Thursday, January 9, 2014

108 Sun Salutations: Why 108?



108 Sun Salutations



 Why 108? 
·    108 beads on a mala. The number holds significance (as does 9: 8+1=9) in the Hindu tradition.
     Traditionally, Buddhist have 108 beads, representing the 108 human passions that Avalokiteshvara assumed when telling the beads. This number ensures a repetition of a sacred mantra at least 100 times, the extra beads allowing for any omissions made through absentmindness in counting or for loss or breakage of beads.
     Sanskrit alphabet: There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.
     Time: Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, 36 related to the present, and 36 related to the future.
     Astrology: There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments called namshas or chandrakalas. 9 times 12 equals 108. Chandra is moon, and kalas are the divisions within a whole.
     Sun and Earth: The diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth.
     Moon and Earth: The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon.
     108 may be the product of a precise mathematical operation (e.g. 1 power 1 x 2 power 2 x 3 power 3 = 108) which was thought to have special numerological significance.
     SANSKRIT ALPHABET: There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet.
Each has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.
     DESIRES: There are said to be 108 earthly desires in mortals.
     LIES: There are said to be 108 lies that humans tell.
     Delusions: There are said to be 108 human delusions or forms of ignorance.
     Time: Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to past, 36 related to present, and 36 related to future.
     Stages of the soul: Atman, the human soul or center goes through 108 stages on the journey.
     Anahata the heart chakra: The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is said to be the path to Self-realization.
     Marmas or marmastanas are like energy intersections called chakras, except have fewer energy lines converging to form them. There are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body.
     SHOSHU BUDDHIST: 108 beads in their malas.
They implement the formula: 6 x 3 x 2 x3 = 108 6 senses [sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, thought]
3 aspects of time [past, present, future]
2 condition of heart [pure or impure]
3 possibilities of sentiment [like, dislike, indifference

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