Picture: https://smarthistory.org/introduction-to-buddhism/




        For this week’s blog post, I decided to write about Mount Meru, which is the center of the universe in the religious context associated with Hinduism. (Similarities common with Buddhism). Unlike the early Christian religion, where they believed earth was the center of the universe. Located 43 miles west of Mount Kilimanjaro in the country of Tanzania, the Hindus believed that a golden mountain, Mount Meru, was the center of their universe. In Hindus mythology, Mount Meru is the most sacred object in the universe because it supports not only the heavens, but the gods that protect the heavens as well.

“Mount Meru is the cosmic axis, that is, the link between heaven and earth. The Mountain is the center of the world in this cosmological conception, both physically and in terms of importance. On top of Mount Sumeru are the palaces of the Gods. Mount Sumeru is surrounded by seven chains of mountains and an ocean that has four continents: North = rectangle; West = circle; South = trapezoid (Jambudvipa, where humans live); East = crescent moon.” (Introduction to Buddhism) These four sides of the mountain were all believed to made out of different materials. The north side is made of gold, the eastern side is made of gold, the eastern side is made of crystals, and the southern side is made of lapiz lazuli. The south side has a little more importance because it is called the land of Bharatas, which roughly corresponds to the Indian subcontinent where people worship gods such as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Agni and Soma. Seeing as how this cosmic axis linking heaven and earth, we now clearly see how prayer to the mountain, is also prayer to the gods as they reside in the heavens of the temple. Acording to Devi-Bhagavata Purana, a Sanskrit text the belongs to the Purana-genre of literature,” the east of Meru is located the city of Indra, named Devadhanicka, where the gods reside; on the south is the ciy of Yama, the lord of Death, named Samyamani; on the west is the great city of Varuna, named Nimnochani, where the sun sets; and on the north is the city of the Moon, named Vibhavari.” (Smart History).           

                In the picture above, the Universe is vertically structured. At the top is the realm of “no form.” This realm has no qualities that can be perceived by the senses. It is impossible to have a conception of it. Next are the realms of form that can be perceived in various states of meditation. With the practice of meditation, one can see pleasant sights, bright lights, and perceive a cooling sensation on the body. Below is the realm of desire, this realm has six levels. This is our realm. The six levels are the six paths of rebirth. The highest realm is that of the gods. Halfway between gods and humans are demi-gods. Humans and animals reside on the surface of Jambudvipa. Hungry ghosts inhabit the shadow world below the animals. This level has much pain and suffering. Beings here are always hungry and never satiated. Hell beings occupy the lowest level. There are 8 levels within this level. At the eighth and lowest level there is no rest between tortures.

 

Ø  Dr. Jennifer N. McIntire, "Introduction to Buddhism," in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015, accessed October 7, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/introduction-to-buddhism/.

Ø  V, Jayaram. “Where Is Mount Meru?” Hinduwebsite.com, www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/concepts/meru.asp.

Comments

  1. Madison CunninghamOctober 9, 2020 at 4:46 PM

    Hey Marcus! I also wrote about Mount Meru. Isn't it a beautiful piece! I was at first taken in by the colors displayed and then became locked in on what it means. The houses in the surrounding circle being a place for deities is interesting to me as well. Thanks for the post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ashley MOctober 10, 2020 at 10:50 AM

    Hello! I see that you were the chosen one this week with the blue text. It was me last week or the week before. Haha!

    This was a really interesting read. As a person who lives in the shadow of the mountains I can relate to how people feel about them linking us to the divine. I find the number of levels curious and wonder if there is a purpose to the number. I also have questions about the materials they used to define the four sides. Why would two of them be made of the same material? Surely, there are reasons behind everything. I was thinking of a golden sunrise reflecting off the two faces. I have many questions that I need to investigate further. Great post!

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