Anotattasaro ca Sinerupabbato ca
Mount Neru and Lake Anotatta
The Buddha is said to have traversed the great distance from Uruvelà to the Himàlayas to spend the day at Lake Anotatta during the time he was trying to convert the Uruvelà Kassapa, shortly after the Awakening, but the latter was still not convinced of the Buddha's superiority. It is mentioned as one of the seven great lakes in the Himàlayas.01
In the same Aïguttara discourse Mount Sineru is mentioned as the King of Mountains (Pabbataràjà). The mountain is also known in the Pàëi texts as Neru, Mahàmeru, Meru and Kelasa. It is identified now with Mount Kailash in western Tibet. The Lake Anotatta, which is identified with Lake Manasarovar is on the rocky plains (silàtala) in front of the mountain range.
Sineru takes on mythical proportions in the Commentaries, where the Tàvatiüsa Heaven in said to be positioned on its summit, and the abode of the Demons at its base.02