Venu Payyanur

Numbers represents more than quantity: they have quality and meaning. In many cultures and religions, numbers have many symbolic meaning and it is particularly true in Hinduism. However the meaning is subject to interpretation and misunderstanding based on the faith and knowledge of the readers.

Zero – Zero, it is said, was invented in India and represents a continuous circle. It symbolises ‘nirguna brahman’, or the brahman without a form and qualities. It represents ‘non-being’ and eternity. It is very difficult to say the exact value of zero, as any number that you multiply with zero becomes zero, but used correctly, it can also enhance the value infinitely. Simply put, Zero represents ‘GOD’, without it you are nothing, used properly; you can achieve anything in this world.

One – symbolic representation of ‘saguna brahman’, or brahman with qualities and form. Like GOD, it is the first number and symbolises the state of non-duality that you, the individual atman is same as the param atman. One represents the beginning and the symbol of creation. It represents human being, the only creation on earth to stand up straight on two legs. It represents the leader.

Two – Number 2 is a symbolic representation of the state of duality, which we experience through our mind and senses. It represents separation, division and disunity. It can be seen as opposing dualities or complimentary pairs. Purusha and Prakriti, life and death, day and night, cause and effect, right and wrong, good and evil, yin and yang, etc.

Three – three symbolises Divine perfection and completeness. It is the symbolic representation of the Trinity in many religions. In Hinduism, it is the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. In Christianity it is the trinity of Father, son and the Holy Spirit. No 3 is also a symbol for Siva because he is the third in the trinity, has three eyes (trinetra), carries a weapon called Trisul and has three braids (trijada). The number three also represents AUM, as it represents three states of consciousness.

Other representations of the number three are

  • Three goddesses – Saraswati, Lakhsmi, Parvathi
  • Three goddesses of knowledge – Gayathri, Savithri, Saraswati (goddess of mind, goddess of deed and goddess of word)
  • Triple qualities of mind – Sattva, Rajas, Tamas.
  • Three states of consciousness – awake, sleep and dream.
  • Triple divisions of time – past, present, future.
  • Triple periods of the day – morning, noon and evening.
  • Triple worlds of heaven, earth and hell.
  • Triple control of thoughts, words and action.
  • Three doshas (problems) in Ayurveda – vata, pitta and kapha.
  • Three doshas in spirituality – aadhyatmikam, aadhibaudhikam, aadhidaivikam.
  • Three attachments in life – attachment to your body, your friends and relatives and your wealth.
  • One should not indulge in these three activities before noon – drinking alcohol, sex and gambling.

Four – in Christianity number 4 is symbolically linked to the Cross and employed to signify what is solid and that which could be touched and felt. Four also has many symbolic significance and meaning in Hinduism.

  • The aim of life (purusharthas) is four – dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and moksha (salvation).
  • Four stages (ashram) in life – brahmacharya (student life), grihastha (householder), vanaprastha (retirement), and sanyasa (renunciation).
  • Four varnas as told by Krishna – Brahmin, Kshatriya, vaisya, sudra.
  • Brahma has four faces and four hands.
  • Four directions – north, east, west and south.
  • Four ways of influencing and motivating others – being generous, uttering kind words, giving appropriate teachings and being consistent with words and actions.
  • Four sights that affected Siddhartha deeply and made him realise the sufferings of all beings that compelled him to begin the spiritual journey – an old man, a sick man, a dead man and an ascetic.
  • Most vehicles have 4 wheels.
  • Four basic functions in mathematics – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
  • Four seasons – spring, summer, autumn and winter.
  • Four yuga – satyayuga, dwaparayuga, tredhayuga and Kaliyuga.
  • Four vedas – rig, yajur, sama and atharva
  • Four types of relationships – spiritual, sensual, sensical and exemplary.
  • Four debts we all have and must be repaid – debt to our ancestors, debt to God, debt to Rishis and debt to other living creatures.
  • Excess of these four destroys a person – hunting (shopping), drinking, womanising and gambling.

Five – It is a symbol for man. On a figure of man, a line joining head to outstretched arms and legs forms a pentagram. It also represents Earth.

  • There are five elements that constitute the entire universe – akasha (ether), air, fire, water and earth.
  • Human body has five jnanedriyas(sense organs) and five karmedriyas (functional organs)
  • Five sense organs are ear, eye, nose, tongue and skin representing hearing, vision, smelling, tasting and touching.
  • Five karmedriyas are Hand, legs, mouth, genital and anus and does the functions of grasping, walking, speaking, procreation and excretion.
  • The Hindu calendar is called Panchang because it has five parts. They are Thithi (date), vara (day of the week), nakshatra (star), karana (half a thithi) and yoga(auspicious moments).
  • In Kamba Ramayanam (in Tamil), the significance of number five is beautifully narrated as follows: The son of one of the five (son of wind – that is Pavana Thanaya), crossed one of the five (water – the ocean), through one of the five (sky), met daughter of one of the five (daughter of the earth – Sita Devi), burnt down Lanka by one of the five (fire). Here five means the five elements. Therefore, it is considered auspicious to go around His idol 5 times.
  • In Hindu temples, the deities are offered food made of five sweet items called ‘panchamruta’.
  • Five tantric substances are called ‘panchamakara’. They are matsya(fish), mamsa(meat), madira(wine), maithuna(sexual intercourse) and mudra(parched cereals).
  • Five breaths of life are prana, apana, vyana, udhana and samana.
  • Five ideal wives as per Hindu scriptures are – Ahalya, Draupadi, Sita, Tara and Mandodhari.
  • Five Great sins (Panchamahapataka) as per scriptures are – Brahma hatya (killing of a brahman), Shishu Hatya (killing of an infant), Sura Pana (drinking alcohol), Swarna steya (stealing of Gold) and Guru Talpa Gamana (having sex with Guru’s wife).
  • Muslims pray 5 times in a day.
  • Five major disasters – war, epidemics, famine, pollution and poverty.
  • Five Yamas (code of conduct as per Patanjali) – Ahimsa (non violence), Brahmacharya (abstain from sexual intercourse), Asteya (non – stealing), Satya (truth in words and thoughts) and Aparagraha (absence of avarice).
  • Five sacred symbols of Sikh religion as prescribed by Guru Gobind Singh known as Panj Karas or five ‘k’s are – Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (comb), Kara   (steel bracelet), kachha (soldiers shorts) and kirpan (sword).
  • Five basic tastes – sweet, sour, bitter, salty and savouriness.
  • Pancha Mahayagyas (“Five Great Yajnas”). These sacrifices are to be performed daily by all “householders” (married couples) daily to best of one’s ability: Devayagya- worship of the gods (devas) through the twilight prayers (sandhya), aupasana, and agnihotra, Pitryagya- offering libations to ancestors or pitrs, Bhutayagya- offering food (“bali”) to animals, Manushyayagya- charitable offerings of food to fellow humans, Brahmayagya- respecting the Rishis of yore by recitating a section of  Veda (“bráhman”).
  • Panchopachara – five ways of offering daily prayer to the God – Gandha- The worshipper offers sandal paste to the deity, Pushpa – The worshipper offers flowers to the deity, Dhupa – Lighting of incense sticks and placing them in front of the deity. Deepa – Lighting a lamp and Naivedya – Offering of food to the deity.

Six – the number six is a symbolic representation of human mind, as it is the sixth sense organ. According to bible, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day.

  • Our mind has six faculties – reason, emotion, thought, awareness, knowledge and intelligence.
  • Six enemies of mind or impurities of mind are lust, anger, greed, pride, delusion and envy.
  • Six virtues one must have to lead a successful and happy life:  generosity, self-discipline, patience, effort, concentration and compassion.
  • Six attributes a king (manager) must have – cleverness of speech, readiness in providing means, intelligence in dealing with foe, memory and full understanding of the morals and politics.
  • Six articles of faith in Muslim religion are – belief in God, belief in angels, belief in books(Quran), belief in messengers sent by Allah(including Mohammad, Jesus, etc), belief in the day of judgement and resurrection and belief in destiny.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

1 reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *