Ashta the number Eight (8) - Symbolism and Significance (Hindu Perspective)

Lord Sri Krishna and # 8 (Ashta)

Ashta the number eight has lot of association with Lord Sri Krishna.  He was born as the 8^th child (Ashtama Santhaana) to his parents Devaki Devi and Vasudeva; as the 8^th incarnation (Avathara) of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu among the Dasaavatharas; born on the 8^th lunar day, Ashtami; and had eight prime consorts known as Ashta Mahishis. The presiding deity of Ashtami thithi is Lord Shiva and Lord Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad Geeta that He is Sankara among the Ekaadasa Rudras. Vaasudeva also means the Lord of Vasus (Ashta Vasus) and Sri Krishna says in Bhagawadgeeta that He is Paavaka among the Ashta Vasus. Sri Krishna further says in Bhagawadgeeta that He is Meru Parvatha (mountain) among eight great mountains.

Ashtaakshari

Ashtaakshari means eight lettered. Famous Ashtaakshari (eight lettered) manthra Om! Namo! Naaraayanaaya dedicated to Lord SriManNarayana; is a Kyvalya (salvation) manthra without reciting of which even the Gayathri manthra becomes ineffective that is recited during Sandhyavandana. We find merits of reciting Naaraayana manthra in Srimad Bhaagavatham 6^th canto; in the episode of Ajaamilopaakhyaanam. Om! Namo! Venkatesaaya! is the eight syllable hymn; Ashtaakshari manthra of Lord Venkateswara. Sri Appanachaarya an ardent and beloved disciple of Sri Raghavendra Swamy has proclaimed to the world the powerful Ashtaakshari manthra of Sri Raghavendra Swamy “Sri Raghavendraya Namah”, meditating upon which there is no doubt that all the wishes of the devotee would get fulfilled.

Ashta Lakshmi

Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in eight forms known as Ashta Lakshmi.  They are; Aadi Lakshmi (prime wealth); Dhaanya Lakshmi (wealth of grains); Dhyrya Lakshmi (wealth of courage); Gaja Lakshmi (wealth of elephants); Santaana Lakshmi (wealth of children); Vijaya Lakshmi (wealth of success); Vidya Lakshmi (wealth of knowledge) and Dhana Lakshmi (monetary wealth).

Ashta Mahishi (eight prime queens)

Rukmani Devi; Sathyabhaama; Jaambavathi; Naagnaajithi; Kaalindi; Lakshana; Mitravidna; and Bhadra are the eight prime consorts of Lord Sri Krishna

Ashta Vinaayaka

Stories and legends of Lord Ganesha are referred in many pouranic texts out of which two Puranas viz. Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana (Upa Puranas) are totally dedicated to Lord Ganesha.  As per these puranas it is said that Lord Ganesha got manifested in several forms out of which, eight are considered to be most important referred to as His incarnations. These incarnations that have occurred in different cosmic ages are; Vakratunda; Ekadantha; Mahodara; Gajavaktra (Gajaanana); Lambodara; Vikata; Vighnaraja and Dhoomravarna.

Ashta Vinayaka Temples

Prominent among the temples of Lord Ganesha are a cluster of eight temples popularly known as Ashta Vinayaka temples which are totally dedicated to Lord Maha Ganapathi.  They are very ancient temples where, Lord Vinayaka is said to have manifested in different cosmic ages.  They are,

1.     Mayureshwar Temple, Moregaon

2.    Siddhi Vinayaka Temple, Siddhatek

3.    Ballaleshwar Temple, Pali

4.   Varada Vinayak Temple, Mahad

5.    Chintaamani Temple, Theur

6.   Girijaatmaj Temple, Lenyadri

7.    Vignahar Temple, Ozar

8.   Maha Ganapathi Temple, Ranjangaon

These eight temples are located in the state of Maharashtra within a radius of about 100 km from Pune city.

Ashtadravya

Performing Ganapathi homa is one of the accepted modes of worshiping Lord Ganesha. While performing the sacred fire ritual targeting Lord Maha Ganapathi, there is a custom to offer an item prepared with a combination of eight ingredients known as Ashtadravya. The ingredients are coconut; jaggery; banana; Thila; ghee; sugarcane; Laja (fried paddy); and Flattened rice. There could be a different combination of ingredients depending on the place or region and sampradaya one follows.

Ashtadikkpaalaka (presiding Deities of eight directions)

East; South-east; South; South-west; West; North-west; North and North-east are known as Ashta Dikk – eight directions and their presiding deities (Vedic Gods) who rule the eight directions are as follows;

East	Poorva	Indra
South-East	Aagneya	Agni
South	Dakshina	Yama
South-West	Nyruthi	Nirruthi
West	Paschima	Varuna
North-West	Vaayavya	Vayu
North	Uttara	Kubera
North-East	Eesaanya	Eesaana

Ashta Vasus

They are a class of Vedic deities; eight in number called Ashta Vasus; the elemental gods who are associated with Indra, the Lord of Heaven. They represent the basic aspects of nature; cosmic natural phenomenon viz; the earth, fire, water, wind, sky, sun; moon and stars. Along with Ekaadasa (11) Rudras + Dwaadasa (12) Aadityaas + Prajapathi + Vashatkaara; they form a significant group of 33 principal demi-gods. Their nomenclatures differ in different sacred texts and puranas and there is no unanimity in the list. May be they are the same set known by various names. Names of Ashta Vasus as per couple of versions are as follows;

Dhara; Dhruva; Soma; Ahas; Anila; Anala; Pratyuusha; and Prbhaasa;

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);

Drona; Dhruva; Dosha; Arka; Agni; Dyau; Praana; and Vibhavasu;

Anala is one of the names of Ashta Vasus.  Anala is another name of Fire god Agni which is insatiable. Lord Vishnu is also known as Anala (sloka # 32; 76 of Vishnu Sahasranama stothram) the one whose strength and energies are unlimited; have no bounds and is insatiable. Among the Ashta Vasus, Agni (Anala) is the foremost.  Anila is another name of Praana the Air God Vaayu. Lord Vishnu is known as Anilah (sloka # 25 of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama stothram).  He is the vital life force and the source of life for everyone; without Him even the air cannot live. Similarly, Lord Vishnu is Somah (sloka # 54 of Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram) the divine nectar and the nourisher and protector of vegetation

Vasu means dweller or dwelling. Ashta Vasus are the eight demi gods who dwell in the terrestrial region. In sloka # 29; 74 of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama stothram we find a reference to the word Vasu where, Lord Vishnu is eulogized as Vasuh.  He is the dweller everywhere and everything dwells in Him. Lord Vishnu is popularly known as Vasudeva; Vasu + Deva. Deva means the lord and Vasudeva (Vishnu) is the lord of Vasus. He is the one who Himself is Vasu. In Bhagawadgeeta 10^th canto (Vibhoothi Yoga) Lord Sri Krushna says that, He is Agni among Vasus; “Vasuunaam Paavakaschaasmi” Paavaka is another name of Agni. 

Lord Sri Krushna’s foster father Nanda was an incarnation of Drona, one of the Ashta Vasus. Similarly Bheeshma Pithaamaha of Mahabhaaratha fame; was one of the Ashta Vasus by name Dyau also known as Prabhasa who took birth as the eighth son of Goddess Ganga Devi and Kuru King Shantanu.

Saashtaanga Namaskaara

Sa means with; Ashta means eight and Anga means limbs; Namaskara means prostration. Saashtaanga Namaskaara means, reverential prostration performed with eight limbs (Ashta-Anga) viz. two hands; two legs; two arms; chest and forehead touching the ground as a mark of respect, obeisance and total surrender to the deity. It is one of the best traditions of Hindu religion percolated down from elders that we follow in our day to day life while offering salutations to God; Yati; Parents; elders; Preceptor. It is also a type of yogaasana and forms a part of Surya Namaskaara. Women are barred from performing Saashtaanga namaskara; their chest, abdomen and waist should not touch the ground. In their case it will be a Panchaanga namaskara.

Saashtaanga Namaskara should be performed with utmost humility and devotion and not as a routine drill. It is a mode of self realization; it removes egoism. Following sloka describes how a Saashtaanga namaskara should be made;

Urasa sirasa dhrushtya manasa vachasa thatha

Paadhaabhyaam karaabhyaam jaanubhyaam

pranaamoshtaango eeriithah

It should be performed with five body parts viz. chest, head, feet, hands and knees touching the ground and three senses viz. one’s mind, one’s eyes and tongue are all focused on the divine.

Ashtaanga or Ashtavidha Yoga

Eight modes of self restraint in profound contemplation are;

Yama (restraint or governing of senses); Niyama (religious observances); Aasana (posture or attitude); Praanaayaama (breathing); Pratyaahaara (withdrawing or restraining organs from the objects of sense); Dhaarana (suspending breath, abstracting the mind and restraining all concentration); Dhyaana (meditation); Samaadhi (state of self absorption);

Hindu Astrology and Ashta (#8)

Ashtama Bhaava; 8^th house in an astrological chart signifies a very important aspect viz; the longevity and death; apart from several other things like obstacles, accidents, disgrace, degradation, sudden aberrations, windfall, unearned wealth, chronic diseases etc. It is one of the Dusthanas (bad house) in a birth chart. In the natural zodiac; Scorpio (Vruschika Raasi) is the 8^th house and Mars (Kuja) is the lord of this house.

There is a concept called Ashtakavarga in Hindu astrology; which 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.

Astro-Numerology & # 8

Saturn is the ruling planet of number eight (#8). Those born with number eight as their birth number acquire success after struggles and difficulties with their strong will-power, individuality and great effort typical of the nature of Saturn. They are very sincere to their family, society, organization neglecting their own affairs. They will not get the expected help in return. They often get misunderstood by others. They generally belong to the group of revolutionaries; politicians; innovators; in the filed of scientific and space research, legal; occult science; philosophy; spiritualism etc. They have leadership qualities; self confident; good planners and they become highly successful if their energies are properly channelized in the right direction.

Hindu Panchaanga & Ashta (#8)

Eighth lunar day as per Hindu Panchaanga (Almanac) is known as Ashtami thithi; Lord Shiva in the name Sadhyojata is the presiding deity of Ashtami thithi.  It is known as Jaya thithi. Lord Sri Krishna was born on this day that is celebrated as Sri Krushnaashtami. Bheeshma Pithaamaha the most revered and grandiose character of the great epic Mahaabhaaratha had his Niryaana (death) on this day known as Bheeshmaashtami. Eighth day during Navarathri celebrations is dedicated to Goddess Durga that is known as Durgaashtami. In Hindu electional astrology, Ashtami thithi is not considered as an elected day for performing auspicious functions like marriage, upanayana etc. Ashtami thithi during the dark fortnight of Bhaadrapada; Maargasira; Pushya; Maagha and Phaalguna months is known as Ashtaka that is sacred for giving Thila tharpana to forefathers in the concept of Shannavathi Sraaddha.

Ashtamukhi Rudraaksha

In the concept of Rudraaksha, Ashtamukhi (eight faced) is known to represent Lord Ganapathi (Vinaayaka) and its ruling planet is Rahu.  It is believed to remove all obstacles and aberrations and bring success in all the endeavors.

Ashtadiggaja

Sri Krishna Devaraaya the great emperor of Vijayanagara dynasty had in his court eight great poets who were known as Ashtadiggajas. They were: Allasani Peddana; Nandi Thimmana; Maadayaagari Mallana; Dhoorjati; Pingali Soorana; Ramaraja Bhooshana; Ayyalaraju Raamabhadrudu; and Tenali Ramakrishna

Basic principles of Hindu Vaasthu shaastra (architecture) is primarily based on the concept of Ashta (eight directions) where a balancing arrangement of five vital elements of nature viz. earth, water, fire, space and air is made.

Ashta means eight; Ashtaka means eight folded (consisting of eight parts); Ashtakona (eight corners) or Ashtabhuja (eight sides); Ashtapadi (a stanza having eight lines); 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); Ashtasiddhi (eight supernatural faculties); Ashta Daridra (eight types of misfortunes); Ashta Aiswarya (eight types of prosperity and abundance) are some of the terminologies in Hinduism associated with number eight and the list goes on….

*Above list is only illustrative and not exhaustive; readers views and suggestions are invited…

Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu