Sineru: The Mountain That May Not Have Been a Mountain

Abstract

Early Buddhist texts place Sineru (Sanskrit Sumeru, Meru) at the centre of a traditional world-system and assign it dimensions of 84,000 yojanas. Some modern interpretations convert this figure into kilometres and identify the mountain with a galaxy or galactic axis. This paper evaluates such proposals against the textual architecture and stated purposes of the sources rather than against modern astronomy alone. Four lines of evidence are considered. First, the Sattasūriya Sutta (AN 7.66) assigns the same figure to the mountain's length, width, depth below the ocean and height above it. Second, the Abhidharmakośa tradition gives 80,000 in a similarly repeated dimensional scheme. Third, 84,000 occurs in other Buddhist and South Asian contexts associated with comprehensive totals. Fourth, the Cūḷanikā Sutta (AN 3.80) places Sinerus in nested world-systems, where they occur as repeated components. AN 4.77, MN 63 and the conclusion of AN 7.66 further clarify the soteriological priorities of the discourses cited. Together, these considerations weaken a straightforward metrological reading and rule out a one-to-one astronomical identification. They do not prove that every historical audience understood Sineru as purely symbolic: cosmographical specification and didactic function can coexist. The paper therefore distinguishes empirical measurement, idealized cosmography and symbolic use, and identifies the further work needed on textual transmission and historical reception.