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