In India, the number 108 is regarded as a sacred number; however, in Chaldean numerology, it is not considered the highest number that can be meaningfully described.

Within Indian tradition, a special status is attributed to this number, as it represents the product of 12 zodiac signs and 9 fundamental base numbers in the decimal system. It is therefore seen as a number that reflects the primordial structure of the material world. According to one strand of Indian tradition, the world was created by Shiva, and this number is consequently associated with him. Shiva is believed to have 108 names. Likewise, Japa mala are composed of 108 beads. Moreover, Krishna—another aspect of the Creator—is also said to have 108 names, as well as 108 Gopis (devotees).

It is within this context that the reasoning can be found for why the Indian numerologist Pandit Sethuraman, who adopted the Chaldean system from Cheiro, extended the descriptions of key numbers up to 108. All higher numbers than 108 can be reduced, through digit summation in one or multiple steps (in the case of very large numbers), to one of these 108 values. In developing his interpretations of numbers above 52, Pandit Sethuraman relied primarily on Indian tradition and his own intuition.

In any case, 108 is not the highest number with its own distinct essence in Chaldean numerology. Much like 52 (in Cheiro’s system) or 78 (in tarot), it represents a certain threshold; however, numbers beyond this value are also understood to possess unique influences. For example, the number 666 is traditionally known as the “number of the beast” (18), while at the same time it is also regarded as the “number of man” (triple 6). In an earlier discussion, it was also demonstrated how, in mundane numerology, even four-digit numbers such as calendar years can be interpreted.