In this article, we will find out what Mount Meru is. In the cosmology of Buddhism and Hinduism, it is called Sumeru, which means "good Meru", and is considered as the center of all spiritual and material megagalaxies. This peak is considered the home of Brahma and the rest of the devas.
In the Puranas, it is written that its height is 80,000 yojanas (1.106 million km) - the Sun is approximately the same in diameter (1.392 million km), which is three times the distance from Earth to the Moon. Where is Mount Meru? The same writings say that it is located on Dzhambudvip - one of the continents of our planet. Hindu temples, including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, are a symbolic representation of Kailash, Mount Meru or Mandara.
Hindu cosmology
In the heritage of Hinduism, the Universe is represented in the form of a lotus, from the center of which Mount Meru is exalted. At its peak is the paradise of the most important deva Indra. In the cosmology of Hinduism, this height is at the center of the universe. Sometimes it is attached to the center of the north earth's pole. According to the Puranas, on the top of Meru live the Vedic devas.
In some Indian sources, Mount Meru is mentioned as one of the 16 Himalayan rocks that towered above the water during the flood. Among the modern names of the Himalayan peaks there is also the peak of Meru, but the Indians consider Mount Kailash the most sacred, which they call the "eternal dwelling of Shiva." In fact, in every source it is written that Meru is in the far north.
In ancient traditions, it was indicated that the land to the north went up. Scythians, Iranians and ancient Indians assumed that all the famous rivers flowed from the northern sacred mountains. The opinion of the existence of high cliffs, stretching along the shores of the North Ocean from west to east, is also displayed on the map of Ptolemy, made for his book "Geography", which was published in 1490 in Rome. This judgment was exaggerated in society until the sixteenth century.
In his collection of Studies in India, the famous Persian medieval encyclopedist Al-Biruni reports that Mount Meru is the center of the Dvip and the Seas, as well as Jambudvipa.
Great legend
In the Mahabharata, Meru is presented as a mountainous country with hills all the way to the sky, where the main peak is the cliff of Mandara. This work describes the territories beyond the Himalayas: the Pamir and Tibet ridges, impenetrable forests and deserts of Central Asia, the polar regions and Arctic wonders - the immovable North Star; the sun rising only once a year; stars rotating in the horizontal plane, completing each of its circles in 24 hours (they do not rise and fall); Upright constellation Ursa Major; night and day, lasting six months; an area of long gloom; aurora and so on. The book tells that on the edge of this land rises the sacred mountain Meru, the northern slope of which is washed by the Milk Sea.
What is written in the Puranas?
In accordance with Puranic cosmology, omnipotent devas — Brahma and Indra — are at the top of Meru, and all the stars revolve around it. Indraloka is the abode of Indra - the main Vedic deva, and is located at the very top of the mountain. The brilliant palace of Indra is also located there, in the garden of which the catfish plant grows - it is from it that the sacred drink of immortality is made.
Brahma's egg consists of the Universe and several worlds (lok). All Lokas are united in three basic groups: diabolical Loki, upper and middle (here the Earth belongs). The upper worlds are composed of paradise and higher spheres, where various devas live. The center of all layers is Mount Meru, which rises above the paradise upper locks. Under them are seven concentric island continents. The central one is the flat and round land of Jambudwip. The second mainland is called Gomedaka (or Plaksha): it is surrounded by a sea of molasses.
The third continent - Shalmala - is located in the Surah wine reservoir, and the fourth, called Kusha, washes the sea of rectified Sarpis oil. The fifth earth bears the name of Kraunchha and is located in the lake of yogurt Dadhi. The sixth continent - Svetadvipa - is located in the milk ocean of Kshira. The seventh land - Pushkara - is surrounded by a large round lake of clean water Dzhala, adjacent to the territory of the highest mountains of Lokalok, separating the visible Universe from the gloomy world. Beyond the mountains of Lokaloka lies an area of endless night, and then the shell of the universal egg.
A similar order of the structure of this egg is common to both the Upanishads and the epic and Puranic legends. However, the names and numbers of different worlds vary.
Vayu, Lanka and Meru
In Hindu traditions, Mount Meru is mentioned countless times. They indicate that the wind god Vayu and the cliff of Meru were bosom friends. Once, the Vedic thinker Narada persuaded Vayu to demonstrate his strength by blowing on a sacred rock. Vayu blew all year with terrible force, but Garuda flew to the aid of Meru and covered it with his wings. One year passed, and Garuda decided to rest. As a result, the top of Mount Meru crashed into the ocean, transforming into the island of Sri Lanka.
Vindhya, Meru and Agastya mountains
Another widely known legend is that one day the Vindhya Range, separating South and North India, began to grow. He grew so much that he began to interfere with the movement of the sun. At the same time, the Vindhya mountains became discouraged and insisted that the sun god Surya walk around them every day as he goes around Mount Meru (which, according to many, is located at the north pole). As a result, Vindhya needed to be punished, and therefore the thinker Agastya was chosen to carry out such a task.
Meru is a mountain whose height attracts the attention of many. So, Agastya began to travel from north to south, and met the impenetrable range of Vindhya on his way. He began to beg the ridge so that he would allow him to go to South India. The Vindhya Mountains revered the famous risha Agastya, therefore they bowed before him and allowed the philosopher and his family to go south. They also promised not to grow up until he returns to northern India.
Nevertheless, Agastya remained to live in the south, and the Vindhya ridge, true to his word, never again increased in size. Thus, Agastya achieved by cunning what was impossible to achieve by force.
Mount Meru. Location
Where in the modern world is Mount Meru? The Himalayas are the highest mountain system of the Earth, which is located between the Tibetan Upland (in the north) and the Indo-Gangetic Plateau (in the south). They are located in Nepal, India, Pakistan, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and Bhutan. The foothills of these heights are also located in the extreme northern part of Bangladesh.
Mera Peak is located in the Sagarmatha area (Himalayas, Hinku Valley) and is classified as the highest peak for trekking in Nepal. It includes three main ridges: Meruya Severnaya (6 476 m), South (6 065 m) and Central (6 461 m). What is famous for Mount Meru? Climbing it is popular, as the route is technically simple at a considerable height of the peak. That is why tracking competitions are constantly held on it.