Mount Meru, also known as Sumeru, Sineru, or Mahameru, occupies a central and revered place in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cosmology. This mythical five-peaked mountain is considered the nucleus of all physical, metaphysical, and spiritual realms, representing the axis mundi or the world axis. Although its exact location remains elusive, it is traditionally situated within the Himalayan or Aravali ranges. Beyond Indian religions, Mount Meru finds mentions in Taoist scriptures, influenced by Buddhism’s spread to China.

Symbolic Representations in Temples

Numerous temples across Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions have been constructed as symbolic representations of Mount Meru. These structures embody the spiritual essence and cosmic significance of the mountain. In Chinese architecture, the “Sumeru Throne” (須彌座, xūmízuò) style base is a prevalent feature in pagodas, symbolizing the mountain’s base. Similarly, in Burmese architecture, the highest point on the pyatthat, a multi-tiered roof structure, symbolizes Mount Meru. This representation underscores the mountain’s central role in connecting the earthly realm with the divine.

Etymology of Meru

The name ‘Meru’ in Sanskrit translates to ‘high’ or ‘elevated.’ The mountain is formally known as Meruparvata, with the prefix ‘su-‘ denoting “excellent” or “sublime,” thus rendering the name “Sublime Mount Meru.” The term ‘Meru’ also refers to the central bead in a mala, indicating its position as a central point of focus and meditation.

Multilingual Names

Mount Meru is known by various names in different languages, reflecting its widespread cultural and religious significance:

Assamese: মেৰু পর্বত (Meru Pôrbôt)
Bengali: মেরু পর্বত (Meru Porbot)
Burmese: မြင်းမိုရ်တောင် ([mjɪ̰ɴ mò tàʊɰ̃])
Cebuano: Bukid Meru
Chinese: 須彌山 (Xūmíshān)
Gujarati: મેરૂ પર્વત (Meru Parvat)
Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi: मेरु पर्वत (Meru Parvat)
Ilocano: Bantay Meru
Japanese: 須弥山 (Shumisen)
Javanese: ꦱꦼꦩꦺꦫꦸ (Semeru)
Kannada: ಮೇರು ಪರ್ವತ (Meru Parvata)
Khmer: ភ្នំព្រះសុមេរុ (Phnom Preah Someru)
Korean: 수미산 (Sumisan)
Malayalam: മഹാമേരു പർവ്വതം (Mahameru Parvatham)
Mongolian: Сүмбэр Уул (Sümber Uul)
Nepali: सुमेरु पर्वत (Sumeru Parwat)
Odia: ମେରୁ ପର୍ବତ (Meru Pôrbôtô)
Old Maldivian: ސުމޭރު-މަންދަރަ “Sumēru-Mandara”
Pāli: Sineru
Punjabi: ਮੇਰੂ ਪਰਬਤ (Meru Parbat)
Tagalog: Bulkang Meru
Tamil: மகா மேரு மலை (Maha Meru Malai)
Telugu: మేరు పర్వతం (Meru Parvatam)
Sinhala: මහා මේරු පර්වතය (Maha Meru Parvathaya)
Tibetan: ཪི་རྒྱལ་པོ་རི་རབ་ (Wylie: ri gyal po ri rab)
Thai: เขาพระสุเมรุ (Khao phra sumen)
Vietnamese: Núi Tu-di

Geography of Mount Meru

Determining the precise geophysical location of Mount Meru is challenging due to its cosmic dimensions and vague geographical descriptions. Various texts describe it as part of the Cosmic Ocean, with the Sun and all planets revolving around it, making it a difficult location to pinpoint. Some scholars and researchers have identified Mount Meru with the Pamirs, located northwest of Kashmir.

According to the Suryasiddhanta, an ancient Indian astronomical treatise, Mount Meru is situated at the center of the Earth in the land of Jambunad (Jambudvipa). The Narapatijayacharyasvarodaya, a ninth-century text, mentions:

“Sumeruḥ Prithvi-madhye shruyate drishyate na tu”
(Sumeru is heard to be at the center of the Earth, but is not seen there).

Hindu Cosmology and Mount Meru

In Hindu beliefs, Mount Meru is considered a stairway to Svarga, the heaven where devas (gods) reside. It is described as being 84,000 yojanas high, equivalent to approximately 1,082,000 kilometers (672,000 miles), making it about 85 times the Earth’s diameter. Various Hindu texts like the Matsya Purana and the Bhagavata Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam) consistently state these dimensions.

The Mahabharata describes Mount Meru as located amidst the Himavat range, gleaming with gold under the sun’s rays, and adorned with lovely woods, lakes, rivers, and life-saving herbs. It is also said to be the residence of Kubera, who lives near a golden gate with a lake called Alaka. As per the Mahabharata, the Pandavas, along with their wife Draupadi, traveled towards the summit of the mountain as a means to reach heaven, but only Yudhishthira, accompanied by a dog, was able to make it.

The Ramayana highlights Kailash and Lake Manasarovar on Mount Meru as unique and unparalleled places. The Vishnu Purana refers to Meru as a world pillar, with four faces made of crystal, ruby, gold, and lapis lazuli. It also describes Shiva meditating on the mountain, which is home to four divine lakes and rivers originating from the Ganges. The Vayu Purana similarly describes the mountain as located near a lake with clear water, lotuses, and lilies decked with water birds. The Bhagavata Purana places Kailash as located south of Mount Meru. The Skanda Purana mentions that the mountain is among the highest peaks, perpetually covered with snow.

Jain Cosmology and Mount Meru

In Jainism, Mount Meru is considered the center of the world. It is surrounded by concentric continents and oceans. The mountain is golden in color and is said to be the dwelling place of various deities. Jain texts describe Mount Meru as 84,000 yojanas high and situated in the middle of Jambudvipa. The mountain is surrounded by regions inhabited by various celestial beings, and it is considered a place of great spiritual significance.

Buddhist Cosmology and Mount Meru

In Buddhist cosmology, Mount Meru (referred to as Sumeru) is the central world-mountain in Buddhist texts. It is surrounded by seven concentric rings of mountains, each separated by oceans. The mountain is said to be 84,000 yojanas high and is divided into four faces, each facing a different direction and made of a different precious material: gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. Mount Meru is surrounded by four continents, with humans inhabiting the southern continent, Jambudvipa.

Mount Meru in Other Traditions

The Tantu Pagelaran, an Old Javanese manuscript from the 15th-century Majapahit period, mentions the mythical origin of Java and the relocation of parts of Mount Meru to Java. According to the manuscript, Shiva ordered the gods Brahma and Vishnu to stabilize Java by nailing it to the Earth using portions of Mahameru. This resulted in the formation of Mount Semeru, the tallest mountain in Java.

Conclusion

Mount Meru remains a fascinating and significant symbol in various religious and cultural traditions. Its mythical status as the axis of the universe and its association with divine beings and cosmic order highlight its enduring spiritual and metaphysical importance. Whether viewed as a physical location or a symbolic representation, Mount Meru continues to captivate the imagination and devotion of countless followers across different faiths. Its presence in sacred texts, religious practices, and cultural expressions underscores its role as a bridge between the earthly and the divine, the mundane and the celestial.