While it is well known that the number 18 is a very significant number in our shastras, the exact reason for the significance of this number was not clear. My previous post on this number and Gautham’s post in his blog got me more thinking. I recalled reading the significance of 18 somewhere but could not figure out where. Finally, I traced it to the excellent book “Ankeyalli Adhyatma” by Sri Bannanje Govindacharya. In this book, Sri Bannanje has explained the significance of various numbers in our Shastras. And he has a beautiful explanation for 18 as well.
The number 18 represents Bhagavanta Himself. To reach Him, 17 other things are to be overcome. Only then, one reaches the 18th that is completely independent and outside of these 17. The first 15 of these are Panchabhutas, Indriyas, Manas, Anna, Veerya, Tapassu, Mantra, Karma, Loka, Nama and Shraddha. The 16th is the Jiva himself who is entwined by the 15. The 17th is Prakruti. And finally, the 18th is Bhagavanta Himself.
Sri Madhvacharya has also demonstrated how the Pandavas and Draupadi represent 17 and Krishna represents 18.
- Yudhishthira : Dharma
- Bhima : Bhakti, Jnana, Vairagya, Prajna, Medhashakti, Dhruti, Sthithi, Yoga, Prana and Bala*
- Arjuna : Shravana, Manana and Nididhyasana
- Nakula-Sahadeva : Sheela and Vinaya
- Draupadi : Spiritual knowledge (Adhyatma Vidya)
And Sri Krishna, of course, is Para tattva personified. Hence, the significance of 18 in the Mahabharata.
* There is a shloka in the Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya which explains these ten qualities of Bhima. Chapter 2, Shloka number 141.
“Bhaktirjnanam savairagyam prajnaa medhaa dhrutih stithihi |
Yogah praNO balam chaiva vrukOdara iti smrutaha ||”
Anandatirtha Prathishtana 
Absolutely fantastic. May I humbly pen some more on the number 18, with your anticipated permission.
The significance of the Number 18 cascades to other predominantly important features of Hinduism too. Sabarimala is engulfed in the predominance of the number 18. It is believed that there are 18 steps to attain Moksha.
There are many theories about the significance of 18
steps in the pilgrimage to Sabarimala. It is believed
that the steps represent 18 mountains surrounding the
temple. On each step, the deity of the corresponding
mountain has been installed. So when the devotee
climbs the 18 steps to reach the sanctum sanctorum, he
attains the punya of visiting all 18 hill gods.During
the padipuja, deities of these 18 mountinas are
propitiated.
The 18 mountains are: Ponnambalamedu, Gowdenmala,
Nagamala, Sundaramala, Chittambalamala, Khalgimala,
Mathangamala, Myladummala, Sreepadamala, Devarmala,
Nilakkalmala, Thalapparamala, Neelimala, Karimala,
Puthuserrymala, Kalakettimala, Inchipparamala and
Sabarimala.The 18 steps are also considered as five
indriyaas _ eye, ear, nose, tongue and skin; eight
rajas, kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matasraya,
aham and asooya; three gunas: satva guna, raja guna
and tamo guna; and vidya and avidya.
Similarly, 18 is considered as the code number to break
into the soul of the Nature. The significance of 18
can be traced back to the Vedic age.The first Veda,
believed to be protected by Lord Brahma himself, had
18 chapters. Later, Veda Vyasa divided it to create
the four vedas: Rigveda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and
Atharava Veda. Each of these vedas had 18
chapters.Veda Vyasa also wrote 18 puranas and 18
upa-puranas. The Bhagavad Gita has 18 chapters and the
Kurukshetra war lasted 18 days.
I once again humbly reiterate, I just shared what I read.
Dear Sri Hariprasad and Sri Prshanth
My humble namaskara to both of you. The significance of number 18 has to be given top most importance and should be
spread to every one in this world. When you hear Sri Bannanje’s discourse on Bhima, it is simply fantastic, probably I have heard it more than 100 times so far, everytime you listen to it , my love and respect towards Lord Bhima is increasing every time. At one point he says, the sages used to que up and wait have Darshan of Bheema.
Lets pray to him to part a fraction each of his 10 charecters to all of us.
Warm Regards
G.Rammohan
I’ve had this documented from one of the most popular talks by Bannanje Govindacharyaru – https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RnJbTtq57zo52rol7X61i_rxbPFIc4twSg_3qUEV_Ig/edit?usp=sharing