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?
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 maximum number of times that one can recite “mantra”, or perform “Jaap” are 10800. If one wants to obtain 100% benefit of its jaap, then performing jaap 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 Jaap corresponds to 1 mala (which has 108 beads), therefore performing jaap of 108 malas will result in 100% benefit.
2) Astronomically, there are 27 constellations 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) In Hindu religion, number 9 is very important. Keeping the importance of number 9, Rishi Vyas has created 9 Purans, 108 MahaPuran (Upanishads). 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.
4) 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.