Study of numbers existed for a very long time in history. No one can tell how they came into existence or who the originator was. Only history can tell us how the numbers were used in ancient times. The Chaldeans, Hebrews, Egyptians, Arabs, Chinese and the Hindus all used numbers for their daily work. Numbers were considered Holy in the ancient times and were given all respects whenever they were used. Lets us see how the numbers were used in different times.



The Hindus have their own study of numbers. They were great mathematicians and astronomers in ancient India. They were even able to tell the distance of the planets from earth using a system known as yojana. ( 8 miles is approximately equal to 1 yogana). In Srimad Bhagavatam ,( an ancient Hindu scripture approximately 5000 years old ) a figure of 500 million yoganas is given for the diameter of the universe. It is amazing how they got this figure without sophisticated instruments as the mean distance agrees very close to our modern computer calculation. Even the Hindu Gods have their own numbers. If some one is born on the 1st, 10, 19 of any month he or she is supposed to pray to the Sun or Surya to get his blessings, for wealth and health, and also to solve any problems with the government. The ruling government is supposed to be empowered by the Sun God. Those born on the 7, 16 or 25 are supposed to pray to Goddess Durga. Taking birth on the 4, 13, 22 and 31 comes under the essence of Ganesh. It is said that the total number of demigods are 33 million. A typical inhabitant of the higher world has a life span of 10, 000 celestial years, which each day and night is equal to our six earthly months...... It seems numbers played a very important part in the ancient history.
 
Our ancestors assigned numbers for every ruling planet. 1 is for Sun, 2 the moon, 3 Jupiter, 4 Uranus, 5 Mercury, 6 Venus, 7, Neptune, 8 Saturn and 9 Mars. Astrology calculations are based very much on the planets.