Rheumatologe: 108 Braids

You have seen cornrow braids in Western countries, but the 108 braids in Tibet are of religious and mystical significance. It comes from nomadic women and the hair is often decorated. I’ve seen more women with this hairstyle in Lhasa than for instance among the nomads.

108 is an auspicious number in Tibet (as well as other Buddhist countries and India). Indian (the Hare Krishnas are chanting and counting with the help of their malas, which have 108 beads) or Tibetan malas or rosaries have 108 beads. There are 108 forms of sin or defilements; sometimes desires, lies, or delusions are counted to 108. The Bodhisattva Mahamati asked Buddha 108 questions according to the Lankavatara Sutra (translated by Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki). The “number is reached by multiplying the senses smell, touch, taste, hearing, sight, and consciousness by whether they are painful, pleasant or neutral, and then again by whether these are internally generated or externally occurring, and yet again by past, present and future, finally we get 108 feelings. 6 × 3 × 2 × 3 = 108.”

This all goes into the 108 braids – maybe this is a little exaggerated – there 108 braids, because it’s an auspicious number.