Why it’s 108 on the rosary
A rosary or japa mala is a string of beads put together to keep count of the chanting of mantras. It is an important prayer accessory for genuine devotees. A typical rosary has 108 beads, which can be rudraksha, tulsi, pearls or even precious gems. A rosary made of rudraksha is the best, for, it is said to possess germicidal and magnetic qualities.
“Vina damaischayakrutyam
Sachchadaanam vinodakam
Asamkhyataa tu yajaptam
Tatsarvam nishphalam bhavet”
This sloka from the Angira Smriti talks of the significance of rosary. It says: Just as no religious rite is complete without kush (a kind of grass), no charity is complete if not given with one’s own hand, so too praying without a rosary has no count and hence will bring no results.
The number of beads, 108, too has its significance. It is related to the frequency of our breath. Of the 24 hours of a day, we are supposed to stay in memory of God for 12 hours during which we breathe 10,800 times. Therefore the number of chanting has been fixed as 108, deleting the last two zeroes. The rosary, accordingly, has 108 beads to aid the count.
There is an explanation of the number 108 based on astrology too. The universe is divided into 12 segments, each of which represents a sign of the zodiac and the planets, which affect human life on earth, are nine in number. When the two figures — nine and 12 — are multiplied, we get 108, which represents the entire universe.
On top of each rosary there is a guiding bead that is bigger, called meru, named after a mountain of the same name. Starting from meru, when one reaches it again, completing one round of rosary, chanting 108 times is also completed. If one wants to continue praying, one has to reverse the rosary, continue instead of crossing the meru and move on. Whenever 108 times of chanting is over, raise the rosary and bring the meru in contact with the forehead with the same reverence offered to the deity. A sloka in the Shiva Purana says that a rosary with 108 beads is the best.
A rosary is not simply an accessory in prayer, but something to be worn around the neck or in the hand. While saying prayers, continuous use of the tongue can strain the vocal organs. A rosary made of rudraksha, tulsi and precious stones worn around the neck dissolves the strain thus caused. Modern science too concurs with this.
Rudraksha and tulsi beads control blood pressure,
cholesterol of the body etc. They can prevent many diseases and set right many disorders in the functioning of the body. Our ancestors knew this well. That’s why they believed that wearing rudraksha or tulsi beads on one’s body is the noblest of all practices. In saying prayers, rosary gives us a certain discipline. It helps the devotees concentrate on the prayer and evoke effect.
Dr Venganoor Balakrishnan is the author of Thaliyola, a book on Hindu beliefs and rituals. He has also written books on the Vedas and Upanishads The author can be reached at drvenganoor@yahoo.co.in
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