108 (number)


108 is the natural number following 107 and preceding 109.

In mathematics

108 is:
There are 108 free polyominoes of order 7.
The equation results in the golden ratio.

Religion and the arts

The number 108 is considered sacred by the Dharmic Religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Hinduism

In Hindu tradition, the Mukhya Shivaganas 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 that are revered by the 12 Alvars in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. There are also 108 pithas.

Jainism

In Jainism, the total number of ways of Karma influx. 4 Kashays x 3 karanas x 3 stages of planning x 3 ways of execution.

Buddhism

In Buddhism, according to Bhante Gunaratana this number is reached by multiplying the senses smell, touch, taste, hearing, sight, and consciousness by whether they are painful, pleasant or neutral, and then again by whether these are internally generated or externally occurring, and yet again by past, present and future, finally we get 108 feelings. 6 × 3 × 2 × 3 = 108.
Tibetan Buddhist malas or rosaries are usually 108 beads; sometimes 111 including the guru bead, reflecting the words of the Buddha called in Tibetan the Kangyur in 108 volumes.
Zen priests wear juzu around their wrists, which consists of 108 beads.
, or japa beads, made from tulasi wood, consisting of 108 beads plus the head bead.
The Lankavatara Sutra has a section where the Bodhisattva Mahamati asks Buddha 108 questions and another section where Buddha lists 108 statements of negation in the form of "A statement concerning X is not a statement concerning X." In a footnote, D.T. Suzuki explains that the Sanskrit word translated as "statement" is pada which can also mean "foot-step" or "a position." This confusion over the word "pada" explains why some have mistakenly held that the reference to 108 statements in the Lankavatara refer to the 108 steps that many temples have.
In Japan, at the end of the year, a bell is chimed 108 times in Buddhist temples to finish the old year and welcome the new one. Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome to achieve nirvana.

Other references

In the neo-Gnostic teachings of Samael Aun Weor, an individual has 108 chances to eliminate his egos and transcend the material world before "devolving" and having the egos forcefully removed in the infradimensions.

Martial arts

Many East Asian martial arts trace their roots back to Buddhism, specifically, to the Buddhist Shaolin Temple. Because of their ties to Buddhism, 108 has become an important symbolic number in a number of martial arts styles.