Wednesday, July 19, 2006

108 gopī-beads?


I was wondering if there is any scriptural evidence for the widespread belief that the 108 beads of our japa-mālā represent 108 gopīs or 108 Upaniṣads. A Google search brought up many such claims, not only from Vaiṣṇavas but also from jñānīs, yogīs and academics, but none of them quoted any evidence. A scan of Haribhakti Vilāsa also brought up nothing. Is anybody able to quote any scriptural evidence?

4 comments:

  1. Also, why 108? Why that number?

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  2. I am glad we are back on topic. Yes I have seen the verses you quoted there on a webpage of the Gaudiya Math's Saranga Maharaja (! has he been reading babaji-books?!) but as you said there is no source mentioned of the tribhanga bhangima verse, nor is there any direct link to the 108 beads of the japa mala. It is the closest we got until now, though.

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  3. I'm looking for information about Sri Nandalal pandit, do you know anything about him?

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  4. I do not know much about him. He was born in a brahmana family and lived a long time at Radhakund. He passed away in the same month as mahanta Sri Anantadas, November 2018. He was very old. I consulted him on Chaitanya Bhagavat in 1984-1985.

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