Supernatural: Mount Purgatory/Sumeru

The mountainous Sumeru is an immense peak which arises in the center of the dimensions and galaxies surrounding it, the Jade-Sun (a large shard of fiery jade sliced off a mountain on the planet of Prismordium) and Amber-Moon revolve around it. Made by a massive rock cast off from the earth when Lucifer crash-landed from Heaven, its base rests in a vast cosmic ocean and it is surrounded by several groups of lesser mountain-ranges and oceans.
Sumeru is a place where people (specifically, people too good to enter Hell but too wicked to enter Heaven) come in an attempt to reach Heaven through a sort of pilgrimage, a journey to prove themselves worthy to reach Heaven.
And, like Hell, it has been confirmed that Sumeru is a real place.

Geography

The peak of Sumeru is divided into seven Terraces which go through Trāyastriṃśa (the wide flat space on the top of Mount Sumeru), Cāturmahārājikakāyika (found on the lower slopes of Mount Sumeru), and the two Yazhuralokā (The world of the Yazhuras is the space at the foot of Mount Sumeru, much of which is a deep ocean. The four Kingdoms of the two Yazhuralokā are Jambudvīpa in the south, Pūrvavideha in the east, Aparagodānīya in the west and Uttarakuru in the north).
A gate leading up Sumeru has three steps: polished white (reflecting the purity of the penitent's true self), black (the color of mourning; cracked in the shape of a Christian cross), and red (symbolising the blood of Maleldil and the restoration of true life). The gate of Sumeru, Peter's-Gate, is guarded by an angel who uses the point of his sword to draw the letter "P" (signifying “Peccatum”, sin) seven times on the traveller’s forehead. With the passage of each terrace and the corresponding purgation of the soul that the pilgrim receives, one of the "P"s will be erased by the angel granting passage to the next terrace. The angel at Peter's-Gate uses two keys, silver (Remorse) and gold (Reconciliation) to open the gate. Through the Gate is a path that goes through the mountain-rings that surround Sumeru which are surrounded by a vast ocean, which fills most of the world. The ocean is in turn surrounded by a circular mountain wall called “Chakravāḍa” which marks the horizontal limit of Sumeru. In this ocean there are four continents and small islands in it. Because of the immenseness of the ocean, they cannot be reached from each other by ordinary sailing vessels, although in the past, when the Chakravartin kings ruled, communication between the continents was possible by means of the treasure called the “Chakraratna” which a Chakravartin and his servants could use to fly through the air between the continents. All of the structures of Sumeru and the rest extend downward to a depth of 80,000 yohhānās below normal sea level: the same as the height of Sumeru above sea level. Below this is a layer of golden earth, a substance compact and firm enough to support the weight of Sumeru. It is 320,000 yohhānās in depth and extends to 400,000 yohhānās below sea-level. The layer of golden earth in turn rests upon a layer of water, which is 8,000,000 yohhānās in depth, going down to 8,400,000 yohhānās below sea level. Below the layer of water is a "circle of wind", which is 16,000,000 yohhānās in depth and also much broader in extent, supporting 1,000 different worlds upon it. Yohhānās are equivalent to about 13 km (8 miles). The seven Terraces and 2 Lands (Antepurgatories) of Sumeru are stated as follows; first is Antepurgatory-One which passes through the two Yazhuralokā [the world of the Yazhuras is the space at the foot of Mount-Sumeru, much of which is a deep ocean. It is not the Yazhuras' original home, but the place they found themselves after they were thrown from Trāyastriṃśa where they had formerly lived. The Yazhuras are always fighting to regain their lost kingdom on the top of Mount Sumeru, but are unable to break the guard of the Four Great-Kings. The Yazhuras are divided into many groups, and have no single ruler. The Yazhuras have four kingdoms which they built upon four smaller continents: Jambudvīpa is located in the south and is the dwelling of ordinary Yazhuras. It is said to be shaped like a blunt-nosed triangle with the point facing south. It is 10,000 yohhānās in length and has a perimeter of 6,000 yohhānās. The continent takes its name from a giant golden Jambu-tree 100 yohhānās tall, which grows in the middle of the continent. Every continent has one of these giant trees. The Yazhuras here are five to six feet tall and their life varies between 10 to 140 years), Pūrvavideha is located in the east, and is shaped like a semicircle with the flat side pointing westward. It is 7,000 yohhānās in length and has a perimeter of 6,350 yohhānās of which the flat side is 2,000 yohhānās long. Its tree is the acacia. The people here are about 12 feet (3.7 m) tall and they live for 250 years, Aparagodānīya is located in the west, and is shaped like a circle with a circumference of about 7,500 yohhānās. The tree of this continent is a giant Kadamba tree. The human inhabitants of this continent do not live in houses but sleep on the ground. They are about 24 feet (7.3 m) tall and they live for 500 years, and finally Uttarakuru is located in the north, and is shaped like a square. It has a perimeter of 8,000 yohhānās, being 2,000 yohhānās on each side. The inhabitants of Uttarakuru have cities built in the air. They are said to be extraordinarily wealthy, not needing to labour for a living, as their food grows by itself, and having no private property. They are about 48 feet (15 m) tall and live for 1,000 years. The two Yazhuralokā (The world of the Yazhuras is the space at the foot of Mount Sumeru, much of which is a deep ocean. It is not the Yazhuras' original home, but the place they found themselves after they were thrown from Trāyastriṃśa where they had formerly lived. The Yazhuras are always fighting to regain their lost kingdom on the top of Mount Sumeru, but are unable to break the guard of the Four Great-Kings. The Yazhuras are divided into many groups, and have no single ruler. The Yazhuras have four kingdoms which they built upon four smaller continents: Jambudvīpa is located in the south and is the dwelling of ordinary Yazhuras. It is said to be shaped like a blunt-nosed triangle with the point facing south. It is 10,000 yohhānās in length and has a perimeter of 6,000 yohhānās. The continent takes its name from a giant golden Jambu-tree 100 yohhānās tall, which grows in the middle of the continent. Every continent has one of these giant trees. The Yazhuras here are five to six feet tall and their life varies between 10 to 140 years), Pūrvavideha is located in the east, and is shaped like a semicircle with the flat side pointing westward. It is 7,000 yohhānās in length and has a perimeter of 6,350 yohhānās of which the flat side is 2,000 yohhānās long. Its tree is the acacia. The people here are about 12 feet (3.7 m) tall and they live for 250 years, Aparagodānīya is located in the west, and is shaped like a circle with a circumference of about 7,500 yohhānās. The tree of this continent is a giant Kadamba tree. The human inhabitants of this continent do not live in houses but sleep on the ground. They are about 24 feet (7.3 m) tall and they live for 500 years, and finally Uttarakuru is located in the north, and is shaped like a square. It has a perimeter of 8,000 yohhānās, being 2,000 yohhānās on each side. The inhabitants of Uttarakuru have cities built in the air. They are said to be extraordinarily wealthy, not needing to labour for a living, as their food grows by itself, and having no private property. They are about 48 feet (15 m) tall and live for 1,000 years] and is inhabited by two groups of Pilgrims; the excommunicate and the late-repentant. The former are detained at the base of the cliff for a period thirty times as long as their period of contumacy. The prayers from those currently alive and praying for the Pilgrims reduce the amount of time a soul spends in Purgatory. Antepurgatory-Two passes through the lower-slopes in Cāturmahārājikakāyika [found on the lower slopes of Mount Sumeru, though some of its inhabitants live in the air around the mountain. Its rulers are the four Great-Kings of the name, Virūḍhaka, Dhṛatarāṣṭra, Virūpākṣa and Vaiśraavan. The beings who guide the Jade-Sun and Amber-Moon are also considered part of this world, as are the servants of the four kings, composed of Kumbhāṇḍas (dwarfs), Gandharva (fairies), Nagapurohita (dragons) and Akṣhas (goblins). The beings of this world are 750 feet (230 m) tall and live for 9,000,000 years. The height of this world is from sea level up to 40 yohhānās above the multiverse] and is mostly inhabited by the Cāturmahārājikakāyikadevas and the group of Pilgrims known as the Late-Repentant; they include those too lazy or too preoccupied to repent (the Indolent) and those who repented at the last minute without formally accepting the Creator as a result of violent deaths, and the Negligent Rulers. These souls will be admitted to Purgatory thanks to their genuine repentance, but must wait outside for an amount of time equal to their lives on earth. The First-Terrace of Purgatory (Pride) passes through Cāturmahārājikakāyika and travels up. On this Terrace, proud souls purge their sin by carrying huge stones on their backs. As they walk around the Terrace, they are able to profit from the sculpted examples of humility; statues of humble people who fill them with determination to continue onto Terrace-Two. The Second-Terrace (Envy) is where the souls of the envious wear penitential grey cloaks and their eyes are sewn shut with iron wire. This results in audible, rather than visual, learning in which the Pilgrims will hear voices in the air telling stories of generosity, the opposite virtue. After learning the lesson of generosity, Pilgrims will pass through Terrace-Three. The Third-Terrace (Wrath) is where the souls of the wrathful walk around in acrid smoke, which symbolizes the blinding effect of anger. The wrathful will walk through this smoke whilst hearing voices singing of meekness, the opposite virtue. The wrathful will walk on until they realize there is no point being angry with someone who has no choice over his/her actions and that being angry with someone who does have a choice is pointless as well. Passing through these Three Terraces is the Fourth-Terrace. The Fourth-Terrace (Sloth) is where souls whose sin was that of deficient love, sloth, who failed in life to act in pursuit of love, are engaged in ceaseless activity. The examples of sloth and of zeal, its opposite virtue, are called out by these souls as they run around the Terrace. On the last three Terraces are those who sinned by loving good things, but loving them in an excessive or disordered way. On the Fifth-Terrace (Avarice), excessive concern for earthly goods whether in the form of greed, ambition or extravagance is punished and purified. The avaricious and prodigal lie face-down on the ground, unable to move. A prayer is said over and over into their ears until they are willing to proceed to the next Terrace. The Sixth-Terrace (Gluttony) is where the gluttonous are purged, and more generally, those who over-emphasized food, drink, and bodily comforts. They are starved in the presence of trees whose fruit is forever out of reach whilst a prayer is said for them. Once they have been purged of their gluttonous urges, they can proceed to the next Terrace. In the Seventh-Terrace (Lust) two groups of souls run through an immense wall of flames calling out examples of lust as they circle the Terrace. After their unhealthy urges are purged away from them, they are teleported to the Earthly-Paradise through Trāyastriṃśa[a wide flat space on the top of Mount Sumeru filled with the gardens and palaces of the beings inhabiting it. Besides the main Thirty-Three Rulers, many other creatures and supernatural beings dwell here, including the attendants of the beings and the tree-nymphs. The beings of this world are 1,500 feet (460 m) tall and live for 36,000,000 years. The height of this world is 80 yohhānās above the multiverse] by the Trāyastriṃśadevas that live on its peak.
To reach Heaven once they reach the top of Sumeru and the Earthly-Paradise, the pilgrims will have to pass through multiple dimensions. These include:
• The Ārūpyalokā/Ārūpyadhātu- the "Formless-realm". It is a place with no shape, form, size or location. It has no place in a purely-physical cosmology, as the Ddeallus-tu-hwnt-iy-amgyffred inhabiting it has no location; and correspondingly, the realm has no location either. There are four types of beings inhabiting Ārūpyadhātu: the Ddeallus-tu-hwnt-iy-amgyffred, the Naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanadevas, and Nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadevas (formless beings who have gone beyond a mere annulment of perception and have reached a state where they do not engage in insight but are not wholly unconscious. These beings live precisely 89,280,000 miles above the Beings of Nothingness), “Ākiṃcanyāyatanadevas” and “Ākiñcaññāyatanadevas” (Beings of Nothingness. These formless beings dwell contemplating upon the thought that "there is nothing". This is considered a form of perception, though a very subtle one. Total lifespan in this realm in human years; 60,000 Mahākalpa. This realm is placed 89,280,000 miles above the Beings of Infinite Consciousness), Vijñānānantyāyatanadevas, and Viññāṇānañcāyatanadevas (Beings of Infinite Consciousness". These formless beings dwell meditating on their consciousness as infinitely omnipresent. Total lifespan on this realm in human years; 40,000 Mahākalpa. This realm is placed 89,280,000 miles above the Beings of Infinite Space), Ākāśānantyāyatanadevas, and Ākāsānañcāyatanadevas (Beings of Infinite Space. These formless beings dwell meditating upon space as infinitely ubiquitous. Total lifespan on this realm in human years; 20,000 Mahākalpa. This realm is placed 89,280,000 miles above the Form-Realm (Rūpadhātu).
• Bṛahatphaladeva-Worlds- inhabited by the Asaññasattadeva, Bṛvehatphaladeva (Their lifespan is 500 Mahākalpas. They are 5,242,880 yohhānās (83,886,080 miles) tall), Puṇyaprasavadeva (They are 2,621,440 yohhānās (41,943,040 miles) tall), Anabhrakadevas (they are 1,310,720 yohhānās (20,971,520 miles) tall). Śubhakṛatsnadeva (Their lifespan is 64 Mahākalpas. 64 Mahākalpas is the interval between destructions of the universe by wind, including the Śubhakṛatsnadeva worlds. They are 655,360 yohhānās (10,485,760 miles) tall), Appramāṇaśubhadevas (their lifespan is 32 Mahākalpas. They possess faith, virtue, learning, munificence and wisdom. Their height is 327,680 yohhānās (5,242,880 miles) tall) and Parīttaśubhadevas (Their lifespan is 16 Mahākalpas. Their height is 163,840 yohhānās (2,621,440 miles) tall), Ābhāsvaradeva (The lifespan of the Ābhāsvaradeva is 8 Mahākalpas. Eight Mahākalpas is the interval between destruction of the universe by water, which includes the Ābhāsvaradeva worlds. The height of this world is 81,920 yohhānās (1,310,720 miles) tall), Appramāṇābhadevas (Their lifespan is 4 Mahākalpas. Their height is 40,960 yohhānās tall) and Parīttābhadeva (Their lifespan is 2 Mahākalpas. Their height is 20,480 yohhānās tall).
• Mahābrahmādevalokā- the world below the Bṛahatphaladeva worlds. The main inhabitants are Mahābrahmādeva (they are each 1 ½ yohhānās tall. Their lifespan variously is 1 kalpā), Brahmapurohita (originally from the Ābhāsvaradeva worlds, they are born as companions to the Mahābrahmādevas after they spent some time alone. Since they arise subsequent to their thought of a desire for companions, the Mahābrahmādevas believe themselves to be their creators, and the Brahmapurohita similarly believe them to be their creators and lords. They are 1 yohhānās in height and their lifespan is variously said to be ½ of a kalpā) and Brahmapāriṣadya and Brahmapārisajja (They are also called Brahmakāyikadeva, but this name can be used for any of the inhabitants of the Mahābrahmādeva-worlds. They are half a yohhānās in height and their lifespan is variously said to be 1/3 a kalpā).
• Realm-of-Desire- This realm is a place where one could get their heart’s desire, although they would suffer greatly as a cost. The realm is separated into four worlds: the following four worlds are square-shaped planes, each 80,000 yohhānās, which float in the air above the top of Mount Sumeru: Parainirmmitavaśavarttin(The beings in this realm do not create pleasing forms that they desire for themselves, but their desires are fulfilled by the acts of others who wish for their favour. The ruler of this world is called Vaśavarttinadeva who has longer life, greater splendour, more power and happiness than the other beings of his world. This world is also the home of the beings of a divine race called the M’āraa, who endeavour to keep all beings of the Kāmadhātu in their grip. In general these two dwellers, the M’āraa and Vaśavarttinadeva, in this world are kept distinct. The beings of this world are 4,500 feet (1,400 m) tall and live for 9,216,000,000 years, although no longer. The height of this world is 1,280 Yohhānās above the multiverse), Nirmmāṇaratī (The beings of this world are 3,750 feet (1,140 m) tall and live for 2,304,000,000 years, but no longer. The height of this world is 640 yohhānās above the Earth), Tuṣita (The beings of this world are 3,000 feet (910 m) tall and live for 576,000,000 years, but no longer. The height of this world is 320 yohhānās above the multiverse) and Yāmalokā (the beings in this world live in the air, free of all difficulties. The beings of this world are 2,250 feet (690 m) tall and live for 144,000,000 years. The height of this world is 160 yohhānās above the Earth).
Once the pilgrims pass through all of this, they are deemed worthy to enter Heaven.

Fauna & Flora

There are multiple beings (including angelic ones) that inhabit Sumeru. Sumeru and its surrounding oceans and mountains are not just the home of these beings, but also vast assemblies of beings such as Therions (shapeshifters) who only rarely intrude on the human world.

Alternative Name(s)

Mount Sumeru, the Land-of-Grey

Type

Dimensional plane