மேரு

s. A fabulous mountain said to be situated in the centre of the earth called also மகாமேரு, and பொன்மலை. 2. Mount, mountain, a hill in general, மலை. (சது.) 3. The top-seat of an idol in a car, தே ரின்மேலாசனம். 4. [in geogr.] Axis.--Note. Mount Meru is supposed by the Hindus to be in the centre of the seven Dwipas, or circular continents, and is compared to the seed-vessel of a lotus, the leaves of which are the different Dwipas. Its height is 84. yojanas are 1,92, miles, according to the common reckon ing, of which 16, yojanas are below the surface of the earth. It has four faces--one towards each point of the compass--that looking to the east is white; to the south, yellow; to the west, black; and to the north, red. The sacred Ganges falls from heaven on its summit, and flows in four streams--like those from the garden of Eden;-the Ganges proper going south, the Bha drasona, north into Tartary, the Sita, east and the Oxus. west The regents of the cardinal points occupy, severally each face. Stripped of fable this mount is probably either the Hymalaya, including the highlands of Tartary to the north; or, as understood by some brahmans, the north pole. The brahmans speak of Su Meru and ku-Meru, and these are said to be the poles or the Zenith and Nadir of the residence of the gods. மேருவைச்சார்ந்த காகமும்பொன்னிறம். Even a crow which resorts to mount Meru [will become] gold-colored. [prov.]

மேருமணி, s. The principal or upper most bead in a rosary.

மேருவில்லி, s. An epithet of Siva from his using the mountain மேரு as a bow, சிவன்; [ex வில்.]