Gita-God-Hinduism

In a recent post ( goo.gl/Fqz7Ez ), I complied the significance of numbers from 1-8, based on Sri Bannanje Govindacharya's book "ankeyalli adhyAtma". Here it the next set. Significance of 9: navagraha (9 influencing aspects)- soorya, chandra, kuja, budha, guru, shukra, shani, rAhu, kEtu navadwAra (9 windows/holes) - 2 ears, 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 1 mouth, pAyu (anus), upastha (genital) navaprajApatis or navabrahmAs (9 guardians) - mareecha, atri, aMgiras, pulastya, pulaha, kratu, vasiShTa, bhRugu, dakSha navavidhabhakti (9 forms of devotion) - shravaNa (kathAshravaNa), keertana (guNagAna), smaraNa, pAdasEvana, archana, vaMdana, dAsya, sakhya, aatmanivEdana navavidabhAgawataru (9 devotees, based on navavidhabhakti) - pareekshit (shravaNa), shukamaharShi (keertana), prahlAda (smaraNa), Laxmi (pAdasEvana), pRuthu (archana), akroora (vandana), aanjanEya (dAsya), arjuna (sakhya), balichakravarty (aatmanivedana) navashaktis of bhagavan - vimalA, utkarShiNi, jnAnA, kriyA

In a recent conversation, a good friend of mine asked "why chant gAyatri japa in multiples of 12, like 12, 48, 108 etc". I made an attempt to explain the logic and beauty of numbers in the vedic culture. However I realized that there is much more than just this and Sri Bannanje Govindacharya has written an entire book on the significance of numbers in spiritual pursuit. I am recollecting some of those that can mesmerize even the most educated ones. Here is my interpretation and understanding, based on what I have read, heard, contemplated and understood.. Regarding the question "why 12" (or any other number for that matter): the idea is not about 12 or any other number but about "poorNatva" - the "completeness" or "fullness". Vedic culture has provided a perspective as to what makes something complete and that is through sankhya - or logic or numbers. Let us take a look at some significant numbers and what they represent: 1 - ekamEv

अवतत्य धनुस्त्वग्ं सहस्राक्ष शतेषुधे । निशीर्य शल्यानां मुखा शिवो नः सुमना भव । avatatya dhanustvagaM sahasrAksha shateShudhe | nisheerya shalyAnAM mukA shivO naH sumanA bhava || avatatya – after unbending (covering), dhanu – the bow, tu – certainly, agaM – winds zig-zag (inconceivable nature; transcending the untranscended), sahasrAksha – all perceiving (thousand eyed), shata – hundred, iShudhe – quivers [that hold the arrows; iShudhyati means to request, to implore, to desire oblations], niShIrya – the indestructible (sheerya – perishable), shalyAnAm – of the arrows (sins, crimes, distress), mukhA – the directions (chief, head, face, source, logical viewpoint), shivaH – auspicious, naH – ours, sumanA – charming, bhava – obtain Oh the all perceiving one, the wielder of hundreds of quivers (which are filled with requests from devotees), the bow upon bending, winds inconceivably. By the indestructible arrows let all directions be auspicious and may our minds attain charm. 

No text has fascinated me as much as Sri Rudram. People have chanted Sri Rudram or Sri Rudraprasna for ages. We have been told that it is powerful. It indeed is. However, not many people, including me, really understand the meaning (superficial or inner) of Rudraprasna. Here is an attempt to understand the essence of the prashna and translate it for the benefit of all, particularly me. DISCLAIMER: I am not a Sanskrit scholar but have interest in understanding the inner meaning of vedic mantras. So, it is an attempt to help myself and if it helps others then that is a bonus, my offering to the Lord. Sarvam Sri KrishNarpaNam. I thought, before I start let me see if there are any translations already. And I found this really good site where I have taken the translation from ( http://jigyaasaa.wordpress.com/ ). I have not looked into the accuracy of the translation but after going through the site I can say with complete confidence that this looks like an authentic translation. Question