

The distance between Sun and Earth is equal to 108 times the diameter of sun, similarly the distance between the Moon and the Earth is equal to 108 times the diameter of Moon. Also surprisingly, the diameter of Sun is 108 times the diameter of Earth! Get your calculators!

108 and The Fibonacci Sequence

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​To fully understand the significance of the number 108, it is necessary to understand the numerical science of decimal parity. 

In many ancient cultures (e.g., Egypt and India) decimal parity was used as a way to understand the truth of numbers.

Decimal parity is a method for breaking numbers down into single digits. For example, the decimal parity equivalent of the number 361 is 3 + 6 + 1 = 10 and 1 + 0 = 1. So the decimal parity equivalent of 361 is 1.

The first 24 numbers of the Fibonacci Sequence are: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987, 1597, 2584, 4181, 6765, 10946, 17711, 28657.

When decimal parity is applied to the Fibonacci sequence it is found there is a repeating series of 24 digits being the following: (0), 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 4, 3, 7, 1, 8, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, 4, 1, 5, 6, 2, 8, 1.

If we add these 24 digits up, we find the number 108.

0 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 + 4 + 3 + 7 + 1 + 8 + 9 + 8 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 5 + 6 + 2 + 8 + 1 = 108

Life is possible on Earth only because it is in the right distance from the star and the star size is perfect to bring conditions for life in earth-like planets. Moons of the planets also play an important role in cradling life in the planet, with its gravitational pull. Like our Moon stirring up the ingredients in the oceans, to bring out first life form in oceans, by creating tides and 108 has long been considered a sacred number in Hinduism and yoga. Traditionally, malas, or garlands of prayer beads, come as a string of 108 beads (plus one for the "guru bead," around which the other 108 beads turn like the planets around the Sun).

So, this ratio is significantly important and is a main ingredient for “Life”? Is it something to do with gravity? Stay tuned, and follow us for answers, and commentaries.