Philosophy
The number 108 in yoga
In yoga, 108 is a traditional number of completeness. A mala has 108 beads for counting mantras, a late Upanishad lists 108 Upanishads, and deities are praised in lists of 108 names. Buddhists count 108 defilements and Jains 108 qualities of the five supreme beings. No single origin explains it; many counts meet at 108.
In yoga and the traditions behind it, 108 is a number of completeness. You meet it in the 108 beads of a mala, the 108 rounds of a sun salutation event, and the 108 names in a hymn of praise.
There is no single reason for it. Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions each have their own counts that arrive at 108, and over time the number gathered meaning from all of them.
Where does 108 show up in Hindu texts?
Upanishads. The Muktika Upanishad, a late text, gives a canon of 108 Upanishads, even though more than two hundred texts carry the name.
Names of the divine. Hymns called ashtottara shatanamavali, lists of 108 names, praise deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and Lakshmi, one name for each bead.
Temples and dance. Vaishnava tradition honours 108 Divya Desams, temples praised by the Tamil poet saints. The Natya Shastra describes 108 karanas, units of dance movement, which are carved in stone at the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram.
Astronomy and maths. Indian astronomy divides the sky into 27 lunar mansions, each in four quarters, which makes 108. Twelve zodiac signs times nine planets also gives 108. The number is also 1 times 2 squared times 3 cubed.
What does 108 mean in Buddhism and Jainism?
Buddhist traditions speak of 108 defilements or afflictions of the mind. One common explanation multiplies the six senses by pleasant, unpleasant and neutral feeling, by attachment or its absence, and by past, present and future. In Japan, temple bells are rung 108 times on New Year’s Eve, one for each defilement. Tibetan malas for chants such as om mani padme hum, the mantra of compassion, have 108 beads.
Jain malas also have 108 beads. The count matches the qualities of the five supreme beings honoured in the Navkar mantra: 12 for the arihants, 8 for the siddhas, 36 for the acharyas, 25 for the upadhyayas and 27 for the sadhus, which together make 108.
Why does a mala have 108 beads?
A mala is a string of beads for counting a mantra. One full round is 108 repetitions, a practice called japa, explained further on the page about mantra, what it is and how japa works. A larger bead, the meru, marks the start and end of the round. Mantras such as om namah shivaya, the five-syllable mantra, are often counted this way.
You may also read that the distance from the Earth to the Sun is about 108 times the Sun’s diameter, and the same roughly for the Moon. Those ratios are only approximate, and they are a modern observation rather than the source of the tradition.
How does 108 show up in a modern yoga class?
Most visibly as 108 Sun Salutations. Some studios mark the solstices, the equinoxes or International Yoga Day with 108 rounds, usually in sets of ten or twelve with short rests. Others chant Om 108 times, or begin a meditation with one round on a mala.
Think of any 108 practice as an offering, not a test. Taking part for a few rounds and resting the rest of the time is a complete way to join in.
Questions
Why does a mala have 108 beads?
So that one round counts 108 repetitions of a mantra, a number Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions all regard as complete. A larger bead, often called the meru bead, marks the start and end of the round, and many people turn back at it rather than crossing over.
Do you have to do 108 sun salutations in one go?
No. Studios that run a 108 event usually split the rounds into sets with rests, and many people join for part of it. It is a long, repetitive practice, so rest whenever you need to and stop if anything hurts.
What is the maths behind 108?
Several neat facts are often quoted. 108 equals 1 times 2 squared times 3 cubed. It is 12 times 9, the twelve zodiac signs times the nine planets of Indian astronomy, and 27 times 4, the lunar mansions times their four quarters. Such patterns help explain why the number felt complete.
Are there malas with fewer than 108 beads?
Yes. Wrist malas often have 27 or 54 beads, a quarter or a half of 108, so that four or two rounds make a full count. The number of repetitions still adds up to 108.