Mantra Calligraphy
108 Repetitions

Repetition: Mantra are meant to be repeated - classic mantra yoga consists of sequences of 108 repetitions. Why 108? The number 108 has mystical significance to both Hindus and Buddhists, and even to mathematicians etc. etc.. However, in all my research, no one has stated a satisfying answer to what is the actual meaning, what is really significant about the number 108. A few examples of its use:

There are 108 beads on a mala (Buddhist and Hindu rosary).

Hindu deities have 108 names.

The Lankavatara Sutra has a section where the Bodhisattva Mahamati asks Buddha 108 questions.

In Japan, at the end of the year, a bell is chimed 108 times.

The karate Goju-ryu kata "Suparinpei," translates as "108"

According to the Ayurveda, there are 108 pressure points in the body.

There are 108 moves of the Yang T'ai Ch'i long form.

In Homer's "Odyssey", there are 108 suitors coveting Penelope, wife of Odysseus.

An official Major League Baseball ball has 108 stitches.

108 = (2 x 2) x (3 x 3 x 3), i.e. 2-squared times 3-cubed

The distance of the Sun from the Earth divided by the diameter of the Sun and the distance of the Moon from the Earth divided by the diameter of the Moon is approximately equal to 108.

In Euclidean space, the interior angles of a regular pentagon measure 108 degrees each.

The founders of Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca NY (and the artist) lived at 108 Schuyler Place during its inception.

In India,108 (1-0-8) is the toll-free emergency telephone number (of course). If you research this number 108, you will be amazed at what you find.