Prabhupada, San Francisco, February 18, 1967: […] Sometimes the explanation is given that, “Why we have got 108 beads? Because there are 108 Upanisads.” So chanting of Hare Krishna with 108 beads means that we are surpassing the study of 108 Upanisads.
Another meaning is that there are 108 damsels who served Krishna with all respect at Vrindavana. So that is also another explanation, 108. We are serving Krishna’s servitors, hundred and…, chief damsels of, at Vrindavana. So these 108 Upanisads are described, isa kena katha prasna munda mandukyo taittiri… You can count how many:
Isopanisad, Kenopanisad, Kathopanisad, Prasnopanisad, Mundakopanisad, Mandukyopanisad, Taittiriyopanisad. Then aitareyas ca chandogya brhad-aranyakam tatha. Then Aitareya Upanisad, Chandogyopanisad, Brhad-aranyakopanisad, Brahmokaivalyopanisad, Jabalopanisad.
There are so many Upanisads, 108 Upanisads. Aruneyopanisad, Garbho, Narayano, Hamsa. This Hamsaduta, the name, the Hamsa Upanisad, it comes from Hamsa. Garbho narayano hamso binduro narada sikah. Sika-upanisad, Narada Upanisad. Full Lecture
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