The twist and turns

8 is the most fascinating and enigmatic single digit number. Feared by many, preferred by a few, this number continues to be the most controversial single digit number in the world of Astrology and Numerology.

The shape of 8 makes it unique amongst other single digit number. You invert the number and you get an 8 again. See it in the mirror and you get the same number. When you write this number you will come back to where you started. Such things never happen with other numbers from 1 to 9. You can draw a line vertically to split the number to get 2 identical halves, a 3 and a laterally reversed 3. If you cut it horizontally you get once again identical halves but this time they are 2 zero's. 8 resembles the symbol of infinity that is familiar to mathematicians if you rotate it 90 degrees.

If you write the numbers from 1 to 9 the stroke of the pen always end downwards as you finish writing the number and the only exception is once again 8. 8 is the only number that ends upwards when you finish writing this unique number. 8 shows you the going away or losing your way but this number reminds us that we come back to where we start from.

Life appears complicated like the loop or the knot in the number 8 but on a closer look you will know that it is just 2 bubbles. Once you trekking on the spiritual mountain you will get this real and absolute view of life. Well until that lucky date life is all knots like what you see in 8. Before we go into an in depth analysis of number 8 it is important to remember that 8 is associated with the planet Saturn.

Number 8 is favorable to all philosophers, deep thinkers, and philanthropist. In Chess which is undoubtedly the most mind absorbing game we have 8 pieces and 8 pawns. The board is a 8 x 8 square.

In the Rubik’s cube that captivated the minds of millions in 1980s there are 26 smaller cubes (=8). There are 8 distinct layers of consciousness as proven by modern Scientists and The Buddha. So 8 is deep and contemplative. The suffering that Saturn brings about is expected to lead us on to discovering the truth behind our existence.

8 is the basic number that  related to Saturn and hence more powerful than other numbers that reduce to 8 like 17 or 26 or 35r.

In Indian Astrology Saturn is related to longevity and is called Ayush-karaka (Ayush means life – Karaka means indicator).
Oxygen is the life giving element on our planet. It has 8 electrons (Valence number 8) and is therefore the 8th element on the periodic table of elements that we learnt in our chemistry class. There are 12 houses in a Vedic Indian Horoscope  and each house refers to a particular aspect of our life. The 8th house in a horoscope is called the Ayusthana – the house dealing with longevity. Saturn rules the air and the wind element in our body. Breathing is the most important aspect of living. The first breath signals the beginning of life. The best of creatures on earth, the human body consists of 206 (2+0+6=8) bones.

Here are more interesting facts about this number. Stretch your palm and note down the maximum span from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger. 8 times this is most probably your height. 8 furlongs make a mile. There are 8 main directions, N, S, E, W, NE, SE, SW and NW.

All digital calculators etc use the shape of 8 to display the characters. You can see this in a in a calculator when you press 8 and all the bits are lit up. 8 bits make a byte. Computer processors evolved from 8 and its multiples from 8 bit, 16 bit, 32 bit to 64 bit etc.

In physics, the 8-fold Way is a term coined by American physicist Murray Gell-Mann for a theory organizing subatomic baryons and mesons into octets. The theory was independently proposed by Israeli physicist Yuval Ne'eman and led to the subsequent development of the quark model.

In the year 2006 (=8) after much confusion regarding number of planets the International Astronomical Union  finally said that are only 8 planets in the Solar System (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) and 296 (=8) known extra-solar ones.

Mathematics and No.17

Write out NO.17 on a piece of paper and turn it upside down. NO17 has now become the LION. 17 is a peculiar number as far as mathematics is concerned. 17 is a prime number. So I have seen that  17 shows up more in the life of a celebrity or someone who is holding a prime position. 17 is known as the Feller number, after the famous mathematician William Feller who taught at Princeton University. Fall and Fell are associated with Saturn. Little wonder that Feller took so much interest in No.17. Feller would say, when discussing an unsolved mathematical problem, that if it could be proved for the case n = 17 then it could be proved for all positive integers n. He would also say in lectures, "Let's try this for an arbitrary value of n, say n=17."

Prof. Vadim Khayms of Stanford University is also known to use 17 as an arbitrary value during lectures. His Computational Mathematics for Engineers course includes 17 lectures.

Sweet 17

In the USA, 17 is the age at which one may purchase M-rated video games according to ESRB ratings. Also in some of the states in the United States, 17 is the age of consent. In most states of the United States and the UK, 17 is the age at which you may donate blood. In many countries and regions, 17 is the age at which one may obtain a driver's license. In the United States, 17 is the age at which one may rent or purchase R Rated movies by himself/herself according to MPAA film rating system.  So there is the usual longing to reach 17.

Whether or not 17 is sweet or sour needs to be determined after checking out the karmic tendencies  in the horoscope. For many teenagers 17 may the turning point showing 2 paths. They may go the wrong way or by avoiding the wrong way they may ensure themselves of the right way. For those who have a positive Saturn in the horoscope that is the year of Freedom.

English the most popular language has 26 (=8) alphabets. In English numerology the number value of letters F and P is 8. Check the words starting with F and P. Most of them relate to Saturn by signification for example words like:

Fail, Fate, Fatal, Fear, Fight, Foreign, Frustration, Fracture, Future (worry of future), Freedom, Fail etc.
Pass, Poverty, Pathetic, Pain, Panic, Proud, Perversion, Philosophy, Police, Poor, Prison, and Punishment etc.

When Saturn afflicts us we have more of these words appearing in our life. In the life of students the most worrying words are Fail or Pass. We discuss happiness either as Freedom or Prison  If a person often uses the word starting with F either to show off he/she is well educated or to insult a helpless person, surely number 8 will turn into an unlucky number for such a person. They will meet with disasters on dates linked to 8.

Petroleum is linked to Saturn because Saturn rules all ancient and preserved items and the word starts with a P. Doctors may have to prescribe or suggest a very high dosage of medicines that start with letter P as in the case of a steroid like Prednisolone when patients are under the influence of a challenging Saturn phase in life. So if anything or anyone having the name starting with the letter P is troubling you currently then check your horoscope with an expert and you will know that you are currently under the negative effects of Saturn.

If the position of Saturn in your horoscope is good and positive, number 8 is auspicious. Recently after noticing the unfavorable Saturn period, I asked one of my clients to donate a buffalo. After he did that, I told him that the good news he was expecting will come on a 8th, 17th or 26th. He called me up on a 17th to tell me that he got his Green Card for which he has been struggling for a long time. Maharshi Parasara (who is considered as the Father of Indian Astrology lived 5000 years ago) recommends donating buffalo or black cow to reduce the negative effects of Saturn.

Whenever a person is influenced by Saturn he/she is also under the influence of the number 8. If you are under the major or minor ruling period of Saturn and Saturn happens to be your auspicious planet and this planet is also auspiciously placed good events will happen on 8th or 17th or 26th.   

Usually those who conduct themselves rudely most of the time or suffer from super ego are more likely to be target of number 8 more than others. Saturn is a taskmaster, teacher and is also called the great leveler. He rules over death which levels everything from the richest to the poorest. Saturn rules over ill health, make a person limp, or have a fracture, fail in competitions, get injured in an accident etc. As proof we have seen that the people under the negative influence of Saturn like Sade-Sati (7 ½ years Saturn) or in an unfavorable Saturn period undergo traumatic events mostly on such dates like 8 or 17 or 26 or on a Saturday.

Generally human beings seek pleasure. The planet Saturn is not at all aligned with pleasure seeking. Saturn wants us to remember and notice the suffering around us. He wants us to stop enjoying and start serving and helping others. The punishment for neglecting the suffering of others comes in the form of natural catastrophes if the whole world is neglecting suffering. When this happens sometimes even the good people get affected. It is similar to what happens when we remove the weeds; some of the good plants also get destroyed. So the good people should speak about the good that will happen if we get more into social service activities.

Number 8 is auspicious for all those who look into the suffering of human beings. The Buddha was enlightened when He was 35 (=8) years old. The 8 fold path was His solution to the world of suffering.  He attained final Nirvana when He was 80. When we stray away from the right path number 8 becomes inauspicious. 8 is considered a lucky number in China where Buddhism flourishes. His 4 noble truths is the foundation of His teachings. 4 is half Saturn and is the number of Rahu considered as similar to Saturn.

Lord Sri Krishna was born on the 8th lunar day (Ashtami) and is also the 8th Avatar of Lord Vishnu and is the 8th child to his parents. He lived for 125 (=8) years. 8 is like Sri Krishna, a terror to the Rakshasas (demons) and a great friend of Arjuna (the perfect).

Saturday is the day when we should do maximum prayers or do social service. Unfortunately in Kaliyuga, most people always look towards Saturday night as the day of pleasure.

In India most of the people are aware of the inauspiciousness of the number 8 and Saturday. Especially those who are under Sade-Sati (7 ½ years Sani period) or in the period called Sani-Rahu or Rahu-Sani have noticed that trouble usually comes on 8th or 17th or 26th or on Saturdays or when the star is Pushyami, Anuradha or Uttarabhadra.

Saturn, 8 and India

It is generally believed that India is ruled by this number. India became independent on 15-8-1947 which adds up to 35 which adds up to 8. On that day the star was Pushyami – the 8th Star. Using the Koorma Chakra – we find that Delhi the Capital of India is in the Capricorn area that is ruled by Saturn.

The Gujarat earthquake of India on 26.01.2001 and the Tsunami of 26.12.2004 made it worse for those who already feared number 8. The Kashmir Earthquake which happened on 08.10.2005 killed about 80,000 people. While earthquakes are common, I noticed that either the death toll was higher or the magnitude of the earthquake was very high whenever such calamities happened on dates under the influence of Saturn. Recently the terror stike on Mumbai hotel happened on 26.11.2008.

Beijing Olympics: The 29th Olympiad began on a 8/8/8 ie on August 8, 2008, 08:08:08 p.m. exactly because for the Chinese the number is considered very auspicious. 8 has long been a lucky number in Chinese culture because its pronunciation in many Chinese dialects is similar to the word which means "wealth" and "prosperity." Two 8s next to each other also resemble the Chinese character for double happiness – a common symbol for weddings as it shows two people uniting as one. In 2003, Sichuan Airlines won the rights to the telephone number: 8888-8888 for $280,000 in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu. Airline spokesperson Xing Bing told the BBC that they bought the number because it would make customers happy, plus it was easy to remember.

I have also noticed that there are more devastating natural catastrophes on dates that are associated with 8 or Saturn star than on any other date. When Saturn and Moon are together (conjunctions) the influence of Saturn is very high as much as when Moon was under the glance of Saturn (Astrologers use the term “Aspected by Saturn”).  Saturn-Moon conjunction represents great sorrow and depression whenever it occurred in a horoscope. When this happens in the sky, generally people may have to face the fury of nature as was the case in the recent China Earthquake when Saturn and Moon were close to each other in the Fire sign of Leo.

Most people in India know that the number 8 is associated with Saturn. People are willing to pay up more for avoiding a number that totals to 8 appearing anywhere in their lives.  

Read the newspapers and you will notice that the number 8 appears in the news on 8th, 17th or 26th. Example, 8 people dead, 17 people killed, 8 member gang arrested, Rs.17 lakhs stolen etc. If you start collecting such information you will find that there is always a pattern in everything in our lives.

Read the newspaper on Sundays and the news items that cover Saturday (the previous day) are sure to have many references to 8 numbers and fatality more than on other days.

People in India get their motorcycle license if they can make an 8 on the road without keeping the foot down. Many students in India have an easy going until they reach the 8th standard. According them from 8th standard the going gets tough.

As per Astrology the shortest life means 0 to 8 which is referred as Balarishta. In ancient times, parents were tensed until the child was 8 years old. 8 is a junction point.

No.8 is associated with Saturn as per English numerology. The 3 stars of Saturn (Sani) which are  Pushyami, Anuradha  and Uttarabhadra happen to be the 8th, 17th and 26th star respectively counting from the 1st star which is Aswini. The numbers 17 and 26 add up to 8. In this way you can easily associate Saturn with number 8 even in Indian Astrology.

Why are most people afraid of this number? Ask a person who is in the unfavorable Saturn period or has been through one in the past. From the trivial complaints like, “I lost my shoes on Saturday” to the more serious ones like “I received the court notice on 17th”, or “I met with an accident on 8th which also happened to be a Saturday” or “I got divorced on 26th”. One of my clients reported that all the court hearings came only on dates that totaled to 8. He even asked me “Is the Judge and the court doing this intentionally?”

Currently Transit Saturn is in Virgo (after September 9, 2009). From this date Saturn will be in Virgo for approximately 30 months. So most of the people or nations born in the Moon sign of  Leo, Virgo, and Libra  are more likely to find extraordinary trouble on dates linked to number 8. To know more about the recent transit of Saturn click here:

http://knol.google.com/k/saturn-transit-on-september-10-2009

If you start looking for proof around you will soon have plenty of them. 8 is the number which either is extremely lucky or unlucky based on your Karma. You will soon notice that. If you have not yet noticed it it is because you are not aware of it. Whether we are aware of gravity or not, there is no problem, gravity continues to work.

8 resemble the knot reminding us that Saturn keeps up bound by our own Karma. Positively speaking the 8 knot is used by climbers who know it as the most secure.

However in India we do have good things associated with 8 for example there are 8 forms of Goddess Mahalakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth). Sri Krishna was the 8th born to his parents and was born on the 8th lunar day.

In Vasthu Sastra there are 8 deities ruling the 8 directions.  

People ruled by this number may have a rough start or may lose their way to begin with but eventually make it to the top or achieve finally what they wanted to. Note down major events that happen on 8th or 17th or 26th. If the events are unlucky then you are under the unfavorable influence of Saturn in which case you need to regularly pray and donate on all. If the problem is health, donate medicine, if financial then donate money, if you have problems at home, donate a shelter for the homeless, if it is mental stress donate to mentally retarded people etc.

ROTARY Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self. Polio is related to Saturn because it makes a person disabled.

Paul Harris the founder of Rotary was born in the 26th Star Uttarabhadra. This star belongs to SATURN the planet connected to the suffering and the poor. Paul Harris along with 3 others joined to form a 4 member club called Rotary. Rotary preaches the 4 way test very similar to The Buddha's 4 noble truths. 4 is half Saturn and goes well with 8. They are an ideal pair.

As per English Numerology R = 2, O = 7, T = 4, A = 1, R =2 and Y = 1 which adds up to 17 which is 8 once again. The founder of Rotary International Sir Paul Harris was born during the 26th Star Uttarabhadra. The author belongs to Rotary District 3230. Add the numbers in 3230 and  you get an 8. The district is subdivided into 17 regions. The author belongs to a club called ERA which is E = 5, R = 2 and A = 1 and that adds up to 8. This is just to prove the inter-relationship of Saturn and Rotary.

Another interesting point is that POLIO is the most well known project of Rotary. What is the connection between POLIO and ROTARY?

P = 8, O = 7, L = 3, I = 1, O = 7            which means   8+7+3+1+7      = 26 = 2+6 = 8

R = 2, O = 7, T = 4, A = 1, R =2, Y = 1   which means   2+7+4+1+2+1   = 17,   1+7 = 8.

Rotary's greatest contribution to the world will be the eradication of POLIO from the world once and for all.  Once that is done, Rotary is sure to pick  up another project that is connected to number 8 and that will take Rotary to the next level in the eyes of the public.

If you are regularly involved in any kind of social service activity you will soon find that 8 is lucky for you. If you are unkind and not inclined to the spirit of helping or giving then surely this number will turn out unlucky.

Pay you Saturn Tax on time:

Saturn is called the Eternal Tax collector. Unfortunate events especially fractures and accidents happening on 8th and on dates addding to 8 are only a reminder that such people need to pay up the taxes. They may have enjoyed much in the previous life or in the current life but forgot to do the required charity. Or they may have cheated a helpless person in the past life. Accidents etc that happen are to be considered as a reminder that you have enjoyed life somewhere in the past or present at the expense of other’s suffering.

Pay up the taxes before the tax collector comes to you. If you understand this philosophy of cause and effect you need not fear number 8 and Saturn at all. Interestingly in India we have the Income Tax Exemption on Donations (NGO) under Section 80g. The number 80 adds up to 8.

Saturn, 8 and accidents

Most people who were affected by Saturn or Rahu meet up with an accident on 8th or 17th or 26th. If anything unforgettable happens to you on such dates leaving a scar on you then surely you are in the bad books of Saturn the task master who comes to punish those who are unkind. To reverse it start donating money to the poor and needy on such dates of Saturn before things get worse. The best remedy is to care of disabled people so that we never get disabled.

 I feel that there is no need to fear this number. People fear the bank when they do not pay up the dues. Only thieves are afraid of the policemen. Others love the bank because that is where most of their dreams get realized. For the good people, the police usually are the protectors.

If 8 is your unlucky number then try to transform it as your lucky number by doing things that Saturn wants us to do. If you donate generously to the disabled people (avoid the word handicapped as it hurts them) and if you help those who are in genuine need, you will be in the good books of the account held by Saturn. This way the same number that is considered unlucky will become your Luckiest Number.

If 8 is your lucky number say thank God and then continue to do good to the people around you and to the world at large so that for as many lives you may live in the future 8 will remain as your lucky number.

 
By E K Dhilip Kumar