108 !

Today my wife accepted the task of transferring images from some CDs into a digital photo frame, from her mother. She knew that I will show some interest in it. I have never ‘handled’ a digital photo frame and another challenge was that somebody tried it and it did not work. So, naturally, I decided to give it a try.

It was a COBY make. There wasn’t any problem accessing the equipment using my laptop. I transferred all the images and it came roughly over 900 picz. So, whats interesting?

It displayed only 108 images!. First set of 108 images from its default folder. Then I was wondering what logic it is behind 108. When we think the binary way, we get only 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 and so on. 108 did not fit anywhere. An American company and 108? Then where do 108 fits into?

108 has many significance in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. . I don’t know how other religions look at this number. In India people who use rosary for chanting or wearing has 108 beads or 54 (+ 1 Guru bead , in many cases). If a person is using a rosary with 54 beads, one needs to do the chants two times. A rosary with 54 beads gives ideal length (to wear) when we make it with gold or silver, that too if we make it with caps. Its just a personal choice. But why 108?

The reason is not single. Even within a single religion, there are different views. But there is a general reason. Whether one believes in astrology or not, if a person is doing a 108 rosary, there is astrology behind it.

There are 12 major constellations and 9 planets. And thus there are 108 major changes or vibrations happening. And a believer in God want to chant the name of God for every (such) vibration or change. This is the major reason behind why (at least) most of us use a 108 beaded rosary and if we look around and try to find out how this number is significant to other civilizations or cultures or countries or religions or faith groups, there might be a 108 reasons….