108 is a holy number for Hindus. When we do Pushpanjali to a particular deity, we chant 108 synonyms of the concerned deity as a method of pleasing him/her.
I have always wondered at the significance of 108. Why is it 108 and not 100 or 110 or 150? Knowing the wisdom of our forefathers, this could not have been accidental or something that happened on a whim.
Recently, I think, I probably found the appropriate reason. Life revolved around the sun during the Vedic Ages, to which we can assign the origin of the sanctity of 108.
108 is the result you get when divide Sun's distance from Earth by Sun's Diameter
149,600,000km/ 1,391,000 km = 107. 55 or 108 (rounding off)
(Data sourced from NASA)
It is also interesting to note that the Moon's distance from Earth/Divided by Moons diameter (382,500km/3485km = 109.75) is more or less equal to 108, though slightly more. We can give a benefit of doubt to our sages who lived thousands of years ago, as they didn't have accurate tools to measure.
Amazing isn't it?
