In The Poona Orientalist I and II ( 1936 and 37) Stein published two articles on the numeral 18. They are valuable contributions to Indian number mysticism which is traceable since Vedic times. Even the reader who is aware of the specific meaningfulness of Indian numbers will be astounded how many references Stein was able to collect, and will feel inspired to look for more material on this and other numerals.
Stein was one of the all too many scholars brutally murdered by the Nazis, in his case along with his wife in Spring 1942 in Lodz.
I like to think of 108 as mathematically auspicious:108=(1^1)*(2^2)*(3^3)!JonathanOn Wed, 9 Feb 2022 at 21:03, Tieken, H.J.H. (Herman) via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:Dear Harry,
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.
I vaguely remember that Jan Gonda has written about numbers, but am unable to provide a reference.
Kind regards, Herman
Herman Tieken00 31 (0)70 2208127
website: hermantieken.com
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 HinduismHarry,
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 RyanAsian 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 HinduismThanks,
Harry Spier
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