In Hindu tradition, theMukhyaShivaganas (attendants of Shiva) are 108 in number and henceShaiva religions, particularlyLingayats, usemalas of 108 beads for prayer and meditation.
Similarly, inGaudiya Vaishnavism, LordKrishna inBrindavan had 108 followers known asgopis. Recital of their names, often accompanied by the counting of a 108-beadedmala, is often done during religious ceremonies.
InJainism, the total number of ways of Karma influx (Aasrav). 4 Kashays (anger, pride, conceit, greed) x 3 karanas (mind, speech, bodily action) x 3 stages of planning (planning, procurement, commencement) x 3 ways of execution (own action, getting it done, supporting or approval of action).[citation needed]
InTheravada Buddhism, according toBhante Gunaratana[5] this number is reached by multiplying the senses smell, touch, taste, hearing, sight, and consciousness by whether they are painful, pleasant or neutral, and then again by whether these are internally generated or externally occurring, and yet again by past, present and future, finally we get 108 feelings. 6 × 3 × 2 × 3 = 108. Thus, the number 108 represents all the possible sensory states that one could experience.
Tibetan Buddhist malas or rosaries (Tib.ཕྲེང་བ Wyl. phreng ba, "Trengwa" ) are usually 108 beads;[6] sometimes 111 including theguru bead(s), reflecting the words of theBuddha called inTibetan theKangyur (Wylie: Bka'-'gyur) in 108 volumes.Zen priests wearjuzu (a ring of prayer beads) around their wrists, which consists of 108 beads.[7]
Japa mala, orjapa beads, made fromtulasi wood, consisting of 108 beads plus the head bead
TheLankavatara Sutra has a section where the Bodhisattva Mahamati asks The Buddha 108 questions[8] and another section where The Buddha lists 108 statements of negation in the form of "A statement concerning X is not a statement concerning X."[9] In a footnote, D.T. Suzuki explains that the Sanskrit word translated as "statement" ispada which can also mean "foot-step" or "a position". This confusion over the word "pada" explains why some have mistakenly held that the reference to 108 statements in the Lankavatara refer to the 108 steps that many temples have.[10]
InJapan, at the end of the year, abell is chimed 108 times in Buddhist temples to finish the old year and welcome the new one (Joya no Kane(除夜の鐘)). Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations (Bonnō) a person must overcome to achievenirvana.
In the neo-Gnostic teachings ofSamael Aun Weor, an individual has 108 chances (lifetimes) to eliminate his egos and transcend the material world before "devolving" and having the egos forcefully removed in theinfradimensions.[11]
Once Odysseusreturns home in theOdyssey, his son Telemachus tells him that there are 108suitors of his wife, Penelope.[12]
Many East Asian martial arts trace their roots back to Buddhism, specifically, to the Buddhist Shaolin Temple. Because of their ties to Buddhism, 108 has become an important symbolic number in a number of martial arts styles.
According toMarma Adi andAyurveda, there are 108 pressure points in the body, where consciousness and flesh intersect to give life to the living being.[13]
The Chinese school of martial arts agrees with theIndian school of martial arts on the principle of 108 pressure points.[14][15]
108 number figures prominently in the symbolism associated withkarate, particularly theGōjū-ryū discipline. The ultimate Gōjū-ryū kata,Suparinpei, literally translates to 108.Suparinpei is theChineseFoochow language pronunciation of the number 108, whilegojūshi of Gojūshiho is the Japanese pronunciation of the number 54. The other Gōjū-ryū kata,Sanseru (meaning "36") andSeipai ("18") are factors of the number 108.[7]
The 108 moves of the Yang Taijiquan long form and 108 moves in theWing Chunwooden dummy form, taught byIp Man, are noted in this regard.[10]
TheEagle Claw Kung Fu style has a form known as the 108 Locking Hand Techniques.[16] This form is considered the essence of the style, consisting of an encyclopedia ofChin Na techniques, and is said to be passed down from the founder GeneralYue Fei.[16]
Paek Pal Ki Hyung, the 7th form taught in the art ofKuk Sool Won, translates literally to "108 technique" form. It is also frequently referred to as the "eliminate 108 torments" form. Each motion corresponds with one of the 108 Buddhist torments or defilements.
In the Cambodian martial art ofBokator, there are 108kbach in gates 1 through 8 of the hand-to-hand combat techniques.
108 is the number that the Belgian cyclistWouter Weylandt wore when he crashed fatally in theGiro d'Italia on May 9, 2011. As a tribute, many supporters held replicas of his race number by the side of the roadthe next day. The organization of the Giro d'Italia decided not to issue race number 108 in future editions, to commemorate him.
^Subramaniam, P. (1994). Shu Hikosaka; Norinaga Shimizu; G. John Samuel (eds.).Varma Cuttiram வர்ம சுத்திரம்: A Tamil Text on Martial Art from Palm-Leaf Manuscript. Translated by M. Radhika. Madras: Institute of Asian Studies. pp. 90 & 91.
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