A Number That Shows Up Everywhere in Worship
Pick up a japa mala used for chanting and count its beads, and the number will almost always be 108. Look at a list of a deity's names recited in worship, such as the many ashtottara shatanamavali collections, and 108 names appear again. Temples are sometimes built with 108 pillars or steps, and some pilgrimages count 108 sacred sites.
This is not coincidence. Among all the numbers available, Hindu tradition has, for thousands of years, treated 108 as uniquely complete and auspicious.
Where This Tradition Comes From
Yogic tradition describes the human body as having a network of energy channels called nadis, all said to converge at the heart chakra, with 108 of them considered especially significant on the spiritual path. This is one of the most commonly cited reasons the number was adopted for counting mantra repetitions.
Tradition also counts principal Upanishads as 108 in number, and many deity name-collections, the ashtottara shatanamavali, are composed of exactly 108 names. Across these different contexts, the number consistently marks something considered whole and spiritually significant rather than arbitrary.
What 108 Is Said to Symbolize
Beyond these specific traditions, 108 itself is often read symbolically, digit by digit. The 1 is said to represent the one truth or the divine, the 0 represents emptiness or completeness (shunya), and the 8 represents infinity, the symbol turned on its side. Together, tradition holds these three digits speak of the entirety of existence contained within a single number.
This symbolic reading is part of why the number feels fitting for repeated chanting, each repetition of a mantra a small offering toward that idea of wholeness.
How 108 Is Used in Worship Today
The number continues to shape devotional practice in visible ways.
- A japa mala traditionally has 108 beads plus one extra guru bead marking the start and end
- Many mantras are chanted in sets of 108 repetitions, counted on the mala
- Ashtottara shatanamavali puja involves offering flowers while reciting 108 names of a deity
- Surya Namaskar sets are sometimes practiced in multiples of 108, especially around solstices
- Some temple bells or structures are designed with 108 in mind, out of respect for the tradition
A Number That Turns Counting Into Devotion
Whether it is nadis in the body, names of a deity, or beads on a mala, 108 gives devotees a shared, time-tested rhythm for practice. It transforms simple repetition into something structured and meaningful, a small discipline that, performed with sincerity, becomes an act of faith and love, not a transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a japa mala have 108 beads instead of a round number like 100?+
Tradition connects 108 to ideas like the 108 nadis meeting at the heart chakra and the 108 principal Upanishads, treating it as a spiritually complete number rather than an arbitrary count.
What is the extra 109th bead on a mala used for?+
Called the meru or guru bead, it marks where a round of chanting begins and ends and is traditionally not counted through, serving instead as a pause before starting the next round.
Is it acceptable to chant fewer than 108 times if short on time?+
Yes, devotees often chant shorter rounds when needed. Sincerity and regularity in practice are considered more important than always completing a full 108 count.
About the author
Anjali Mehta · Editor, M.A. Religious Studies
Anjali is the managing editor for Vandnaa and oversees the festival and vrat coverage. She holds an M.A. in Religious Studies and reviews every published article for accuracy, accessibility, and tradition-fidelity.
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