Asaṃkhyeya

Template:Short description An Template:IAST (Template:Langx) is a Sanskrit word for the number 10¹⁴⁰ or alternatively for the number $10^{(a\cdot 2^b)}$ as it is described in the Avatamsaka Sutra. The value of the number is different depending upon the translation. It is $10^{(5\cdot 2^{103})}$ in the translation of Buddhabhadra, $10^{(7\cdot 2^{103})}$ in that of Shikshananda and $10^{(10\cdot 2^{104})}$ in that of Thomas Cleary, who may have made an error in calculation.Template:Cn In these religious traditions, the word has the meaning of 'Incalculable or Countless'.

Asaṃkhyeya is a Sanskrit word that appears often in the Buddhist and Hindu texts. For examples,

• Shakyamuni Buddha is said to have practiced every Bodhisattva actions for 4 Asaṃkhyeya kalpas before becoming a Buddha.
• Kassapa Buddha is said to have practiced 10 perfections for 8 Asaṃkhyeya kalpas before becoming a Buddha.
• Dipankara Buddha is said to have completed 10 Pāramitās for 16 Asaṃkhyeya kalpas before becoming a Buddha..

• It is also found as names of the Hindu Gods Shiva and Vishnu in their sahasranamas respectively.

See also

• History of large numbers

References

Template:Num-stub