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Numbers In Hinduism

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Chapter 11: The Importance of Numbers in Hinduism
The scriptures state that numbers ranging from 0 to 10 have a symbolic importance for Hindus. They are associated with some of the key principles and gods of the religion. According to historical records, the Hindus developed the number system so they can systematically arrange their knowledge regarding the gods and the theories of creation. This chapter will provide you with some examples as to how numbers were used in Hindu ceremonies.
Thousands of years ago, Indian citizens were so religious. They worshipped and prayed to different gods on a daily basis. They believed that the ultimate goal of a person’s existence is to attain freedom from the repetitive cycle of births and deaths. Also, they thought that withdrawal from the society and abandonment of responsibilities were never needed to establish a relationship with the divine beings. Happiness and wealth were important for Hindus but they didn’t consider these as goals. They focused their time and effort on achieving freedom from the illusions created by Maya. In order to attain this liberation, they lived their lives and performed their tasks without any hint of passion. They consider the gods as their saviors, guardians, guides, and witnesses. Because they needed to present their knowledge about the divine in an understandable manner, they invented the concept of …show more content…

• 1 (one) – This was employed to depict Brahman as a god that has forms and qualities.
• 2 (two) – This represented the duality present in every human being. For Hindus, this duality is composed of the mind and the senses.
• 3 (three) – This number represents the three major manifestations of the Supreme God (i.e. Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma).
• 4 (four) – This number is related to the caste system and the phases of a human’s life.
• 5 (five) – This was used as a symbol for the human body. It is also connected with the

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