HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "Meru"

Word

Meru

Sanskrit

मेरु

IAST

meru

In General

The mountain of Meru (or Sumeru) has been a prominent geographic feature in several Puranas. The Meru Parvat is considered to be the centre of Jambu dwipa (peninsula) and abode of Gods. Ancient texts described to be about 84,000 yojana high or so. However, locating Meru mountain in Indian subcontinent is nearly impossible. Some scholars consider Mt Kailasa of Himalaya as Meru. But, it is not in coherent with geographical descriptions in Purana. This has left many to consider Meru only as a mythical concept.

Interestingly, there is a remote similarity between the description in Purana about the Meru mountain with Mt. Meru, a conical shaped volcanic mountain, 4,566 m high, located in Tanzania, Africa. It is located on the equator, which compares well with the Puranic descriptions of centre of the Jambu-dwipa. According to Ancient belief in Africa Mt. Meru is the abode of God Murunga.

Related entries found !

Word Sanskrit IAST In General Veda Purana
SumeruसुमेरुsumeruAccording to Tantric symbolism Sumeru is the three dimensional conical structure corresponding to... Read More