Asaṃkhyeya

Short description: Buddhist name for a large number

An asaṃkhyeya (Sanskrit: असंख्येय) is a Buddhist name for the number 10¹⁴⁰, or alternatively for the number [math]\displaystyle{ 10^{(a\cdot2^b)} }[/math] as it is described in the Avatamsaka Sutra. The value of the number is different depending upon the translation. It is [math]\displaystyle{ 10^{(5\cdot2^{103})} }[/math] in the translation of Buddhabhadra, [math]\displaystyle{ 10^{(7\cdot2^{103})} }[/math] in that of Shikshananda and [math]\displaystyle{ 10^{(10\cdot2^{104})} }[/math] in that of Thomas Cleary, who may have made an error in calculation. In these religious traditions, the word has the meaning of 'incalculable'.

Asaṃkhyeya is a Sanskrit word that appears often in the Buddhist texts. For example, Shakyamuni Buddha is said to have practiced for 4 great asaṃkhyeya kalpas before becoming a Buddha.

See also

• History of large numbers