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Re: Significance of the digit *1*?
Mukti Parupudi <pp002963@interramp.com> writes:
>pankaj@lexis-nexis.com (Pankaj Dhingra) wrote:
>>
>> Maybe this is a cultural thing, but I will ask anyways:
>>
>> What is the significance of the digit 1? When giving gifts
>> or donations, the value always seems to end in a *1*. i.e.
>> $1, $21, $101, $501, and so on.
>>
>> Just wondering,
>
>My two cents:
>
>In Andhra Pradesh, it is a different custom. It is 116, 1116, etc.
>I personally use the number 108 since it is a sacred number, being
>the number of beads on a japa mala.
>
>Cheers
>Mukti
The reason people use 1, 21 , 101, 501 etc is simple.
Superstitiously, they believe it is unauspicious to end figures
with zeros as it might bring ill-luck to the taker as the last
thing you give is a zero.
The reason people use 116 and 1116 is entirely different.
In the Telugu speaking areas of sarkars and nizam kingdom, we
used to have english company rupee in sarkars and nizam rupee
in nizam province. And the exchange is usually 116 local (nizam)
rupees for 100 english circar rupees. So, when an artist gives
performances in nizam area, if he/she was from circar area, he/she
used to demand 100 circar rupees i.e, 116 nizam rupees.
Also, for obvious reasons, cirar rupee used to be more genarally
acepted than nizam for merchandize, travel and other purposes.
Also of interest to note is that even weights and measures used
in circar and nizam areas used to differ; so they say.
Now the number 108 has religious significance as argued. Its use
perhaps started with the monitpory donations to temples by devotees.
But what do you say if some one argues that 40 is also sacred
number because of `hanuman chalisa' by Tulasi Das.
-Syamala Rao.
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