as others pointed out it is common (not convention) that indexes start from low values to high in that order, but when it is obvious it is undertood
$\sum\limits_{i=1}^{n} (3i)\ = \sum\limits_{i=n}^{1} (3i) $ is true, not sure why you think $3+6+9+\cdots +3n \neq 3n+\cdots+9+6+3$?
Just remember it is a shorthand, it is meaningless without defining what it means, you coud even define it with additional properties $\sum\limits_{k \text{ is prime} \le10000} k $ means $2+3+5+7+11+\cdots$ only primes less than 10000.