Symbolism in Numbers. No 6

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

1. Our mind has six faculties – reason, emotion, thought, awareness, knowledge and intelligence.
2. Six enemies of mind or impurities of mind are lust, anger, greed, pride, delusion and envy.
3. Six virtues one must have to lead a successful and happy life:  generosity, self-discipline, patience, effort, concentration and compassion.
4. 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.
5. Six acts or measures practiced by a King in warfare – samdhi(peace), vigraham(war), Yana(marching), asana(sitting encamped) dviadhi bhava(dividing the forces) and samsraya(seeking the protection of more powerful king).
6. 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.
7. Six factors which reduce the span of life – Eating dry meat, Drinking curd at night, Sleeping at dawn, Drinking impure water, Exposure to sun’s heat in the morning, Inhaling fumes from dead body.
8. Six divine qualities – Omniscience, Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Sarvakaranatva (being the cause of everything); Sarvanityatva (immortality) and Sarvesvaratva (having domination over everything).
9. Six noblest qualities – Truth; Wisdom, Mercy, Justice, fortitude in grief, control of anger.
10. Six Rsi Dharmas (Duties of Sages) – Brahmacharya, Absolute truth, Japa, Jnana (wisdom), Niyama, Sense of Justice.
11. Six qualities of noble wives – A minister in business, a servant-maid in action, the goddess Lakshmi in appearance, the Earth in patience, a mother in love and a prostitute in bed.
12. Six qualities of a bad wife – Habit of dispute, stealing of money, showing favours to strangers, scandal-mongering, taking food earlier than the husband, spending most of the time in other houses.
13. Six Vedangas – Siksa, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Jyotisa, Chandas.
14. Six is the only number that is both the sum and the product of three consecutive positive numbers 1, 2 and 3.
15. A standard guitar has 6 strings.
16. Most woodwind instruments have 6 basic holes or keys (e.g., bassoon, clarinet, pennywhistle and saxophone); these holes or keys are usually not given numbers or letters in the fingering charts.
17. There are 6 tastes in traditional Indian Medicine called Ayurveda: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent.
18. In cricket: – a “six” or “sixer” is a shot in which the ball clears the boundary without bouncing, scoring six runs. There are six balls to an over.
19. Six are the number of sides on a cube, hence the highest number on a standard die.
20. Burial – The number of feet below ground level a coffin is traditionally buried; thus, the phrase “six feet under” means that a person (or thing, or concept) is dead.
21. Networking theory – There are said to be no more than six degrees of separation between any two people on Earth.
22. Common Sense – Extra-sensory perception is sometimes called the “sixth sense”.
23. Six Cardinal Directions: north, south, east, west, up, and down.
24. Arishadvarga – In Hindu theology, Arishadvarga are the six passions of mind or desire: kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (attachment), mada or ahankar (pride) and matsarya (jealousy); the negative characteristics of which prevent man from attaining moksha or salvation.
25. Six fold duties of Brahmins – Yajna or performing sacrifices by officiating as priests, Yajna or causing the performance of the sacrifice by being the financier or the yajaman (These sacrifices were performed for the spiritual benefit of the whole human society).Adhyayana or engaging oneself in academic pursuits, Adhyapana or teaching, Daana or giving gifts, Prateegraha or accepting gifts. The following are also considered to be the six daily duties of Brahmana – snana (bathing), samdhya japa (repetition of prayers during the three sandyas), brahma yajna(worship of the supreme being), tarpana(daily oblation of water to the gods, pitrs, etc). homa (oblation of fuel, rice, etc.  in fire) and deva puja(worship of the secondary gods in temples or at home).
26. Six permitted jobs for Brahmin for sustenance during famine and other difficulties – Rita(gleaning), amrita (unsolicited alms), mrita (solicited alms), karshana (agriculture), satyantita(trade) and servitude.
27. Six acts of inflicting injury to enemies employed by Brahmins using magical powers as per tantra – santi, vasya, stampana, vidvesha, uchhadana and marana.
28. Six acts belonging to the practice of Yoga – Dhauti (washing), basti(cleaning the lower part of the abdomen), neti(cleaning the nostrils), laukiki(movement of the stomach muscle, trataka( gazing without winking) and kapalabhati( cleaning the inside of cranium).
29. There are six players on a volleyball team and an ice hockey team.
30. Six Virtues (shat sampat): Six virtues, areas of mental training, and attitudes are cultivated so as to stabilize the mind and emotions, allowing the deep practice of contemplative meditation to be performed. 1) Tranquility (shama): Intentional cultivating an inner attitude of tranquility, peace of mind, or contentment is a foundation on which the other practices can rest. 2) Training (dama): Training of the senses (indriyas) means the responsible use of the senses in positive, useful directions, both in our actions in the world and the nature of inner thoughts we cultivate. 3) Withdrawal (uparati): With a proper inner attitude of tranquility, and the training of the senses, there also comes a sense of satiety, or natural sense of completeness, as if no more of the sensory experience need be sought. 4) Forbearance (titiksha): Forbearance and tolerance of external situations allow one to be free from the onslaught of the sensory stimuli and pressures from others to participate in actions, speech, or thoughts that one knows to be going in a not-useful direction. 5) Faith (shraddha): An intense sense of certainty about the direction one is going keeps one going in the right direction, persisting in following the teachings and practices that have been examined and seen to be productive, useful, and fruit bearing. 6) Focus (samadhana): Resolute focus towards harmonizing and balancing of mind, its thoughts, and emotions, along with the other virtues, brings a freedom to pursue the depth of inner exploration and realization
31. Watch your six – the phrase ‘watch your six’ does indeed mean ‘watch your back’. It refers to the 6 position on the face of a clock. If you were standing in the center of a clock face, facing the 12 position, the 6 position would be immediately behind you.
32. Six sigma – Six Sigma is a set of techniques and tools for process improvement. Six Sigma seeks to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and minimizing variability in manufacturing and business processes. It was developed by Motorola in 1986.
33. There are six main parts in the celebration of the mass: the preparation to the sacrifice, the instruction, the oblation, the canon, the communion and the thanksgiving.
34. Shad-bhava-vikaras (six modifications of the body) – Asti (existence), Jayate (birth), Vardhate (growth), Viparinamate (change), Apaksheeyate (decay), Vinashyate (death), are the six modifications or changes of the body.
35. Lord Subramanya popularly known as Shanmukha or Shadaanana is symbolized as having six faces. It is believed that six faces represent the five senses and the mind. He is also known as Shan-maathura; as He was brought up by six mothers known as Kruttikas who suckled Him; hence, He is also known as Kaarthikeya.
36. Lord Vishnu described as Vashatkarah; the one who possesses divine and auspicious qualities like; comprehensive control over everything (sovereignty); all capabilities to do and undo anything and everything; all accomplishments (Yashass); bountiful riches and prosperity, all knowledge in full form; and total dispassionateness (non-attachment).
37. Shadguna; six good qualities of excellence (referred to Mahavishnu) viz. jnaana, bala, aishvarya, viirya, shakti, and tejas.
38. Shad-Urmi; six waves emotional and physical feelings – Shoka (sorrow); Moha (temptation); Jara (old age); Mrityu (death); Kshudha (hunger); and Pipaasa (thirst).
39.  In Karanyaasa; six different parts of the palm and fingers are touched and in Shad-anganyasa where we touch six different parts of the body.  This ritual is done so that the whole body of the meditator becomes charged with divine power and it has a scientific background.
40. Six qualities (duties) a Brahman should nurture; that portrait him as a complete Brahmana. They are serenity (shama), self-restraint (dama), austerity (thapas), purity (shoucham), forbearance (kshaanti) and uprightness/straightforwardness (aarjavam).
41. Shad-Ruthus (six seasons) – A Hindu Lunar year is divided into six seasons of two months each known as Ruthus viz. Vasantha Ruthu followed by Greeshma; Varsha; Sharad; Hemantha; and Sisira Ruthu. Chaithra & Vaisakha – Vasantha Ruthu, Jyeshta & Aaashaada – Greeshma Ruthu, Sraavana & Bhaadrapada – Varsha Ruthu, Aaswayuja & Kartheeka – Sharad Ruthu, Maargasira & Pushya – Hemantha Ruthu, Maagha & Phaalguna – Sisira Ruthu.
42. Shat Thila karma – Usage of Thil seeds (Sesame) in six ways during Uttaraayana Parvakaala is known as Shat-Thila Karma.  It is said that, on this day one should use Thil (Sesame) seeds in six ways viz…Thila Snana, Thila Deepa, Thila Homa, Thila tharpana, Thila Dana and Thila Bhakshana.
43. Shanmukhi Rudraaksha – In the Rudraaksha concept, six faced Rudraaksha is known as Shanmukhi Rudraaksha that is said to represent Lord Shanmukha (Subramanya).  It is believed to bestow upon the wearer; good health, courage, learning, wisdom, knowledge and save from the worldly trauma. 
44. Six techniques of yoga in Yoga Shaastra are Praanaayaama; Japa; Pratyaahaara; Dhyaana; Dhaarana; and Samaadhi.
45. Shat prajna – acquainted with the six objects – dharma, artha, kama, moksha, lokartha  and tatvartha.
46. Shat-chakra – six mystical circles in the body – muladhara, svadhishtana, manipura, an-ahata, visudda and ajnacakra.
47. The standard flute has six holes.
48. The standard guitar has six strings.
49. Shadanga – six principal parts of the body – two arms, two legs, head and waist.
50. In the beehive honeycomb, the cells are six-sided.
51. Shad gavyam – six things obtained from cow – go mutra(cow urine), go mayam (cow dung), milk, curd, ghee and go-rocanam).
52. Shadja – fourth of the 7 musical swaras, called because it is produced by the six organs, viz. tongue, teeth, palate, nose, throat and chest. The other six swaras are rishabha, gandhara, madhyama, pancama, dhaivata and nishada.
53. Shad durga – a collection of six fortress. They are Dhanva durga, mahi durga, giri durga, manushya durga, mrid durga and vana durga.
54. Shadrasa – the Six Tastes – Ayurveda explains that different tastes are created by different combinations of the pancha mahabhutas (elements).  Madhura – Sweet, Amla – Sour, Lavana – Salt, Katu – Pungent, Tikta – Bitter and Kasaya – Astringent.
55. Shadvargas – are the six-fold divisions of a Zodiacal sign or a Rashi. A good grasp of Shadvargas is an imperative for making predictions because these divisions help us to make an assessment of the strength of a given planet. The six-fold divisions are: Rashi, Hora, Drekanna, Navamsa, Dwadasamsa, and Thrimsamsa. Rashi: The Zodiac is divided into 12 divisions of 30 degrees each. Each division is called a Rashi or a sign. Hora: When a sign is divided into two equal parts, each part is called a Hora.  Drekanna: When a sign is divided into three parts, each part is called a Drekanna. Navamsa or Navamshaka: When a sign is divided into nine equal parts, each part becomes a Navamsa measuring 3 1/3 degrees each. Dwadasamsa: When a sign is divided into 12 equal parts, each part is called a Dwadasamsa. Thrimsamsa: When a sign is divided into 30 equal parts, each part is a Called a Thrimsamsa measuring one degree each.
56. Shad-lavana – according to “Rasaratna Samucchaya”, the following are called shadlavana. Saindhava Lavana – Rock salt, Souvarchala Lavana – black salt (Potassium nitrate), Vida Lavana – A type of black salt / Sodium sulphate, Samurda Lavana – Common salt (Sodium Chloride), Romaka / Sambhara Lavana – Earthen salt and Chullika Lavana (Navasadara – Ammoium chloride). Lavana Rasa (salt) relieves rigidity, clears the obstructions of the channels and pores, increases digestive activity, lubricates, causes sweating, penetrates deep into the tissues, improves taste,  new growth, abscess etc.). Generally salts are bad for the eyes (vision) except Saindhava – Rock Salt. Used in excess, it causes vitiation of Asra (blood) and Vata, causes baldness, graying of hair, wrinkles of the skin, thirst, skin diseases, effect of poison and decrease of strength of the body.
57. Shadushana – 6 spices – Shat means six. Ushana means spices. They are – Pippali – Long pepper fruit – Piper longum, Pippalimoola – Long pepper root, Chavya – Piper cubeba, Chitraka – Leadwort – Plumbago zeylanica, Nagara – ginger rhizome – Zingiber officinale, Maricha – Black pepper – Piper nigrum