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{{short description|Sacred mountain of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain cosmology}}
{{for-multi|the Indian peak|Meru Peak|the mountain in the Meru region of Tanzania|Mount Meru (Tanzania)|other uses|Mount Meru (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect-multi|1|Sumeru|the Bollywood film|Sumeru (film){{!}}''Sumeru'' (film)|the fictional nation|Sumeru (Genshin Impact)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
[[Image:Bhutanese thanka of Mt. Meru and the Buddhist Universe.jpg|thumb|[[Bhutan]]ese ''[[thangka]]'' of Mt. Meru and the Buddhist universe (19th cent., [[Trongsa|Trongsa Dzong]], [[Trongsa|Trongsa, Bhutan]]).]]

'''Mount Meru''' ([[Sanskrit]]/[[Pali]]: मेरु)—also known as '''Sumeru''', '''Sineru''' or '''Mahāmeru'''—is a [[Sacred mountain|sacred, five-peaked mountain]] present within [[Hindu]], Jain and [[Buddhist cosmology|Buddhist cosmologies]], revered as the centre of all  [[Physical universe|physical]], [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] and spiritual universes.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/78 78]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> It is professed to be located at the junction of the four great cosmic continents—'''Pubbavideha Dīpa''', '''Uttarakuru Dīpa''', '''Amaragoyāna Dīpa''' and '''Jambu Dīpa'''. Despite not having a clearly identified or known [[Geophysics|geophysical]] location, Mount Meru is, nevertheless, always thought of as being either in the Himalayan Mountains or the [[Aravalli Range]] (in western India). Mount Meru is also mentioned in scriptures of other, external religions to India, such as [[Taoism]]—which was influenced, itself, by the arrival of Buddhism in China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=THƯỢNG THẤT TIÊU TAI TẬP PHÚC DIỆU KINH |url=https://thegioivohinh.com/diendan/showthread.php?882588-TH%C6%AF%E1%BB%A2NG-TH%E1%BA%A4T-TI%C3%8AU-TAI-T%E1%BA%ACP-PH%C3%9AC-DI%E1%BB%86U-KINH |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=thegioivohinh.com}}</ref>

Many Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples have been built as symbolic representations of Mount Meru. The {{interlanguage link|Sumeru Throne|zh|须弥座}} ({{langx|zh|须弥座}}, {{transliteration|zh|xūmízuò}}) style is a common feature of [[Pagoda|Chinese pagodas]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} The highest point (the finial bud) on the ''[[pyatthat]]'', a [[Buddhism in Myanmar|Burmese]]-style multi-tiered roof, represents Mount Meru.

== Etymology ==
Etymologically, 'meru' in [[Sanskrit]] means "high." The proper name of the mountain is ''Meru'' (Sanskrit: ''Meruparvata''), to which the approbatory prefix ''su-'' is added, resulting in the meaning "excellent Mount Meru" or "sublime Mount Meru".<ref>{{Cite book|title=The circle of bliss : Buddhist meditational art|last=C.|first=Huntington, John|date=2003|publisher=Serindia Publications|others=Bangdel, Dina., Thurman, Robert A. F., Los Angeles County Museum of Art., Columbus Museum of Art.|isbn=1932476016|location=Chicago|oclc=52430713}}</ref> ''Meru'' is also the name of the central bead in a [[Japamala|mālā]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sanskritdictionary.com/?q=meru&iencoding=iast&lang=sans|website=Sanskrit Dictionary|title=Meru|access-date=2019-08-16}}</ref>

==Geography==
The dimensions attributed to Mount Meru — which all refer to it as a part of the [[Cosmic Ocean]], along with several other statements that describe it in geographically vague terms (for example, "the Sun along with all the planets circle the mountain") — make the determination of its location most difficult, according to most scholars.<ref>{{cite book |title=Alberuni's India |last=Sachau |first=Edward C. |year=2001 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-0-415-24497-8 |page=271 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a91-t4uw8A4C&q=Meru+sun+planets+revolve&pg=PA271 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Devi Bhagavatam |at=Book&nbsp;8, Chapter&nbsp;15 |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk08ch15.htm |access-date=2012-03-02}}</ref>

Several researchers identify Mount Meru or Sumeru with the [[Pamirs]], northwest of [[Kashmir]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Graham P. |last=Chapman |year=2003 |title=The Geopolitics of South Asia: From early empires to the nuclear age |page=16 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |isbn=9781409488071 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DgbHSGqO2-4C}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=George Nathaniel |last=Curzon |year=1968 |title=The Hindu World: An encyclopedic survey of Hinduism |page=184}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Benjamin |last=Walker |year=1969 |title=Hinduism: Ancient Indian tradition & mythology |series={{IAST|Purāṇas}} in Translation |page=56}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=Jagdish Lal |last1=Shastri |first2=Arnold |last2=Kunst |first3=G.P. |last3=Bhatt |first4=Ganesh Vasudeo |last4=Tagare |title=Oriental literature |journal=Journal of the K.R. Cama Oriental Institute |year=1928 |page=38}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Bernice Glatzer |last=Rosenthal |year=1967 |title=History: Geographical concepts in ancient India |page=50}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Bechan |last=Dube |title=India: Geographical data in the early {{IAST|Purāṇas}}: A critical study |year=1972 |page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=M.R., Dr. |last=Singh |year=1971 |title=India: Studies in the proto-history of India |page=17}}</ref>

The [[Suryasiddhanta]] mentions that Mt. Meru lies at the centre of ''the Earth'' ("bhuva-madhya") in the land of the Jambunad ([[Jambudvīpa]]). ''Narapatijayacharyasvarodaya'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Dr. Satyendra |url=https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/narapati-jayacharya-swarodayah-haa104/ |title=Narapati Jayacharya Swarodayah |publisher=Chaukhamba Surbharati Prakashan |edition=2023}}</ref> a ninth-century text, based on mostly unpublished texts of Yāmal Tantr, mentions:
: "{{IAST|Sumeruḥ}} Prithvī-madhye shrūyate drishyate na tu"
: (Sumeru is heard to be at the centre of the Earth, but is not seen there).<ref>cf. second verse of Koorma-chakra in the book Narpatijayacharyā</ref>
Several versions of cosmology can be found in existing Hindu texts. In all of them, cosmologically, the Meru mountain was also described as being surrounded by Mandrachala Mountain to the east, Suparshva Mountain to the west, Kumuda Mountain to the north, and [[Mount Kailash|Kailasha]] to the south.<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite book |first=J.P. |last=Mittal |title=History of Ancient India: From 7300&nbsp;BC to 4250&nbsp;BC |page=3}}</ref>

== In Buddhism ==
{{Main|Buddhist cosmology|Mount Meru (Buddhism)}}

According to Buddhist cosmology, Mount Meru is at the centre of the world,<ref name="Beer">{{Cite book|author=Robert Beer|title=The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols|location=Boston|publisher=Shambhala|year=2003|pages=83–84|isbn=978-1590301005}}</ref> and [[Jambudvipa|Jambūdvīpa]] is south of it.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Mabbett |first=I. W. |date=1983 |title=The Symbolism of Mount Meru |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1062318 |journal=History of Religions |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=64–83 |doi=10.1086/462936 |jstor=1062318 |issn=0018-2710}}</ref> It is 80,000 [[yojana]]s wide and 80,000 yojanas high according to the ''Abhidharmakośabhāṣyam''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Abhidharmakośabhāṣyam|author=Vasubandhu|location=Berkeley, California|publisher=Asian Humanities Press|date=1988–1990}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lionsroar.com/the-view-from-mount-meru/|title=The View from Mount Meru|website=Lions Roar|date=20 August 2013 |access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> and 84,000 yojanas high according to the ''Long Āgama Sutra''.<ref name="Nichiren">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/S/286|title=Mount Sumeru|website=Nichiren Buddhism Library|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref> At the peak of Mount Meru is [[Trāyastriṃśa]], the realm where the ruler [[Śakra (Buddhism)|Śakra]] resides.<ref name=":0" /> The Sun and the Moon revolve around Mount Meru, and as the Sun passes behind it, it becomes nighttime. The mountain has four faces — each one made of a different material; the northern face is made of gold, the eastern one is made of crystal, the southern one is made of [[lapis lazuli]], and the western one is made of ruby.<ref name="Beer" />

In [[Vajrayāna]], [[mandala|maṇḍala]] offerings often include Mount Meru, as they in part represent the entire universe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-buddhism/tantra/buddhist-tantra/what-is-a-mandala|title=What Is a Mandala?|website=studybuddhism.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thubtenchodron.org/PrayersAndPractices/preliminary_practice.htm|title=Preliminary practice (ngöndro) overview|date=September 2009 |access-date=10 October 2016}}</ref> It is also believed that Mount Meru is the home of the [[buddhahood|Buddha]] [[Cakrasaṃvara Tantra|Cakrasaṃvara]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khandro.net/deity_Chakrasamvara.htm |title=Heruka Chakrasamvara |publisher=Khandro.net |access-date=2012-03-02}}</ref>

{{gallery
|File:Cosmological Mandala with Mount Meru.jpg|Yuan dynasty 1271–1368) Chinese mandala depicting Mount Meru as an inverted pyramid topped by a lotus.
|File:BochumJahrhunderthalle_ChakrasamvaraMandala_03.JPG|[[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan]] [[Cakrasaṃvara Tantra|Cakrasaṃvara]] [[sand mandala]] with Mount Meru in the centre.
|File:Mtmerucosmology01.jpg|A mural depicting Mt. Meru, in Wat Sakhet, [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]].
|File:Tibetan or Chinese origin, 18th century embroidery Tibetan Buddhist art of Cosmic Mount Meru.jpg|Tibetan Buddhist embroidery representing Mount Sumeru.
|File:Top of Temple.jpg|[[Mahabodhi Temple|The Mahabodhi Temple]], a famous Buddhist temple at [[Bodh Gaya|Bodhgaya]], India, representing Mount Meru.
}}

== In Hinduism ==
{{main|Hindu cosmology}}

[[File:The cosmic tortoise, and Mount Meru.jpg|thumb|The cosmic tortoise, and Mount Meru]]
Hindus believe Mount Meru to be a stairway to ''[[Svarga]]'', a heaven where the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] reside.<ref name="Allen">{{cite book|title=A Mountain in Tibet|first=Charles|last=Allen|year=1982|publisher=Futura Publications|isbn=0-7088-2411-0}}</ref> Meru is considered as the center of the universe and is described as 84,000 [[yojana]]s high, about {{cvt|1082000|km|mi|-3|abbr=on}}, which would be 85 times the Earth's diameter. One [[yojana]] can be taken to mean about 11.5&nbsp;km (9 miles), though its magnitude seems to differ over periods — for example, the [[Earth's circumference]] is 3,200 yojanas according to [[Varāhamihira|Varahamihira]] and slightly less so in the ''[[Aryabhatiya]]'', but is said to be 5,026.5 yojanas in the Suryasiddhānta. The ''[[Matsya Purana]]'' and the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', along with some other Hindu texts, consistently give the height of 84,000 yojanas to Mount Meru, which translates into 672,000 miles or 1,082,000 kilometers. The Sun and Moon along with all the planets revolve around Mount Meru which connects the earth with the under world and heaven with Shiva residing on top of the mountain at [[Kailasha]].<ref name="Chamaria">{{cite book|title=Kailash Manasarovar on the Rugged Road to Revelation|first=Pradeep|last=Chamaria|year=1996|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-8-170-17336-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Chandra|first1=Suresh|title=Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses|date=1998|publisher=Sarup and Sons|isbn=978-81-7625-039-9|page=93|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mfTE6kpz6XEC|access-date=6 September 2023}}</ref> Gods and [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] are described as frequenting Mount Meru.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu Gods and Goddesses|first=Sunita Pant|last=Bansal|year=2005|isbn=978-8-187-96772-9|publisher=Smriti Books}}</ref>

According to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Meru is located amidst the ''Himavat'' range between Malayavat and Gandhamadhana mountains. Some scriptures indicate that Shiva resides in a horn of the mountains called as ''Saivatra''.<ref name="Chamaria" /> ''Mahabharata'' further states that the mountain gleans of gold when the rays of the sun fall on it and is said to contain lovely woods, lakes, rivers adorned with fruit trees, precious stones and life saving herbs. It also describes Meru as the means to reach heaven and only a being without any sins would be able to scale it.<ref name="Chamaria" /> Meru is also said to be the residence of [[Kubera]] who lives near a golden gate with a lake called ''Alaka'' adorned with golden lotuses and sweet tasting water from which [[Mandakini river]] arises.<ref name="Chamaria" /> As per the ''Mahabharata'', the [[Pandavas]] along with their wife [[Draupadi]], traveled towards the summit of the mountain as a means to reach the heaven but only [[Yudhishthira]] who was accompanied by a dog, was able to make it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news24online.com/india/mysteries-of-kailash-what-are-these-9-foot-tall-entities-found-in-mansarovar-mkir/177672/|title=Mysteries of Kailash: What Are These 9-Foot Tall Entities Found In Mansarovar?|work=News24|date=4 October 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

The Hindu epic ''[[Ramayana]]'' describes Kailash and [[Lake Manasarovar]] located in the Mount Meru as places unlike anywhere in the world.<ref name="Chamaria" /> Mount Meru is also said to be kingdom of King [[Kesari (Ramayana)|Kesari]], father of [[Hanuman|Lord Hanuman]].

''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' states that Meru is a pillar of the world, located at the heart of six mountain ranges symbolizing a [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]]. It also states that the four faces of Mount Kailash are made of crystal, ruby, gold, and lapis lazuli.<ref name="Allen" /> It further talks about Shiva sitting in a lotus position, engaged in deep meditation within the confines of the mountain.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mohan|first1=T.S.|title=Kailash Yatra|journal=Hinduism Today|date=Jan–Mar 2012|volume=34|issue=1|pages=18–33|url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=70696022&site=eds-live&scope=site|issn=0896-0801|id=70696022}}</ref> The mountain is home to four lakes, whose water is shared by the gods and four rivers that originate from the [[Ganges]] and flow to the earth. The ''[[Vayu Purana]]'' describes similarly with the mountain located close to a lake consisting of clear water with lotuses and lilies decked with water birds.<ref name="Chamaria" /> ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' places Kailash as located south of Mount Meru. ''[[Skanda Purana]]'' mentions that the mountain is located amongst the highest peaks, perpetually covered with snow.<ref name="Chamaria" /> Mount Meru was said to be the residence of King Padmaja Brahma in antiquity.<ref name="autogenerated3" />

This mythical mountain of gods was mentioned in the [[Tantu Pagelaran]], an [[Old Javanese]] manuscript written in the 15th-century [[Majapahit]] period. The manuscript describes the mythical origin of the island of [[Java]], as well as the legendary movement of portions of Mount Meru to Java. The manuscript explains that [[Batara Guru]] ([[Shiva]]) ordered the gods [[Brahma]] and [[Vishnu]] to fill Java with human beings. However, at that time, Java island was floating freely on the ocean, always tumbling and shaking. To stop the island's movement, the gods decided to nail it to the Earth by moving the part of Mahameru in [[Jambudvipa]] (India) and attaching it to Java.<ref>{{cite book | last =Soekmono | first =Dr R.| title =Pengantar Sejarah Kebudayaan Indonesia 2 | publisher =Penerbit Kanisius | year =1973 | location =Yogyakarta, Indonesia| page =119 | isbn = 979-413-290-X}}</ref> The resulting mountain is [[Mount Semeru]], the tallest mountain in Java.

== In Jainism ==
[[Image:Mount Meru.jpg|thumb|Painting of Mount Meru from [[Jain cosmology]] from the ''Samghayanarayana'']]
{{main|Jain cosmology}}

According to Jain cosmology, Mount Meru (or ''Sumeru'') is at the centre of the world surrounded by [[Jambudvipa|Jambūdvīpa]],{{sfn|Cort|2010|p=90}} in the form of a circle forming a diameter of 100,000 yojanas.<ref>{{citation |last=Cort |first=John |author-link=John E. Cort |title=Framing the Jina: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0IF2CAAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |date=2010 |orig-year=1953 |isbn=978-0-19-538502-1}}</ref><ref name="Schubring, Walther 1995 pp. 204–246">Schubring, Walther (1995), pp. 204–246</ref> There are two sets of sun, moon, and stars revolving around Mount Meru; while one set works, the other set rests behind Mount Meru.<ref>{{citation |author=CIL |url=http://ignca.nic.in/ps_04016.htm |title=Indian Cosmology Reflections in Religion and Metaphysics |work=Ignca.nic.in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130060708/http://ignca.nic.in/ps_04016.htm |archive-date=30 January 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Shah |first=Pravin K. |title=Jain Geography |url=http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/workshop/Jain%20Geoghaph.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021119173949/http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/workshop/Jain%20Geoghaph.PDF |archive-date=2002-11-19 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WAHgAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA504 |title=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal - Asiatic Society of Bengal |year=1834}}</ref>

Every [[Tirthankara]] is taken to the summit of Meru by [[Indra]] shortly after his birth, after putting the Tirthankara child's mother into a deep slumber. There, he is bathed and anointed with precious unctions.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MEvZaVmBQtgC&q=mahavira+mount+meru&pg=PA71 | title=India: Art and Culture, 1300-1900| isbn=9780030061141| last1=Welch| first1=Stuart Cary| last2=Metropolitan Museum Of Art (New York| first2=N.Y.)| year=1985| publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/ritual/shantikalash.htm | title=Jainism Literature Center - Rituals | access-date=16 August 2019 | archive-date=16 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816172741/https://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/ritual/shantikalash.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> Indra and other Devas celebrate his birth.

== Architecture ==
The concept of a holy mountain surrounded by various circles was incorporated into ancient [[Hindu temple]] architecture with a ''[[Shikhara]]'' (''Śikhara'') — a Sanskrit word translating literally to "peak" or "summit".  Early examples of this style can be found at the [[Harshat Mata Temple]] and [[Harshnath Temple]] from the 8th century CE in [[Rajasthan]], [[Western India]]. This concept also continued outside India, such as in [[Bali]], where temples feature [[Meru tower]]s.

In Buddhist temples, the [[Mahabodhi Temple]] in [[Bodh Gaya]] is the earliest example of the 5th- to 6th-century depiction. Many other Buddhist temples took on this form, such as the [[Wat Arun]] in [[Thailand]] and the [[Hsinbyume Pagoda]] in [[Myanmar]].

<gallery widths="150">
File:Angkor Wat-108-Spiegelung-2007-gje.jpg|The five central towers of [[Angkor Wat]], before a Hindu and later a Buddhist temple in [[Siem Reap]], [[Cambodia]], symbolize the peaks of Mount Meru
File:Sunset at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Ayutthaya, Thailand.jpg|''Prang'' of [[Wat Chaiwatthanaram]], a Buddhist temple in [[Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city)|Ayutthaya]], Thailand, representing Mount Meru
File:วัดแจ้ง2.jpg|A Buddhist ''[[Prang (architecture)|prang]]'' in [[Wat Arun]], [[Bangkok]], representing Mount Sumeru
File:Min Kun, Myanmar (Burma) - panoramio (23).jpg|[[Hsinbyume Pagoda]] in [[Mandalay]], [[Myanmar]], representing Mount Sumeru
File:Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, 2022.jpg|The ''meru'' of [[Pura Ulun Danu Bratan]] is dedicated to [[Shiva]] and his consort [[Parvathi]]
File:Jambudweep Rachna.jpg|Depiction of Mount Meru at [[Jambudweep]], a Jain temple in [[Uttar Pradesh]] 
</gallery>

== In other languages ==
In other languages, Mount Meru is pronounced:
* [[Assamese language|Assamese]]: {{lang|as|মেৰু পর্বত}} (Meru Pôrbôt)
* [[Bengali language|Bengali]]: {{lang|bn|মেরু পর্বত}} (Meru Porbot)
* [[Burmese language|Burmese]]: {{lang|my|မြင်းမိုရ်တောင်}} ({{IPA|my|mjɪ̰ɴ mò tàʊɰ̃|}})
* [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]]: {{lang|ceb|Bukid Meru}}
* [[Chinese language|Chinese]]: {{lang|zh|須彌山}} (''Xūmíshān'')
* [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]: {{lang|gu|મેરૂ પર્વત}} (''Meru Parvat'')
* [[Ilocano language|Ilocano]]: {{lang|ilo|Bantay Meru}}
* [[Japanese language|Japanese]]: {{lang|ja|須弥山}} (''Shumisen'')<ref name="Nichiren" />
* [[Javanese language|Javanese]]: {{lang|jv|ꦱꦼꦩꦺꦫꦸ}} (Semeru)
* [[Kannada]]: {{lang|kn|ಮೇರು ಪರ್ವತ}} (''Meru Parvata'')
* [[Khmer language|Khmer]]: {{lang|km|ភ្នំព្រះសុមេរុ}} (''Phnom Preah Someru'') or (''Phnom Preah Somae'')
* [[Korean language|Korean]]: {{lang|ko|수미산}} (''Sumisan'')
* [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]: {{lang|ml|മഹാമേരു പർവ്വതം}} (''Mahameru Parvatham'')
* [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]]: {{lang|mn|Сүмбэр Уул}} (''Sümber Uul'')
* [[Nepali language|Nepali]]: सुमेरु पर्वत (''Sumeru Parwat'')
* [[Odia language|Odia]]: {{lang|or|ମେରୁ ପର୍ବତ}} (“Meru Pôrbôtô”)
* Old [[Maldivian language|Maldivian]]: {{lang|dv|ސުމޭރު-މަންދަރަ}} "Sumēru-Mandara" (sometimes spelt as Ṣumeru-Mandara)
* [[Pali language|Pāli]]: {{lang|pi|Sineru}}
* [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: {{lang|pa|ਮੇਰੂ ਪਰਬਤ}} (''Meru Parbat'')
* [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Hindi]]: {{lang|hi|मेरु पर्वत}} (''Meru Parvat'')
* [[Sanskrit]]: {{lang|sa|मेरु पर्वत}} (''Meru Parvata'')
* [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]]: {{lang|tl|Bulkang Meru}}
* [[Tamil language|Tamil]]: {{lang|ta|மகா மேரு மலை}} (''Maha Meru Malai'')
* [[Telugu language|Telugu]]: {{lang|te|మేరు పర్వతం}} (''Meru Parvatham'')
* [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]]: {{lang|si|මහා මේරු පර්වතය}} (''Maha Meru Parvathaya'')
* [[Standard Tibetan|Tibetan]]: {{lang|bo|ཪི་རྒྱལ་པོ་རི་རབ་}} ([[Wylie transliteration|Wylie]]: ''ri gyal po ri rab)''
* [[Thai language|Thai]]: {{lang|th|เขาพระสุเมรุ}} (''Khao phra sumen'')
* [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]: {{lang|vi|Núi Tu-di}}

The mountain is also mentioned by [[Diodorus Siculus]] as Mēros ({{lang|grc|Μηρός}}) and ascribes to [[Dionysus]] events related in Indian mythology, trying to use this as explanation as to why the Greeks had come to say Dionysus was born out of a thigh (whose word in Ancient Greek is indeed {{lang|grc|μηρός}}).<ref>{{Cite web | title=Diodorus Siculus – Library of History – Book II, 35‑60   | url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/2B*.html#ref11 | access-date=2025-10-05 | website=penelope.uchicago.edu}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Sacred mountains#India|Sacred mountains of India]]
*[[Pure Land]]
*[[Hara Berezaiti]]
*[[Himavanta]]
*[[Yggdrasil]]
*[[Axis mundi]]
*[[The Eight Mountains]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mount Meru (mythology)}}
* Description of Mount Meru in the Devi-bhagavata-purana [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06006.htm 1][http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk08ch15.htm 2]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060206235442/http://phoenixandturtle.net/images/meru.jpg Painting of Mount Meru found in Buddhist cave sanctuary in Xinjiang, China]
* Mount Meru in Encyclopedia of Buddhist Iconography [https://web.archive.org/web/20060322234201/http://huntingtonarchive.osu.edu/Encyclopedia%20Buddhist%20Icon/01%20Mount%20Meru/MountMeru01.html 1][https://web.archive.org/web/20060322234200/http://huntingtonarchive.osu.edu/Encyclopedia%20Buddhist%20Icon/01a%20Mount%20Meru_Yogin%20Series/MM_YoginSeries01.html 2]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061106055756/http://www.tibetinfor.com/tibetzt/ali/shanhu/menu.htm Ngari]
* [https://web.ccsu.edu/astronomy/tibetan_cosmological_models.htm Tibetan Cosmological Models] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331181102/http://web.ccsu.edu/astronomy/tibetan_cosmological_models.htm |date=31 March 2018 }}

{{HinduMythology}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
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[[Category:Mount Meru (mythology)| ]]
[[Category:Places in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Hindu cosmology]]
[[Category:Mythological mountains|Meru]]
[[Category:Jain cosmology|Meru]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian mountains|Meru]]
[[Category:Buddhist cosmology]]
[[Category:Buddhist mythology]]
[[Category:Mountains in Buddhism|Meru]]
[[Category:Mountains in Hinduism|Meru]]
[[Category:Mountains in Jainism|Meru]]