The Number Nine (9) seems to have some unique characteristics. It is called nau (in Hindi), nava (in Sanskrit), neun (in German), and neuf (in French) – all sounding somewhat similar. Nine is the highest one-digit number in a system of numbers using base 10.

In Hinduism, the number nine is most revered. We often use the words Nava graham, Nava dhanyam, Nava dwaram etc. Nava graham means the nine planets. Nava dhanyam refers to the nine important grains that are consumed as food. Nava dwaram refers to the nine holes in a human body.

We have the Goddess Navadurga in Her nine forms (Kumarika, Tri-Murti, Kalyaani, Rohini, Kaali, Chandikaa, Saambhavi, Durgaa, and Bhadraa).

Jewellery is often made up with one or more of Navaratnas – the nine stones (pearl, ruby, topaz, diamond, emerald, lapis lazuli, coral, sapphire, and Go-medha) each of which represents one of the 9 planets. Some people wear rings with all the nine stones embedded in gold.

Human sentiments are described as “The Navarasas.” The nine emotions are Shringara (love/beauty), Haasya(laughter), Karuna (sorrow), Raudra (anger), Veera ( heroism/courage), Bhayanaka (terror/fear), Bibhatsya (disgust), Adbutha (surprise/wonder), and Shantha (peace or tranquility). These are the emotions that humans display in various situations.

Navaraatri refers to the nine nights that we celebrate in the worship of Devi; Navaamsam is the most important sub-divisional chart that we use in conjunction with Raasi chart in matching horoscopes.

The auspicious number 108 is nothing but a multiple of nine. The number of chapters in Bhagavath gita is 18. Mahabharatha war lasted for 18 days. The number of steps at Sabarimala is 18. The number of puranas are 18.

The number of Nakshtras (stars) is 27 – a multiple of 9. The number of dasaas (planatery periods) is nine.

Playing with figures; if you add and re-add the single digits of the resultant obtained by multiplying any number by 9 will always be nine too. Example say, 263x 9=2367. Then adding the digits, 2+3+6+7=18. Again, adding the digits 1+8=9.

If you write a three digit number and add the the three digits and subtract the sum from the number,the sum of the balance will be nine.The largest number that you can write with just 3 digits is 9 to the power of ninety-nine.

When a two digit number is reversed and subtracted from the greater one the sum of the digits in balance is nine.

The list seems endless.