I do not know about the auspiciousness of 108. However, the 8 in 108 does have a special meaning as it does in 18 (books of the Mahābhārata). Following upon 7, which makes a finite, closed list (seventh heaven, seven generations in some inscriptions), 8 opens it again (with it the speaker/writer indicates that he could easily go on adding to the list). Thus, 8 rasas ("On the Use of Rasa in Studies of Sanskrit Drama, IIJ 43 (2000), pp. 115-138) and in some Gupta inscriptions the kings are praised in 8 stanzas ("Some Literary Embellishments in the Gupta Inscriptions". ArOr 74/4 (2006), pp. 451-460.

Van: INDOLOGY <indology-bounces@list.indology.info> namens Jim Ryan via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info>
Verzonden: woensdag 9 februari 2022 21:10
Aan: Harry Spier <vasishtha.spier@gmail.com>
CC: indology@list.indology.info <indology@list.indology.info>
Onderwerp: Re: [INDOLOGY] Auspicious numbers in Hinduism

Harry,

Thomas McEvilley in his book, The Shape of Ancient Thought discusses a theory of how a number of the Indian auspicious numbers (including 108) might have been derived from Sumerian “Processional arithmetic.” This is in Chapter 3, I think. Especially beginning on p. 293.

Jim Ryan

Asian Philosophies and Cultures (Emeritus)

California Institute of Integral Studies

On Feb 9, 2022, at 11:09 AM, Harry Spier via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:

Dear list members,
Can anyone point me to any studies on auspicious numbers in Hinduism

Thanks,

Harry Spier

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