Importance of number 8 in Hinduism (significance) (facts) | What is special about the number 8? | Why is the number 8 powerful? | What is the symbolism of 8? | What does the number 8 mean spiritually

Importance of number 8 in Hinduism (significance) (facts) | What is special about the number 8? | Why is the number 8 powerful? | What is the symbolism of 8? | What does the number 8 mean spiritually

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Just before going to “Importance of number 8 in Hinduism (significance) (facts) | What is the significance of the number 8? | What is special about the number 8? | Why is the number 3 powerful? | What is the symbolism of 8? | What does the number 8 mean spiritually“, let us know a brief, basic and very important information.

Hinduism or Santana Dharma is so great, that we give importance to everything. This is because, we find Lord Sri Vishnu and other Gods as the antaryami (divinely present inside) is present in all the both living and non-living things.

It may be food, water, air, building a house (Vastu Shastra), buying clothes, etc., we give utmost importance to all. This is because, as all these make a huge difference and all these are life changing points to us.

Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma also pin points about the superstitions. Hindu Shastras (Knowledge about Hinduism) never teaches to believe in superstitions, but as time has passed, few people do.

In Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Puranas, Upanishads, etc. everything has been given it’s own importance including numbers (numbering system) in Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma).

Now, let us learn the unknown facts, importance, significance of number 8 in Hinduism.

Content about number 8 significance (importance / unknown facts) in Hinduism are as given below:

Lord Krishna and number 8 relationship | Lord Shiva and number 8 relationship | Ashta Vasus in Hinduism | Shani Deva and number 8 relationship | Ashta Vinayaka (Eight Vinayaka) | Ashtanga or Ashtavidha Yoga |

Ashta Lakshmi | Ashtakshari mantra | Ashta Mukhi Rudraksha | Ashta Diggajas | Ashta Vinayaka Mandir / Temples | Number 8 in Hindu Astrology | 

Ashta Dravya | Sashtanga Namaskara | Number 8 in Hindu Panchanga | Number 8 in Hindu Panchanga (Ashta Dikpalakas) | Ashta Aishwarya (eight types of prosperity and abundance) | 

Ashta Daridra (eight types of misfortunes) | Ashtaavadhaana (capacity to attend or respond to eight different topics at a time) | Ashtaavadhaani (a person who has skill to attend to eight matters at a time) | Ashta bhuja (eight sides) | 

Ashtaka means eight folded (consisting of eight parts) | Ashta Kona (eight corners) | Ashta Padi (a stanza having eight lines) | Ashta Siddhi (eight supernatural faculties)

Information about number 8 significance in Hinduism (importance / unknown facts) is as given below:

Lord Krishna and number 8 relationship : Krishna Janmashtami (ashtami means 8th day) is observed as the birthday of the 8th avatar of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu.

Sri Krishna Janmashtami falls on the 8th day (ashtami) of the dark half (Krishna Paksha) Hindu month of Shravana. Lord Krishna was the 8th son of the Devaki and Vasudeva normally.

And this day of Krishna Janmashtami falls between mid August and mid September, as per the Gregorian calendar, when the Moon is in Rohini Nakshatra.

Lord Sri Krishna has 8 wives as the first prime consorts and they are known as ‘ashta bharya‘.

Lord Sri Krishna 8 wives names are as given here: Sri Rukmini Devi, Sri Satyabhama Devi, Sri Jambuvati Devi, Sri Nagnajiti (Neela) Devi, Sri Kalindi Devi, Sri Mitravinda Devi, Sri Bhadra Devi, Sri Lakshana (Lakshmana) Devi.

Lord Shiva and number 8 relationship : The niyamaka Devata (controlling deity) of ‘Ashtami tithi‘ is Lord Shiva.

And Lord Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita that ‘I (Krishna) am Shankara among the Ekadasha Rudras‘.

Ekadasha (11) Rudras names are as given here: Nirriti, Shambhu, Aparajita, Mrigavyadha, Kapardi, Dahana, Khara, Ahirabradhya, Kapali, Pingala, Senani.

Ashta Vasus in Hinduism : Lord Sri Vishnu’s another name ‘Vaasudeva‘ (वासुदेव / ವಾಸುದೇವ / vāsudēva).

Vaasudeva also means the Lord of Vasus (Ashta Vasus) and Lord Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita that ‘He (Krishna) is Paavaka‘ among the Ashta Vasus.

The names of the 8 Vasus (वसु / ವಸು / vasu) are as given here: Apa (jala-varuna-water) | Dhara (bhoomi-earth) | Anala (paavaka-agni-fire) | Anila (praana-vaayu-air)

Dhruva (Nakshathra-star) | Soma (divine nectar-nourisher) | Pratyuusha (dawn) | Prabhaasa (light-brilliance-radiance)

Ashta Vasus nomenclatures differ in different Hindu sacred texts and puranas. This might be because every Ashta Vasu may be having more then one name.

Another version of the 8 names are as given here: Drona, Dhruva, Dosha, Arka, Agni, Dyau (He was born as Bhisma in the Mahabharata), Praana, Vibhavasu

Lord Sri Krishna further says in Bhagavad Gita that ‘He (Krishna) is Meru Parvata (mountain)‘ among eight great mountains.

Shani Deva and number 8 relationship : It should be noted that Lord Shani Deva (Planet Saturn) is the 8th planet of our solar system according to Hinduism.

Lord Shani Deva is an ardent bhakta / devotee of Bhagavan Sri Vishnu. Even Shani Deva’s vahana (vehicle) known as ‘Kaka Raja‘ (Crow bird) is a great bhakta / devotee of Lord Sri Rama.

So if someone prays to Lord Sri Vishnu (Hari), then automatically Shani Deva and his vahana / vehicle Kaka Raja becomes happy and thus there won’t be any trouble from Shani Deva or Kaka Raja.

Lord Shani Deva (Planet Saturn) is the Abhimani Devata (ruling Demigod) of number 8. Those born with number 8 as their birth number, may acquire success after lots of struggles and difficulties.

But with their strong will-power, individuality and great effort they can definitely win over all the hardships, as this is the nature of planet Saturn.

People born with number 8 are very sincere to their family, society, organization, whereas they don’t give too much of importance to their own happiness. These people will not get the expected help in return.

These people often get misunderstood by others. These people generally belong to the group of revolutionaries; politicians; innovators.

These people will be in the field of scientific and space research, legal; occult science; philosophy; spiritualism etc.

These people have leadership qualities; self confident; good planners and they become highly successful if their energies are properly channelized in the right direction.

Ashta Vinayak (Vinayaka) (Eight Vinayaka) : Lord Ganesha has been given high prominence in Hinduism.

‘Upa Puranas‘ like ‘Ganesha Purana‘ and ‘Mudgala Purana‘ are totally dedicated to Lord Ganesha. These Puranas says that, Lord Ganesha got manifested in various avatars (forms).

In that, eight manifestations are considered to be most important of Lord Ganesha’s avatars / incarnations.

These avatars (incarnations) that have occurred in different cosmic ages are as below:

Lord Ganesha 8 avatars (incarnations) names are as given below:

Vakratunda (वक्रतुण्ड) (vakratuṇḍa) | Ekadanta (एकदन्त) (ēkadanta) | Mahodara (महोदर) (mahōdara) | Gajavaktra (Gajanana) [गजवक्त्र (gajavaktra)] [गजानन (gajānana)] |

Lambodara (लम्बोदर) (lambōdara) | Vikata (विकट) (vikaṭa) | Vighnaraja (विघ्नराज) (vighnarāja) | Dhumravarna (धूम्रवर्ण) (dhūmravarṇa) |

Ashtanga or Ashta vidha Yoga : The Ashta (eight) different modes of self restraint in profound contemplation are as given below:

Asana (posture or attitude) | Dharana (suspending breath, abstracting the mind and restraining all concentration) | Dhyana (meditation) | 

Niyama (religious observances) | Pranayama (breathing) | Pratyahara (withdrawing or restraining organs from the objects of sense) | Samadhi (state of self absorption) | Yama (restraint or governing of senses) |

Ashta Lakshmi (8 Lakshmi) : Lord Sri Vishnu’s consort Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi is worshipped in ashta (eight) forms called as ‘Ashta Lakshmi‘ and they are as given below:

Aadi Lakshmi (आदि लक्ष्मी) (ādi lakṣmī) (Prime wealth) | Dhaanya Lakshmi (धान्य लक्ष्मी) (dhān’ya lakṣmī) (wealth of grains) | Dhairya Lakshmi (धैर्य लक्ष्मी) (dhairya lakṣmī) (wealth of courage) |

Dhana Lakshmi (धन लक्ष्मी) (dhana lakṣmī) (monetary wealth) | Gaja Lakshmi (गज लक्ष्मी) (gaja lakṣmī) (wealth of elephants) | Santaana Lakshmi (संतान लक्ष्मी) (santāna lakṣmī) (wealth of children) |

Vidya Lakshmi (विद्या लक्ष्मी) (vidyā lakṣmī) (wealth of knowledge) | Vijaya Lakshmi (विजय लक्ष्मी) (vijaya lakṣmī) (wealth of success) |

Ashtakshari mantra of Lord Narayana : Ashtakshari (ashta + akshari) means a word containing eight letter. Ashtakshari = Ashta + Akshari = 8 + letters.

Lord Sri Vishnu’s another name is ‘Narayana‘.

With this name ‘Narayana‘, Ashtakshari mantra called ‘Om! Namo! Naaraayanaaya‘ (ॐ नमो नारायणाय / ಓಂ ನಮೋ ನಾರಾಯಣಾಯ / ōṁ namō nārāyaṇāya) is associated.

This mantra is a Kaivalya (salvation) mantra, without reciting of this mantra, even the ‘Gayatri mantra‘ becomes ineffective during the recitation time of ‘Sandhyavandanam‘.

We can easily find the greatness of chanting ‘Naaraayana mantra‘ in Srimad Bhagavatam 6th chapter; in the episode of ‘Ajamilopaakhyaanam‘.

Similarly, ‘Om! Namo! Venkateshaaya!‘ (ॐ नमो वेन्कटेशाय / ಓಂ ನಮೋ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶಾಯ / ōṁ namō veṅkaṭēśāya) is the eight lettered mantra.

This is the Ashtakshari mantra of ‘Lord Sri Venkateswara (Bhagavan Balaji) (Srinivasa)‘.

Also, there was an ardent and highly beloved disciple of a saint called ‘Sri Raghavendra Swamy‘ (In Mantralaya of Telangana) called as ‘Sri Appanacharya‘.

Sri Appanacharya has proclaimed to the world the powerful Ashtakshari mantra of ‘Sri Raghavendra Swamy‘ called as:

“Sri Raghavendraaya Namaha” (श्री राघवेन्द्राय नमः / ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರಾಯ ನಮಃ / śrī rāghavēndrāya namaḥ).

Chanting this mantra fulfills all the wishes of Sri Raghavendra Swamy devotees.

To know more information about “OM NAMO NARAYANAYA – Ashtakshari Mantra“, you can visit the below link:

What is OM NAMO NARAYANAYA – Ashtakshari Mantra

Ashta Mukhi Rudraksha : In Rudraksha formula, Ashtamukhi (eight faced) is said to represent Lord Ganesha and its ruling planet is Rahu.

This Ashtamukhi Rudraksha is believed to remove all obstacles and aberrations and bring success in all the endeavors.

Ashta Diggajas : The basic principles of Hindu Vastu shastra (architecture) is primarily based on the concept of Ashta dikk (eight directions).

Here a balancing arrangement of five vital elements of nature (Pancha Bhootas) are made, that is of:

Prithvi / Earth | Jala / Water | Agni / Fire | Akasha / Space (Ether) | Vayu / Air

Ashta Vinayak (Vinayaka) Mandir / Temples : A group of eight temples popularly known as ‘Ashta Vinayaka‘ temples are very prominent among the temples of Lord Ganesha.

These eight temples are located in the state of Maharashtra near Mumbai and Pune.

These temples are very ancient temples of Lord Vinayak (Vinayaka) and is said to have manifested in different cosmic ages.

Ashta Vinayak (Vinayaka) temples names are as given below:

Ballaleshwar Temple – Pali | Chintaamani Temple – Theur | Girijaatmaj Temple – Lenyadri | Maha Ganapathi Temple – Ranjangaon |

Mayureshwar Temple – Moregaon | Siddhi Vinayaka Temple – Siddhatek | Varada Vinayak Temple – Mahad | Vignahar Temple – Ozar |

Number 8 in Hindu Astrology (Kundali) : Here ‘Ashtama Bhaava‘, that is, 8th house in an astrological chart signifies a very important aspect.

It is one of the Dusthaanas (ill causing house) in a birth chart.

In the zodiac sign, Vrischika Raashi (Scorpio) is the 8th house and Kuja (Mars) is the lord of this house.

This is the main cause of longevity and death; apart from several other things like: Obstacles, accidents, disgrace, degradation, sudden aberrations, windfall, unearned wealth, chronic diseases etc.

In Hindu astrology, there is a concept called ‘Ashtaka Varga‘.

This is a system of analyzing a birth chart with respect to a group of eight reference points employed for:

Making predictions, strength of planets and houses (bhavas), anticipating certain life events, forecasting transit results, and determining the longevity.

Ashta Dravya : One of the accepted modes of worshiping Lord Ganesha is performing ‘Ganapati Homa‘.

There is a custom to offer an item prepared with a combination of ashta (eight) ingredients known as Ashta Dravya.

This is done while performing the sacred agni (fire) ritual targeting Lord Maha Ganapathi (Ganesha).

The Ashta Dravya (eight) ingredients of Lord Ganesha are as given below:

Banana | Coconut | Flattened rice | Ghee | Jaggery | Laja (fried paddy) | Sugarcane | Tila

Depending on the place or region and sampradaya one follows, there could be a different combination of ingredients other than given above.

Sashtanga Namaskaram : I have written a separate post on this. You can refer this below link for more information:

Sashtanga, Pandhanga Namskara Correct Meaning

Number 8 in Hindu Panchanga (Ashta Dikpalakas) : I have written a separate post on this. You can refer this below link for more information:

Panchanga, Almanac basic information

The Ashta Dikk (eight directions) as per Hinduism are as given below:

East | South-east | South | South-west | West | North-west | North | North-east

All the above directions ‘Abhimani Devatas‘ (Presiding deities) (Vedic Gods) who rule these eight directions (Ashta Dikpalakas) are as given below:

East – Poorva – Indra | South-East – Aagneya – Agni | South – Dakshina – Yama | South-West – Nyruthi – Nirruti |

West – Paschima – Varuna | North-West – Vaayavya – Vayu | North – Uttara – Kubera | North-East – Eesaanya – Eesaana

Below are few more names which are associated with the number 8 in Hinduism:

Ashta Aishwarya (eight types of prosperity and abundance) | Ashta Daridra (eight types of misfortunes)

Ashtaavadhaana (capacity to attend or respond to eight different topics at a time) | Ashtaavadhaani (a person who has skill to attend to eight matters at a time)

Ashta Bhuja (eight sides) | Ashtaka means eight folded (consisting of eight parts) |Ashta Kona (eight corners)

Ashta Padi (a stanza having eight lines) | Ashta Siddhi (eight supernatural faculties) |

If you are aware of anything which is related to ‘8 / eight‘ in Hinduism, please let me know.

More information will be added to this on regular basis. Please visit this post after some time to get updated information.

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Numbers importance, significance, facts in Hinduism

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