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Re: Significance of 9?
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To: soc-religion-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Re: Significance of 9?
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From: Prasad Gokhale <f0g1@unb.ca>
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Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 09:28:26 -0400
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In-Reply-To: <4grrvp$3kr@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
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Organization: University of New Brunswick
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References: <4grrvp$3kr@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
On 26 Feb 1996, Santhosh Kumar wrote:
> In Hinduism, the number 9 has a lot of significance.
> The number of rudrakshas in the rudraksha mala is 108 ( sum is 9 ),
> and a lot more like this, the number 9 is glorified. Any reasons?
[ I had archived the following ]
As per Indian mythology, Indian culture has a very special significance of
number 108. What is this number represent, and why is it so important?
I will try to give some answers to it, all the answers I am giving come from
a book on "Mantra Mahavigyan".
1) In one minute, we breathe in approximately 15 times, in 1 hour 900 times,
and in 12 hours 10800 times, and in a day 10800 * 2 times. A day consists
of 24 hours, and if we set aside half the day for our day to day routines,
then one can spend 12 hours for recitation of one's idol. Therefore, the
maximmum number of times that one can recite "mantra", or perform "Jap" are
10800. If one wants to obtain 100% benefit of its jap, then performing
jap 108 times will give you the benefit of 100%. That's why in a "Mala",
there are 108 beads. It is written in Vedas, that 1 Jap corresponds to
1 mala (which has 108 beads), therefore performing jap of 108 malas will
result in 100% benefit.
2) Astronomically, there are 27 constillations in our galaxy, and each one them
has 4 directions, and 27 * 4 = 108, In other words the number 108 covers
the whole galaxy.
3) According to Indian scriptures, letter 9 corresponds to Lord Brahma (the
creator of universe). Mathematically, the interesting property of 9 is
9x1 = 9
9 x 2 = 18 (8+1 = 9)
9 * 3 = 27 (7+2 = 9)
9 * 12 = 108 (1+0+8 = 9)
I don't know what it leads to.
4) In Hindu religion, number 9 is very important. Keeping the importance of
number 9, Rishi Vyas has created 9 Purans, 108 MahaPuran (Upnishads).
Mahabharat has 18 chapters, Geeta has 18 chapters, Bhagavat has 108000
Shloks (verses).
The addition of digits of number 108 is 9, and number 9 is related with
Brahma, that's why 108 is very important, and came into lot of Indian
scriptures.
5) Indian Vedas, treats the Sun as God, and Sun has 12 signs (Zodiac signs).
In Yajurved, Sun is related with Lord Brahma (the number 9), remember -
12 * 9 = 108; therefore for Gods Prayer, the number 108 is very sacred.
6) According to Indian mythology, there are 4 Yugs
Satyug - consists of 172,800 years (1+7+2+8 = 18 == (1+8 = 9)
TretaYug consists of 1296000 years (1+2+9+6 = 18 = (1+8 = 9)
DwaparYug consists of 864000 years (8+4+6) = 18 = (1+8 = 9)
Kaliyug consists of 432000 years (4+3+2) = 9
===
originally posted by: usp@austin.ibm.com
