The Significance of 108 – Why Is It So Important?

108 is a sacred number in nearly every religion. Hindu prayer malas are made of 108 beads. There are 108 names of God and 108 Chakras. Earth, Sun, and Moon are also linked to the Holy 108.

About 108 Earths fit across the Sun. About 108 Suns fit in between Earth and Sun. And, about 108 Moons fit between Earth and Moon. The number 360 is encoded in these distances when measured in miles.

It has been said that if one takes just 108 breaths in one day, they will reach enlightenment.

“In the end, it’s not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away” -Shing Xiong

According to NASA, the Moon’s orbit around Earth is not a perfect circle and is more of an ellipse, so the Moon is not always 108 ‘moons’ away. It is at this distance at some point between its mean orbit and its perigee, which means ‘when the Moon is closest to Earth’. Earth’s orbit around the Sun is also an ellipse. On September 18-19 the distance of the Sun from Earth is 108 times that of the Sun’s diameter.

The Moon is not always 108 ‘moons’ away, but it is at one point each month.

There are said to be 108 types of meditation. Some say there are 108 paths to God. Indian traditions have 108 dance forms. Every year in Japan a bell is chimed 108 times in Buddhist temples to finish the old year and welcome the new one. Hindu deities have 108 names.

The Sri Yantra “sacred instrument” is a diagram formed by nine interlocking triangles that surround and radiate out from the central (bindu) point. A yantra is a symbolic representation of aspects of divinity, the creative forces of the universe. On Sri Yantra, the Marmas have 54 intersecting energy lines where three lines intersect. Each has feminine, or shakti, and masculine, or shiva, qualities. 54 × 2 = 108. Therefore, there are 108 points that define the human body and the Sri Yantra or the Yantra of Creation. The same rule is observed in the Sanskrit language, with its 54 letters, both representing the two genders, and they are also called Shiva and Shakti respectively; again, 54 × 2= 108. — HumanityHealing

“The material universe that you perceive through your mind, speech, eyes, ears, and other senses are an illusory creation that one imagines to be real due to the influence of maya (illusion). In fact, you should know that all of the objects of the material senses are temporary.” — Uddhava Gita

“The harmony of the world is made manifest in Form and Number, and the heart and soul and all the poetry of Natural Philosophy are embodied in the concept of mathematical beauty.” —D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson

Mathematically and Geometrically:

108 is a Harshad number (1+0+8=9) / 108 is divisible by 9
108 pattern in reduced fibonacci numbers
366 days in a sidereal year; 3×6×6 = 108
1 squared plus 2 squared plus 3 squared equals 108
108° degrees on inner angles of a pentagon

Theology and Culture:

108 beads on prayer Mala
108 repetitions of a mantra
108 types of meditation
108 paths to God
108 dance forms in Indian traditions
108 time frame in Rosicrucian cycles
108 gopis of Vrindavan in the Gaudiya Vaishnavism
108 defilements in some schools of Buddhism
108 earthly temptations
108 beads on a juzu (prayer beads) worn by Zen priests
108 questions for Buddha in the Lankavatra
108 previous incarnations remembered in modern Gnosticism
108 chances or lifetimes to rid the ego and trancend the materialistic world
108 earthly desires/lies/delusions in Buddhism
108 is the maximum number of repetitions in Kriya Yoga
108 Sun Salutations in yoga
108 breaths in a day help to reach enlightenment in meditation
108 energy lines or nadis converging to form the heart chakra
108 sacred books in the holy writings of Tibet
108 epistemological doctrines in Hinduism tradition
108 virtues in Jain tradition
108 steps in temples mentioned in the Lankavatara Sutra
108 sins or 108 delusions of the mind in Tibetan Buddhism
108 pressure points in the body according to Marma Adi and Ayurveda

Throughout history, 108 has always been a highly revered number, coveted by many religions for its practicality in nature and design.

54 & 108 Bead Malas

Our selection of handmade Malas make the perfect handmade addition to spiritual and intentional lifestyles. Use them as a tool in meditation, during yoga practice, or wear as a necklace to carry your intention with you while you're on the go! Handcrafted from high quality semi-precious crystals and gemstones, wood and seeds, these high quality beauties make exceptional jewelry, and you could also break them apart to create your own magic!