Pupuji Koul
It is not only in Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma that mantras are chanted 108 times but it is almost universal as in other cultures as well it is so.In fact, there are always 108 beads in the Japa Mala -called as ”prayer beads.”There is some significance and meaning in chanting mantras 108 times.The, moot question is what is the rationale behind having 108 beads in amala and chanting of mantras 108 times and it is not confined to Hinduism only but it is so across cultures and traditions.Everyone knows it that mantras are chanted 108 times and rosary always has only 108 beads but do not know why it is so? We should at least have the elementary knowledge about why it is so? We should know the doctrine/principle behind having 108 beads in a rosary and about chanting mantras 108 times.It is not only or special in Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma that mantras are chanted 108 times,but it is so across the cultures and traditions.Let us know the rationale behind chanting mantras 108 times.Mantras are commonly chanted 108 times because of the significance of 108.In fact chanting mantras 108 times is a practice rooted in the number’s significance in cosmology, astrology, and spiritual traditions,particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism, rather than being universal cross all cultures.This repetition is believed to align an individual’s energy with cosmic rhythms and promote spiritual transformation through connections to cosmic distances, astrological calculations, yogic energy lines, sacred texts, and numbers symbolism.Have you ever wondered why mantras are traditionally repeated 108 times? Normally it is traditional because to delve into all of the reasons why mantras are changed 108 times is kinda nerdy, and to some people ,kinda woo -woo and it is like to keep things fact-based, evidence -based, and rational when it is working with the therapeutic power of sound and mantra.However, to satisfy our curiosity it is at least helpful to understand the ”why”of the number 108.And the ”why”of the number 54 for the Christian rosary.The rational for chanting mantras 108 times is based on a combination of spiritual, cosmological .and physiological beliefs,such as the number 108 connecting the Earth, Sun,and Moon, representing a significant number of energy lines in the body,and symbolizing spiritual completeness.It is considered a tool for purification and for bringing the practitioner into harmony with the vibrations of the universe.Following are the reasons behind chanting mantras 108 times-1-Spiritual & Cosmological Reasons-a-Cosmic connection—The distance between the earth and the sun and earth and moon is said to be approximately 108 times their respective dimeters.-b-Spiritual path—Some traditions believe there are 108 energy lines ,or nadis, that converge in the heart chakra ,and chanting 108 times helps activate these channels.-c-Spiritual completeness-In some paths ,there are 108 defilements or obstacles to overcome on the path to enlightenment ,making the repetition tool for purification.-d-Symbolic digits-The digits ,1,0,8 can represent ”one” [God or the individual] ,”nothing ”[emptiness or zero],and ”everything” [infinity],symbolising the journey from the individual to everything.
2-Physiological reasons-a-Marma points—According to Ayurveda ,the human body has 108 vital points of life force called marma points,and chanting a mantra 108 times is thought to activate or balance these points.-b-Breathing cycle-One theory suggests the number is derived from approximate number of breaths a person takes in 12-hour period[ 10,800],with 108 being a simplified ,practical number to represent these cycles.
How it works in practice—a—Focus and meditation-Repeating a mantra 108 times provides a structured and meditative practice to help the practitioner stay focussed and mindful. —b—Transformational effect-The consistent repetition is believed to have a transformational effect,helping to clear blockages and bring about self-realisation. -c-Mala Beads-A Japa mala is a string of 108 beads, with special ”guru bead”to help practitioners count each repetition and guide them through the process.
We have often heard our elders saying that the Mantras must be chanted 108 times but have you ever heard about the reason behind the same? Mantra has been portrayed as a consecrated expression or numinous sound. most punctual mantras took birth in India more than 3,000 years back and were created in Vedic Sanskrit.Reciting mantras has the ability to change psyche,body,and soul.Chanting mantras 108 times is a sacred practice in many traditions, believed to deepen focus, improver spiritual connection, and bring about transformative effects.The number 108 holds cosmic and spiritual significance, appearing in contexts like number of Upanishads,108 marma points in the human body, and astronomical distance related to the sun,moon and earth.Using a mala with 108 beads is a common tool for keeping count and ensuring each mantra is completed with focus.There are said to be 108 Upanishads and 108 primary sacred places -Shakti Pithas in Hinduism. There is astrological significance of chanting mantras 108 times.There are 12 zodiac signs and nine planets, which multiply to 108-[9x 12 = 108.The Sanskrit alphabet has 54 letters,each with both a masculine and feminine aspect [Shiva and Shakti ],which multiplies to 108 [54×2==108].
There are several benefits of chanting 108 times-a-Deepens focus-The repetition helps to quiet the mind and improve concentration-b-Fosters mindfulness—Following a count through a japa mala or without it increases mindfulness during practice. —c— Creates sacred resonance-The repetition is believed to create a powerful,sacred resonance that can invite blessings. -Aids in spiritual growth-It is believed to be a path to spiritual transformation and alignment with cosmic energies. -d-Connects with universal vibrations—The practice helps practitioners connect with the fundamental vibrations of the cosmos.108 has long been revered in Buddhism,Hinduism,yoga, and even ancient geometry and mathematics, however,its exact meaning is up for debate.It has been one of the most venerated numbers for thousands of years due to its prominence in spiritual,astrological,numerical, and metaphysical fields.Malas or prayer beads, are used for meditation and mantra repetition in Hindu and yogic traditions.They typically consist of 108 beads plus an extra guru bead that is positioned apart from the main loop,making the mala a stringof 108 plus 1 bead.The japa malas aid practitioners in staying focused as they cycle through 108 recitations of a mantra.In, yogic tradition,the number appears repeatedly.There are said to be 108 peethas-sacred sites -spread across India,108 Upanishads,and 108 marmapoints ,or vital regions of the human body.Within the body, yogic philosophy states that 108 nadis or energy channels converge in the heart [the Anahata chakra].One, of these,the sushumna ,is believed to lead towards self -realisation.Then the nine planets-the Sun,Moon, Mars, Venus, MercuryJupiter, Saturn,Rahu,andKetu-are thought to govern the natural order,wearing a mala is thought to help counteract the effects of these celestial bodies.The 108 mala beads have several chakra -related theories, one of 108 energy lines that connect to the heart centre is thought to be the path to spiritual enlightenment, in many mantra practice traditions, the extra 100 repetitions signify completion.Geometry also reflects this pattern. On the Sri Yantra, there are 54 intersections where three lines meet.Each point embodies both masculine [Shiva}and feminine[Shakti] qualities.Doubling them yields 108 points, believed to define both sacred diagrams and the human body.The significance of 108 has also been explored in mathematics.Galileo described the universe as written in ”mathematical language” and many mystics believed numbers offered a key to deeper insight Yoga traditions consider 108 such a key. Interestingly, a baseball has 108 stitches and in yoga ,108 symbolises spiritual completion. At the end we can say that apart from Hinduism and Yoga,Buddhism also gives number 108, profound significance.So, across Indian cosmology, astrology,spiritual texts,world religions,geometry, astronomy, and ancient numeri’s ,the number 108 does appear again and again,and marks its presence strongly.