At this point in your yoga journey I’m sure you’ve seen people talk about doing 108 sun salutations. Maybe you’ve even joined in on this practice for an event? You’re probably also aware that the beautiful malas you see, or maybe have, contain 108 beads. But do you know the significance the number 108 holds?

Is it just a random number that got picked in ancient times?

NOPE!! Keep reading to discover the number 108 meaning, its spiritual significance, and how it fits into your yoga practice.

What Does 108 Mean?

The number 108 holds significance in spiritual practice and different spiritual traditions, like Hinduism and Buddhism, as representation of the universe, existence, and all creation. You can see this number pop up through ancient texts and Vedic science. Some of which modern science is now able to confirm the accuracy of.

108’s Meaning In Your Yoga Practice

When talking about the number 108 in the context of your yoga practice, it is believed by some that you must chant a mantra 108 times before its benefits are fully ingrained. Chanting 108 times also represents the path to enlightenment by overcoming the 108 passions or defilements. This is why in meditation you use your mala to recite a mantra or prayer. Learn more about the different symbols of yoga this post: the meaning of yoga’s top 9 symbols.

Some yogis do 108 sun salutations at the change of each season – Spring/Fall Equinox and Winter/Summer solstice. They do this to release or “burn off” stagnant energy and emotions that are no longer serving them, release earthly desires and bring themselves closer to the Divine. This opens them to new beginnings and puts them on the right path for the coming season.

This fascinating number 108 seems to bring an interconnectedness between all things earthly and spiritual. But what exactly makes it a sacred number?

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Why Is 108 A Sacred Number?

What makes this number sacred is its significance universally. Whether it be spiritual, mathematical or geographical, you see the number 108 recur in major ways. It is representative of the universe, the transition from light to dark and the Divine connection to everything.

The list can go on and on, and it might be worth doing more research if you want to make this an essential part of your spiritual journey, but I’m going to give you a quick bullet list of the many ways the number 108 shows its significance in the world.

You’ll find the number 108 showing up in several ways:

108 In Mathematics

Just a few fun facts about the number 108 in mathematics include:

108 is an abundant number as well as a semiperfect number
The number 108 is a part of the fibonacci sequence and part of the golden ratio
108 is divisible by its sum (1+0+8 =9, 108/9=12). This makes it a Harshad number. Fun fact: Harshad translates to “great joy” from Sanskrit
It’s individual numbers add up to 9, which also holds spiritual significance in a lot of cultures
A pentagon has interior angles that are 108 degrees – another fun fact: in alchemy some believe the pentagon represents the 5 elements that make up all things

There are actually many more cool aspects of 108 in mathematics so if you want to dive deeper I encourage you to continue your research!

108 In Science

This is where the number 108 starts to get even more interesting!

The distance between the sun and earth is 108 times the sun’s diameter. The sun’s diameter is also equal to 108 times the earth’s diameter. On top of that the average distance from earth to the moon is equal to 108 times the diameter of the moon 🤯
An internal temperature of 108 is when organ failure begins
Stonehenge is 108 ft in diameter
There are Mayan temples that are 108 ft tall
Silver has an atomic weight of 108 – silver is often associated with the moon.
There are 9 planets and 12 signs under the zodiac that are said to affect your life (12×9=108)

108 In Religion

It’s amazing how the number 108 can have significance across different cultures and religions. There are a lot of resources where you can find more detailed information but here is a quick overview of the number 108’s meaning in different religious practices.

Hinduism

In Hinduism the number 108 is believed to “bind us to the universe”. Here are some of the ways:

108 names of the Vedic Deities
The basis of all creation is 108
108 is the distance between us and God
There are 108 points of life force/energy lines in the human body(marma points)
108 Nadis move through the seven chakras and interconnect in the heart chakra
There are 108 Upanishads(sacred texts/holy writings)
There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet, each with two energies, masculine and feminine(that makes 108 in total)
108 beads on a mala with a guru bead to representing spiritual completion

Keep in mind that there is even more significance to this number in Indian culture than what is listed here.

Buddhism

There are many connections to the number 108 in Buddhism also:

108 defilements or vices that every human being must overcome in this life
108 statements of the Buddha
108 beads in Buddhist prayer beads
Zen Buddhist temples ring a bell 108 times in the New Year to signify overcoming the 108 passions
The Kangyur of Tibetan Buddhism contains 108 holy texts
There is said to be 108 names of the Buddha

Christianity

The Epistle of St. James, which pertains to faith and morals holds 108 verses.

Jainism

In Jainism there are 108 attributes to the five Supreme Beings that are worshiped.

Sikhism

In Sikhism some believe 108 is the representation of divine consciousness. There are also 108 knots on the Sikh mala.

Islam

In the Islam tradition the number 108 is reference to God.

Closing Thoughts

Isn’t it amazing all the different ways the number 108 connects to the wholeness of existence?

The interconnectedness of this number and how its significance has reached across time, from sacred sites to subtle nerve channels and the connection of the world to the universe. It’s like nature’s secret code for the path to enlightenment.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in learning the three skills that empower you to embody your yoga off the mat to get the results you desire in your personal life, check out my Yoga for Self Mastery course.
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