Cakkavāḷa untranslated

Cakkavāḷa, Cakkavāḷas. The name given to a whole world-system, there being countless such systems. Each Cakkavāḷa is 123,450 yojanas in extent and consists of the earth, 240,000 nahutas of yojanas in volume, surrounded by a region of water 480,000 nahutas of yojanas in volume. This rests on air, the thickness of which is 960,000 nahutas of yojanas. In the centre of the Cakkavāḷa is Mount Sineru, 168 yojanas in height, half of which is immersed in the ocean.

Around Sineru are seven mountain ranges, Yugandhara, Īsadhara, Karavīka, Sudassana, Nemindhara, Vinataka and Assakaṇṇa. The mountains are inhabited by the Regent Gods (Mahā Rājas) and their followers, the Yakkhas.

Within the Cakkavāḷa is the Himavā mountain, one hundred leagues high, with 84,000 peaks. Surrounding the whole Cakkavāḷa is the Cakkavāḷasilā. Belonging to each Cakkavāḷa is a moon, forty-nine leagues in diameter, a sun of fifty leagues, the Tāvatiṁsabhavana, the Asurabhavana, the Avīcimahāniraya and the four mahādīpas – Jambudīpa, Aparagoyāna, Pubbavideha and Uttarakuru, each mahādīpa surrounded by five hundred minor dīpas.

Between the Cakkavāḷas exist the Lokantarikaniraya (SN­a.ii.442f.; Dhs­a.297f).

In each Cakkavāḷa are Four Regent Gods (Cattāro Mahā Rājā) (AN­a.i.439).

A sun can illuminate only one Cakkavāḷa; the rays of light from the Buddha’s body can illuminate all the Cakkavāḷas (AN­a.i.440).