Asaṃkhyeya

An asaṃkhyeya (Sanskrit: असंख्येय) is a Buddhist name for the number 10¹⁴⁰ or alternatively for the number ${\displaystyle 10^{(a\cdot 2^{b})}}$ as it is described in the Avatamsaka Sutra.^[1] The value of the number is different depending upon the translation. It is ${\displaystyle 10^{(5\cdot 2^{103})}}$ in the translation of Buddhabhadra, ${\displaystyle 10^{(7\cdot 2^{103})}}$ in that of Shikshananda and ${\displaystyle 10^{(10\cdot 2^{104})}}$ in that of Thomas Cleary, who may have made an error in calculation. In these religious traditions, the word has the meaning of 'Incalculable or Countless'.^[2]

Asaṃkhyeya is a Sanskrit word that appears often in the numerous Buddhist 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.^[3]

• History of large numbers