108 Sanskrit Numbers

In Sanskrit language and Hindu tradition, numbers go beyond simple counting; they embody cosmic principles, sacred sounds, and spiritual pathways. Among these, the number 108 holds special significance. It is integral to spiritual practices, astronomical calculations, and yoga practices.

This exploration covers the numerical structure and pronunciation of each Sanskrit number from 1 to 108. We will delve into their meanings and cultural contexts, showing their importance in yoga, meditation, and ancient Vedic traditions.

Join us in discovering these Sanskrit numbers.

Sanskrit Numbers 1 to 108

The Sanskrit number system is both rich and systematic, with distinct names for each number up to 100 and beyond. The system changes every 10 numbers, introducing a new base term that modifies the subsequent numbers in that range.

This list includes the Sanskrit numbers from 1 to 108, along with their transliterations and phonetic pronunciations.

Sanskrit Numbers 1 to 10

1. एकम् (ekam) - "eh-kam"
2. द्वे (dve) - "dvay"
3. त्रीणि (trīṇi) - "tree-nee"
4. चत्वारि (catvāri) - "cha-tvaa-ree"
5. पञ्च (pañca) - "pan-cha"
6. षट् (ṣaṭ) - "shut"
7. सप्त (sapta) - "sap-ta"
8. अष्ट (aṣṭa) - "ash-ta"
9. नव (nava) - "na-va"
10. दश (daśa) - "da-sha"

Sanskrit Numbers 11 to 20

From 11 to 19, Sanskrit numbers are formed by appending the suffix "दश" (daśa) to the base numbers 1 to 9.

1. एकादश (ekādaśa) - "eh-kaa-da-sha"
2. द्वादश (dvādaśa) - "dvaa-da-sha"
3. त्रयोदश (trayodaśa) - "tra-yo-da-sha"
4. चतुर्दश (caturdaśa) - "cha-tur-da-sha"
5. पञ्चदश (pañcadaśa) - "pan-cha-da-sha"
6. षोडश (ṣoḍaśa) - "sho-da-sha"
7. सप्तदश (saptadaśa) - "sap-ta-da-sha"
8. अष्टादश (aṣṭādaśa) - "ash-taa-da-sha"
9. नवदश (navadaśa) - "na-va-da-sha"
10. विंशतिः (viṃśatiḥ) - "vim-sha-tih"

Sanskrit Numbers 21 to 30

The base "दश" (daśa) changes to "विंशति" (viṃśati) when we reach 20. This marks the start of a new tens group, and from here, the pattern will integrate "विंशति" to form the numbers 21-29.

1. एकविंशतिः (ekaviṃśatiḥ) - "eh-ka-vim-sha-tih"
2. द्वाविंशतिः (dvāviṃśatiḥ) - "dvaa-vim-sha-tih"
3. त्रयोविंशतिः (trayoviṃśatiḥ) - "tra-yo-vim-sha-tih"
4. चतुर्विंशतिः (caturviṃśatiḥ) - "cha-tur-vim-sha-tih"
5. पञ्चविंशतिः (pañcaviṃśatiḥ) - "pan-cha-vim-sha-tih"
6. षड्विंशतिः (ṣaḍviṃśatiḥ) - "shad-vim-sha-tih"
7. सप्तविंशतिः (saptaviṃśatiḥ) - "sap-ta-vim-sha-tih"
8. अष्टाविंशतिः (aṣṭāviṃśatiḥ) - "ash-taa-vim-sha-tih"
9. नवविंशतिः (navaviṃśatiḥ) - "na-va-vim-sha-tih"
10. त्रिंशत् (triṃśat) - "trim-shat"

Sanskrit Numbers 31 to 40

The base changes again at 30. The word for 30 is "त्रिंशत्" (triṃśat), which is the new tens base. This pattern of changing the base every 10 numbers continues.

1. एकत्रिंशत् (ekatriṃśat) - "eh-ka-trim-shat"
2. द्वात्रिंशत् (dvātriṃśat) - "dvaa-trim-shat"
3. त्रयस्त्रिंशत् (trayastrīṃśat) - "tra-ya-trim-shat"
4. चतुस्त्रिंशत् (catustriṃśat) - "cha-tus-trim-shat"
5. पञ्चत्रिंशत् (pañcatriṃśat) - "pan-cha-trim-shat"
6. षट्त्रिंशत् (ṣaṭtriṃśat) - "shat-trim-shat"
7. सप्तत्रिंशत् (saptatriṃśat) - "sap-ta-trim-shat"
8. अष्टत्रिंशत् (aṣṭatriṃśat) - "ash-ta-trim-shat"
9. नवत्रिंशत् (navatriṃśat) - "na-va-trim-shat"
10. चत्वारिंशत् (catvāriṃśat) - "cha-tvaa-rim-shat"

Sanskrit Numbers 41 to 50

The base for 40 is "चत्वारिंशत्" (catvāriṃśat). The pattern continues by appending the units to this new base.

1. एकचत्वारिंशत् (ekacatvāriṃśat) - "eh-ka-cha-tvaa-rim-shat"
2. द्वाचत्वारिंशत् (dvācatvāriṃśat) - "dvaa-cha-tvaa-rim-shat"
3. त्रयश्चत्वारिंशत् (trayaścatvāriṃśat) - "tra-ya-sh-cha-tvaa-rim-shat"
4. चतुश्चत्वारिंशत् (catuścatvāriṃśat) - "cha-tush-cha-tvaa-rim-shat"
5. पञ्चचत्वारिंशत् (pañcacatvāriṃśat) - "pan-cha-cha-tvaa-rim-shat"
6. षट्चत्वारिंशत् (ṣaṭcatvāriṃśat) - "shat-cha-tvaa-rim-shat"
7. सप्तचत्वारिंशत् (saptacatvāriṃśat) - "sap-ta-cha-tvaa-rim-shat"
8. अष्टचत्वारिंशत् (aṣṭacatvāriṃśat) - "ash-ta-cha-tvaa-rim-shat"
9. नवचत्वारिंशत् (navacatvāriṃśat) - "na-va-cha-tvaa-rim-shat"
10. पञ्चाशत् (pañcāśat) - "pan-chaa-shat"

Sanskrit Numbers 51 to 60

At 50, the base changes to "पञ्चाशत्" (pañcāśat). The structure continues similarly for the next set of numbers.

1. एकपञ्चाशत् (ekapañcāśat) - "eh-ka-pan-chaa-shat"
2. द्विपञ्चाशत् (dvipañcāśat) - "dvi-pan-chaa-shat"
3. त्रयः पञ्चाशत् (trayaḥ pañcāśat) - "tra-yah pan-chaa-shat"
4. चतुः पञ्चाशत् (catuḥ pañcāśat) - "cha-tuh pan-chaa-shat"
5. पञ्चपञ्चाशत् (pañcapañcāśat) - "pan-cha-pan-chaa-shat"
6. षट्पञ्चाशत् (ṣaṭpañcāśat) - "shat-pan-chaa-shat"
7. सप्तपञ्चाशत् (saptapañcāśat) - "sap-ta-pan-chaa-shat"
8. अष्टपञ्चाशत् (aṣṭapañcāśat) - "ash-ta-pan-chaa-shat"
9. नवपञ्चाशत् (navapañcāśat) - "na-va-pan-chaa-shat"
10. षष्टिः (ṣaṣṭiḥ) - "shash-tih"

Sanskrit Numbers 61 to 70

The number 60 is represented by "षष्टिः" (ṣaṣṭiḥ). The pattern continues with this new base.

1. एकषष्टिः (ekaṣaṣṭiḥ) - "eh-ka-shash-tih"
2. द्विषष्टिः (dviṣaṣṭiḥ) - "dvi-shash-tih"
3. त्रयः षष्टिः (trayaḥ ṣaṣṭiḥ) - "tra-yah shash-tih"
4. चतुः षष्टिः (catuḥ ṣaṣṭiḥ) - "cha-tuh shash-tih"
5. पञ्चषष्टिः (pañcaṣaṣṭiḥ) - "pan-cha-shash-tih"
6. षट्षष्टिः (ṣaṭṣaṣṭiḥ) - "shat-shash-tih"
7. सप्तषष्टिः (saptaṣaṣṭiḥ) - "sap-ta-shash-tih"
8. अष्टषष्टिः (aṣṭaṣaṣṭiḥ) - "ash-ta-shash-tih"
9. नवषष्टिः (navaṣaṣṭiḥ) - "na-va-shash-tih"
10. सप्ततिः (saptatiḥ) - "sap-ta-tih"

Sanskrit Numbers 71 to 80

At 70, the new base is "सप्ततिः" (saptatiḥ). The pattern of appending the unit numbers to this base continues.

1. एकसप्ततिः (ekasaptatiḥ) - "eh-ka-sap-ta-tih"
2. द्विसप्ततिः (dvisaptatiḥ) - "dvi-sap-ta-tih"
3. त्रयः सप्ततिः (trayaḥ saptatiḥ) - "tra-yah sap-ta-tih"
4. चतुः सप्ततिः (catuḥ saptatiḥ) - "cha-tuh sap-ta-tih"
5. पञ्चसप्ततिः (pañcasaptatiḥ) - "pan-cha-sap-ta-tih"
6. षट्सप्ततिः (ṣaṭsaptatiḥ) - "shat-sap-ta-tih"
7. सप्तसप्ततिः (saptasaptatiḥ) - "sap-ta-sap-ta-tih"
8. अष्टसप्ततिः (aṣṭasaptatiḥ) - "ash-ta-sap-ta-tih"
9. नवसप्ततिः (navasaptatiḥ) - "na-va-sap-ta-tih"
10. अशीतिः (aśītiḥ) - "a-shee-tih"

Sanskrit Numbers 81 to 90

The number 80 is "अशीतिः" (aśītiḥ). This introduces another tens base for the next set of numbers.

1. एकाशीतिः (ekāśītiḥ) - "eh-kaa-shee-tih"
2. द्व्यशीतिः (dvyaśītiḥ) - "dvya-shee-tih"
3. त्रयः अशीतिः (trayaḥ aśītiḥ) - "tra-yah a-shee-tih"
4. चतुरशीतिः (caturaśītiḥ) - "cha-tur-a-shee-tih"
5. पञ्चाशीतिः (pañcāśītiḥ) - "pan-chaa-shee-tih"
6. षडशीतिः (ṣaḍaśītiḥ) - "shad-a-shee-tih"
7. सप्ताशीतिः (saptāśītiḥ) - "sap-taa-shee-tih"
8. अष्टाशीतिः (aṣṭāśītiḥ) - "ash-taa-shee-tih"
9. नवाशीतिः (navāśītiḥ) - "na-vaa-shee-tih"
10. नवतिः (navatiḥ) - "na-va-tih"

Sanskrit Numbers 91 to 100

The base for 90 is "नवतिः" (navatiḥ). This pattern continues until we reach 100.

1. एकनवतिः (ekanavatiḥ) - "eh-ka-na-va-tih"
2. द्विनवतिः (dvinavatiḥ) - "dvi-na-va-tih"
3. त्रयः नवतिः (trayaḥ navatiḥ) - "tra-yah na-va-tih"
4. चतुः नवतिः (catuḥ navatiḥ) - "cha-tuh na-va-tih"
5. पञ्चनवतिः (pañcanavatiḥ) - "pan-cha-na-va-tih"
6. षण्णवतिः (ṣaṇṇavatiḥ) - "shan-na-va-tih"
7. सप्तनवतिः (saptanavatiḥ) - "sap-ta-na-va-tih"
8. अष्टनवतिः (aṣṭanavatiḥ) - "ash-ta-na-va-tih"
9. नवनवतिः (navanavatiḥ) - "na-va-na-va-tih"
10. शत (śata) - "sha-ta"

Sanskrit Numbers 101 to 108

"शत" (śata) is the term for 100, marking the completion of the first hundred.

1. एकशत (ekaśata) - "eh-ka-sha-ta"
2. द्विशत (dviśata) - "dvi-sha-ta"
3. त्रिशत (triśata) - "tri-sha-ta"
4. चतुःशत (catuḥśata) - "cha-tuh-sha-ta"
5. पञ्चशत (pañcaśata) - "pan-cha-sha-ta"
6. षट्शत (ṣaṭśata) - "shat-sha-ta"
7. सप्तशत (saptaśata) - "sap-ta-sha-ta"
8. अष्टशत (aṣṭaśata) - "ash-ta-sha-ta"

The Significance of 108 Sanskrit Numbers

In the Vedic tradition, the number 108 is sacred holding significant importance across various disciplines, including astronomy, yoga, and spirituality. There are 108 Upanishads and 108 names for each deity. Yoga practitioners often practice 108 Surya Namaskara sequences during the solstices.

Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) with Sanskrit Numbers

1. Ekam - Tadasana (Mountain Pose)  
2. Dve - Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute)  
3. Trini - Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)  
4. Catvar - Ardha Uttanasana (Half Forward Bend)  
5. Panca - Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose)  
6. Sat - Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward-Facing Dog)
7. Sapta - Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog)
8. Astau - Ardha Uttanasana (Half Forward Bend)
9. Nava - Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)
10. Dasa - Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute)

Astronomical Significance

The number 108 has intriguing astronomical correlations. For example, the average distance from the Earth to the Sun is approximately 108 times the Sun's diameter. Similarly, the average distance from the Earth to the Moon is about 108 times the Moon's diameter.

Sun-Earth Distance

• Sun's Diameter: Approximately 1,391,000 km
• Average Distance from Earth to Sun: Approximately 149,600,000 km

Calculation: ~149,600,000 km / ~1,391,000 km = ~107.6

Moon-Earth Distance

• Moon's Diameter: Approximately 3,474.8 km
• Average Distance from Earth to Moon: Approximately 384,400 km

Calculation: ~384,400 km / ~3,474.8 km = ~110.6

Numbers are based on Nasa information.

Mantra Repetition

Mala beads, used for counting during bhakti yoga, mantra yoga, and japa yoga practices, consist of  108 beads. Mantra meditation is a powerful practice that many yoga practitioners do daily. Malas are prayer beads that you see yogis wearing that are sometimes made of rudraksha seeds or crystal beads.

Other Significant Mentions of 108 in Yoga

Ayurveda: According to Ayurveda, there are 108 marma points, which are vital points of life force energy in the human body, similar to acupressure points in traditional Chinese medicine.

Buddhism: In Buddhism, it is believed that there are 108 earthly temptations or defilements one must overcome to reach enlightenment. Buddhist temples often have 108 steps leading up to them.

Astrology: The number 108 is significant in astrology as well. There are 12 zodiac signs, and each sign has 9 phases (12 x 9 = 108).

Harshad number: 108 is a Harshad number, which means it is divisible by the sum of its digits (1 + 0 + 8 = 9, and 108 ÷ 9 = 12).

Sacred Geometry: The angles formed in a pentagon add up to 540 degrees, and when divided by 5, each angle measures 108 degrees.

How to Use Sanskrit Numbers

In Yoga Practice: Integrate the number 108 into your yoga practice by performing 108 Surya Namaskars during summer and winter solstices or as a form of meditation and physical exercise.

You can also use numbers in Sanskrit to count off Suyra Namaskara A or B sequences.

In Meditation: Use mala beads with 108 beads for counting mantras during meditation to help maintain focus and achieve a deeper spiritual connection.

In Daily Life: Integrate the knowledge of Sanskrit numbers into your daily life by recognizing their significance and utilizing them in rituals, prayers, and personal growth activities.

Understanding the significance of the number 108 across various disciplines and cultures helps us appreciate its deep-rooted presence in human consciousness and spirituality. Whether through ancient texts, astronomical measurements, or spiritual practices, 108 continues to be a symbol of connection, completeness, and cosmic order.

How do you use Sanskrit numbers in your practice or daily life? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!