Mount Meru

The largest mountain on Bhū-maṇḍala, situated in the middle of Jambūdvīpa, in the middle of Ilāvṛta-varṣa

Synonyms
Sumeru, Mahāmeru

Origin
Meru is said to be created from the umbillical cord of Lord Brahmā.

Appearance
Meru is said to resemble a smokeless fire.

Shape
Meru has elongated form and four edges.

Height
100,000 yojanas total, out of which 16,000 yojanas are below the surface of the Earth and 84,000 yojanas above the surface of the earth.

Diameter
32,000 yojanas at its summit and 16,000 yojanas at its base.

Color
Made of gold and shining brilliantly as fire. In the East Meru is white, so it is beneficial to the brāhmanas. In the South it is yellow and beneficial to the vaiśyas. In the Western direction is green like a bhṛṅga leaf and beneficial to the śūdras, and in the North it is red and beneficial to the kṣatriyas. Therefore, Meru is sometimes said to have all the 4 varṇas.

Cities of Demigods on Top of Mount Meru
In the middle of the summit of Meru is the township of Lord Brahmā, named Śātakaumbhī or Manovatī, made entirely of gold. Surrounding the town of Lord Brahmā in the 8 directions are the cities of the 8 principal demigods, governing prominent areas of the universe. Their names and presiding demigods are:


 * 1) Amarāvatī - Indra;
 * 2) Tejovatī - Agni;
 * 3) Saṁyamanī - Yamarāja;
 * 4) Kṛṣṇāṅganā - Nirṛti;
 * 5) Śraddhāvatī - Varuna;
 * 6) Gandhavatī - Vāyu;
 * 7) Mahodayā - Kuvera;
 * 8) Yaśovatī - Śiva.

Rivers Flowing from Mount Meru
River Gaṅgā, flowing from the higher planetary systems falls on top of Mount Meru, divides into 4 branches and flows to the Salt Water Ocean through various parts of the Jambūdvīpa. There are also many other rivers, both big and small, flowing from Mount Meru and the other surrounding mountains. They are like the daughers of the mountains and flow through the various varṣas in hundreds of branches.