Basically this is meant to be rotation axis of earth. Its length is 100,000 yojanas ( 1 yojana = 1000 part of equatorial diameter = 12800 kms approx. here).  The disc shaped zone around earth in plane of ecliptic is called Jambu-dvipa of 50, 000 yojana radius in Bhagavata purana, skandha  5, Vishnu purana 2/7-8 etc. That is exclusive gravitational zone of earth in which a body will revolve round earth. Moon is at about 61r distance, r = radius of earth.

Vishnu purana 2/8 tells about Shishumara-chakra which is perpendicular to ecliptic plane around which earth’s axis rotates in 26000 years, called precession of equinoxes (also explained by Al-Biruni). This has been called Naka-svarga in Vedas (Madhusudan Ojha-Brahma-siddhanta etc.). Axis of solar system and galaxy (Parameshthi mandala) have been called Lingas in space in Shiva-purana.

Kutub-minar is model of Sumeru of earth in space. At Delhi, its semi-vertical angle is equal to difference between true and mean latitude there. That was not known after Mahabharata till 1850 AD. In 456 BC at start of Sri-Harsha shaka (Al-Biruni, Abul Fazal), it was place of northern most position of moon on earth surface (inclination of earth’s axis 23.9⁰ + inclination of moon’s orbit with ecliptic 5.02⁰)-Refer my commentary on Siddhanta-Darpana, chapter 16. So, ‘Chandra’ has been written on iron pillar there. A pillar of 12 units (called Shiva-linga of 12 angula in Shiva purana) was used to measure time and latitude of a place. It is called Shanku in surya-siddhanta etc. Smallest shadow is at noon time and locus of shadow end around that time is in shape of a ‘Kutup’ called kuppi (funnel, thistle-kip) in Hindi. So, the muhurtta at noon time is called Kutupa-muhurtta. By bisecting the shadow line equi-spaced from noon, say at 11 and 13 hrs-we get north–south direction. This is explained as traversing in books of astronomical survey for M.Tech (civil). The bisection is by common part of two circles in shape of a ’Mina’ (fish), so the pillar is called Kutup-Mina or Kutub-minar. Magnetic compass does almost same work, so it is called Kutub-numa. In that also, needle floating on mercury is called ‘Mina’. Local references of latitude also have been given name of fish like Rohataka ( almost at longitude of Ujjain) and Hilsa near Patna (10⁰ east of Ujjain). 

   Mapping of earth surface of north (and south) hemisphere was in 4 sheets of 90⁰ longitude width. It was centered round north pole called Meru or Sumeru. Bharata-varsha (India) has been called one of the 4 petals of that lotus (earth surface) as it roughly extends 45⁰ west and 45⁰ east of Ujjain. Thus, Meru has 4 faces and its linga (symbol) has square base-called Svayambhu linga as in Kaaba of Arab at west end of Bharata. Pyramids were constructed 45⁰ and 180⁰ west of Ujjain in Ezypt and at Mexico (called Siddhapura in Surya siddhanta)-Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha kanda (40/54, 64).

   South pole was called Kumeru (opposite to Sumeru in north). Aryabhata (Kali 360 = 2742 BC) has stated that north pole is in water and south pole on land mass. South pole is joint of 2 land masses-called Yama-dvipa. Yama is lord of south and Yama also means twin or double.Till 1985, it was not confirmed whether south pole is in water channel between 2 land masses or on land itself. Only by echo-sounding, in 1985, it was known that it is actually on land. Nearest land mass is New Zealand which has again 2 islands. So it was called Yama-koti-Dvipa (at end of Yama dvipa). Actually, Yama star (southern Crux) has same southern latitude as this island. Its south western tip has been called Yama-koti-pattana (port of Yama-koti)-stated to be 90⁰ east of Ujjain in Surya-siddhanta etc. There should be a pyramid at this point also-probably it is submerged in ocean now.

    Largest land mass is Jambu-dvipa (Asia + Europe). Center of mountain ranges is called Pran-Meru (Eastern Meru) or Pamir. Human Brahma was here at Pushkara (12⁰ west of Ujjain and 35⁰ north where maximum day length is of 16 hours). This is now called Bukhara on north of ancient Persia, now in Uzbekistan. 4 highways went in 4 directions, so Brahma was called 4 faced. Till today convention of script by him continues- north east part writes from up to down, south west to left and south east (India) to right side. North west part uses Sankhya script of 5² letters-see my article ‘Vedic origin and classification of scripts’ on www.scribd.com/Arunupadhyay. Opposite to that is Pushkara-dvipa (south America) having Apara-Meru (western Meru) at Peru from where 4 highways emanated in 4 directions from Kuzco as in Pran-meru.

In between is central Meru at equator in Kenya (mount Kilimanjaro). Sri Vinay Jha used it for the first time for rain forecasting as it starts from equator region only and reached India as rains after Adhana (in womb) period of 6.5 months (193 days) as in Brihat-samhita of Varahamihira. The places around it have still the name of Meru. (see website of Sri Vinay Jha). - Arun Kumar Upadhyay

                                                        Meru

                                                            -Arun Kumar Upadhyay,

                                                            B-9, CB-9, Cantonment Road, Cuttack-753001

                                                           (M) 09437034172, arunupadhyay30@yahoo.in

There are many meanings of Meru-In cosmic creation, it was link among diverse objects or rotation axis of galaxy. In solar system also, it is polar axis of earth orbit. Rotation axis of earth itself is Meru extending 100 times size of earth-limit of its gravitational pull. There are 10 basic Meru references on earth-2 poles as Sumeru and Kumeru, 4 merus each in 4 sheets of world map in north and south hemispheres-each from a pole to equator covering zone of 90⁰ longitude. There are secondary references for maps which are also Meru. Meru is a name of town and building design. 12 unit pole used to measure latitude and time is also Meru, śanku, nara or linga. Vertebral column of men and animals joins all parts of body-so it is meru-daṇḍa. Meru (Mir) is head or number 1and others chiefs are Amir. Combination of all creation stages is 3 dimensional Meru or Śrī-yantra. All are described below.

(1) Hiraṇyagarbha Meru-This has been called Ulba (umbilical cord) of universe in purāṇas. Atharva veda has called it skambha or foundation of universe (sarvādhāra). As first born, it is Jyeṣṭha-Brahma.

हिरण्यगर्भः समवर्तताग्रे भूतस्य जातः पतिरेक आसीत्। स दाधार पृथिवीमुत द्यां कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम॥

यं क्रन्दसी अवतश्चस्कभाने भियसाने रोदसी अह्वयेथाम्। यस्यासौ पन्था रजसो विमानः कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम॥३॥

यस्य द्यौरुर्वी पृथिवी च मही यस्याद उर्वऽन्तरिक्षम्। यस्यासौ सूरो विततो महित्वा कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम॥

यस्य विश्वे हिमवन्तो महित्वा समुद्रे यस्य रसामिदाहुः। इमाश्च प्रदिशो यस्य बाहू कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम॥

(ऋक् १०/१२१/१,४-६, अथर्व ४/२/३-५, ७)

सर्वाधार सूक्त, ज्येष्ठब्रह्म सूक्त (अथर्व १०/७-८)

कूर्म पुराण (१/४)-एक काल समुत्पन्नं जल बुद्बुदवच्च तत्। विशेषेभ्योऽण्डमभवत् बृहत् तदुदकेशयम्॥३६॥

तस्मिन् कार्यस्य करणं संसिद्धिः परमेष्ठिनः। प्राकृतेऽण्डे विवृत्तः स क्षेत्रज्ञो ब्रह्मसंज्ञितः॥३७॥

स वै शरीरी प्रथमः स वै पुरुष उच्यते। आदिकर्त्ता स भूतानां ब्रह्माग्रे समवर्तत॥३८॥

यमाहुः पुरुषं हंसं प्रधानात् परतः स्थितम्। हिरण्यगर्भं कपिलं छन्दोमूर्तिं सनातनम्॥३९॥

मेरुरुल्बमभूत् तस्य जरायुश्चापि पर्वताः। गर्भोदकं समुद्राश्च तस्यास परमात्मनः॥४०॥ 

ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण (१/१/३) आदिकर्त्ता स भूतानां ब्रह्माग्रे समवर्त्तिनाम्॥२५॥

हिरण्यगर्भः सोऽण्डेऽस्मिन्प्रादुर्भूतश्चतुर्मुखः। सर्गे च प्रतिसर्गे च क्षेत्रज्ञो ब्रह्म संमितः॥२६॥

करणैः सह पृच्छन्ते प्रत्याहारैस्त्यजन्ति च। भजन्ते च पुनर्देहांस्ते समाहार सन्धिसु॥२७॥

हिरण्मयस्तु यो मेरुस्तस्योद्धर्तुर्महात्मनः। गर्तोदकं सम्बुदास्तु हरेयुश्चापि पञ्चताः॥२८॥

यस्मिन्नण्ड इमे लोकाः सप्त वै सम्प्रतिष्ठिताः। पृथिवी सप्तभिर्द्वीपः समुद्रैः सह सप्तभिः॥२९॥      

 It has 3 levels-

(a) Svayambhū maṇḍala-This is visible universe as collection of 10¹¹ galaxies created from abstract uniform source. Here, the mutual attraction among galaxies and receiving light of each other is Meru or ulba

(b) Kūrma meru-This is creative field, called garbha in which our galaxy has been created. Its size is measured in Śakvarī chhanda (14x4 = 56 letters), i.e. 10⁵³ times earth size. Now, it is seen as neutrino corona of our galaxy which is about 10 times bigger than the galaxy.

शङ्कु भवत्यह्नो धृत्यै यद्वा अधृतँ शङ्कुना तद्दाधार। (ताण्ड्य महाब्राह्मण ११/१०/११)

तद् (शङ्कु साम) उ सीदन्तीयमित्याहुः॥१२॥

सप्तपदा वै तेषां (छन्दसां) परार्ध्या शक्वरी। (शतपथ ब्राह्मण ३/९/२/१७)

यदिमाँल्लोकान् प्रजापतिः सृष्ट्वेदं सर्वमशक्नोद्यदिदं किञ्च तच्छक्वर्योऽभवंस्तच्छक्वरीणां शक्वरीत्वम्॥ (ऐतरेय ब्राह्मण ५/७)

स यत् कूर्मो नाम। एतद्वै रूपं कृत्वा प्रजापत्ः प्रजा असृजत यदसृजताकरोत्तद्यदकरोत्तस्मात् कूर्मः कश्यपो वै कूर्मस्तस्मादाहुः सर्वाः प्रजाः काश्यप्य इति।  (शतपथ ब्राह्मण ७/५/१/५)

मानेन तस्य कूर्मस्य कथयामि प्रयत्नतः।

शङ्कोः शतसहस्राणि योजनानि वपुः स्थितम्॥ (नरपति जयचर्या, स्वरोदय, कूर्म चक्र)

Here, size of Kūrma is 10⁵ x 10¹³ = 10¹⁸ yojanas. Starting from earth, solar earth and galaxy are 10⁷ times bigger. 1000 part of earth diameter is yojana. Thus, galaxy = 1000 x 10⁷ x 10⁷ = 10¹⁷ yojanas. Kūrma of 10¹⁸ yojana size is thus 10 times bigger than that.

(c) Parameṣṭhī Meru-This is rotation axis of galaxy. Distance between galactic poles is about 1,00,000 light years, called 1 lakh yojanas. This has been called Krandasī in vedic verses above. Solar system is Rodasī. Maharloka is 30000 yojanas from its center and has 1000 suns in the sphere of diameter of spiral arm (1400 light years) around our sun. These suns are called 1000 heads of Śeṣa, Ananta or Samkarṣaṇa. On one of these, earth is like a small particle.

भागवत पुराण (५/२५)- अस्य मूलदेशे त्रिंशद् योजन सहस्रान्तर आस्ते या वै कला भगवतस्तामसी

समाख्यातानन्त इति सात्वतीया द्रष्टृ दृश्ययोः सङ्कर्षणमहमित्यभिमान लक्षणं यं सङ्कर्षणमित्याचक्ष्यते॥१॥

यस्येदं क्षितिमण्डलं भगवतोऽनन्तमूर्तेः सहस्रशिरस एकस्मिन्नेव शीर्षाणि ध्रियमाणं सिद्धार्थ इव लक्ष्यते॥२॥

Size of galaxy is stated in many ways-(1) It is measured in Jagatī chhanda of 48 letters, but letters in each chhanda can be 2 more or less. For 49 Marut zones, size of galaxy is 49 units called ahargaṇa. 3 zones are within earth, outer zones are successively double. So it is 2⁴⁶ times earth size, more accurately 46.3 ahargaṇas. (2) Its circumference is 1.87 x 10¹⁷ Bha-yojanas, in Sūrya-siddhānta (12/90) where Bha-yojana = 27 x Bhū-yojana. Bhū-yojana of Sūrya-siddhānta is 1600 parts of earth diameter. Thus, Bha-yojana is about 216 kms. Here, diameter comes to 125,000 light years. (3) Circumference is half of 10¹⁷ (parārdha yojana) in Kaṭhopaniṣad (1/3/1). Here diameter comes to 97,000 light years. (4) 10¹⁴ times earth size in Viṣṇu purāṇa (2/7/3-4).

कठोपनिषद् (१/३/१)-ऋतं पिबन्तौ सुकृतस्य लोके गुहां प्रविष्टौ परमे परार्धे।

छायातपौ ब्रह्मविदो वदन्ति, पञ्चाग्नयो ये च त्रिणाचिकेताः॥

सूर्य सिद्धान्त (१२)-ख-व्योम-खत्रय-ख-सागर-षट्क-नाग-व्योमा-ष्ट-शून्य-यम-रूप-नगा-ष्ट-चन्द्राः।

ब्रह्माण्ड संपुटपरिभ्रमणं समन्तादभ्यन्तरा दिनकरस्य करप्रसाराः॥९०॥

(विष्णु पुराण, २/७)-रविचन्द्रमसोर्यावन्मयूखैरवभास्यते। स समुद्र सरिच्छैला पृथिवी तावती स्मृता ।३।

यावत्प्रमाणा पृथिवी विस्तार परिमण्डलात् । नभस्तावत्प्रमाणं वै व्यास मण्डलतो द्विज ।४।

= (3) The zone lighted by sun and moon is Pŗthivī (earth) and in all the earths-ocean, rivers and mountains are stated as on planet earth. 

(a) Planet earth-It is lighted by sun and moon both and it has all-ocean, rivers and mountains.

(b) Maitreya-maņḍala-It is the zone exclusively lighted by sun. Zones formed by planetary orbits are described as continents and oceans of same name as on earth.

(c) Galaxy-This is the last limit up to which sun can be seen as a point- Definition of Brahmāņḍa in Sūrya-siddhānta (12/90). In this earth also, central rotating disc is called a river-Ākāśa-gangā.

(4) Whatever is the size of earth by diameter and circumference, the same is diameter and circumference of its sky, starting from earth-Stated by Maitreya to Parāśara, addressed as Dvija (Brāhmaņa).

(a) Planet earth-Its measure should start from human size, which is implied but not stated. Earth is limit (Koţi) of world for man and its size is 10⁷ times, so Koţi = 10⁷ . For earth also, its Koţi of world is solar system which is its sky and is 10⁷ times bigger.

(b) For Maitreya-maņɖala, its sky or Koţi is galaxy and is 10⁷ times bigger.

(c) For the largest earth galaxy, its sky is universe. This is infinite, but is taken in same ratio of Koţi = 10⁷ .

Thus, the 5 levels of Viśva starting with man are successively 10⁷ times bigger. 10⁷ = 2²⁴ and 24 is number of letters in Gāyatrī chhanda, so it is said that is measure of all the Lokas.

             x 10⁷ = 2²⁴                      x 10⁷ = 2²⁴                                   x 10⁷ = 2²⁴                    x 10⁷ = 2²⁴

Man                        Earth                      Solar system                    Galaxy                   Universe

इयमेव (पृथिवी) गायत्री-जैमिनीय उपनिशद् ब्राह्मण (१/५५/३), शतपथ ब्राह्मण (१/४/१/३४), ताण्ड्य महाब्राह्मण (७/३/११) गायत्र्या वै देवान् इमान् लोकान् व्याप्नुवन् ताण्ड्य महा ब्राह्मण (१६/१४/१)

Mahar loka is measured in Triṣṭup chhanda (11x4 letters), more accurately 43 ahargaṇas for 43 letters in Māheśvara-sūtra or number of triangles in Śrī-yantra.

महद्वा अन्तरिक्षम्। (ऐतरेय ब्राह्मण ५/१८-१९) अन्तरिक्ष लोको महः। (शतपथ ब्राह्मण १२/३/४/७)

अन्तरिक्ष एव महः।  (गोपथ ब्राह्मण उत्तर ५/१५) त्रिष्टुबेव महः। ((गोपथ ब्राह्मण पूर्व ५/१५)

एतद्वै बृहतः स्वमायतनं यत्त्रिष्टुप्। (ताण्ड्य महाब्राह्मण ४/४/१०) अन्तरिक्षमु वै त्रिष्टुप्। (शतपथ ब्राह्मण १/८/२/१२)

अन्तरिक्षे विष्णुर्व्यक्रँस्त त्रैष्टुबेन छन्दसा। (शतपथ ब्राह्मण १/९३/१०) त्रैष्टुबो हि वायुः। (शतपथ ब्राह्मण ८/७/३/१२) चतुश्चत्वारिंशदक्षरा वै त्रिष्टुप्। (शतपथ ब्राह्मण ८/५/१/११)

Maharloka is intermediate between 2 spheres of solar system and galaxy-so it is antarikṣa. It is in spiral arm of galaxy where its spread matter is moving, so it is vāyu (air).

विष्णोः क्रमोऽसि सपत्नहा गायत्रं छन्द आ रोह पृथिवीमनु वि क्रमस्य

विष्णोः क्रमोऽस्यभिमातिहा त्रैष्टुभं छन्द आ रोहान्तरिक्षमनु वि क्रमस्य

विष्णोः क्रमोऽस्यरातीयतो हन्ता जागत छन्द आ रोह दिवमनु वि क्रमस्य

विष्णोः क्रमोऽसि शत्रूयतो हन्ता ऽऽनुष्टुभं छन्द आ रोह दिशोऽनु वि क्रमस्य॥ (वाजसनेयी संहिता १२/५)

Gāyatrī (24 letters) is measure of earth (2²⁴ times size of man, solar earth is 2²⁴ times earth planet). Next antarikṣa loka is Mahar measured by Triṣṭup (44 letters). Next loka is galaxy measured by Jagatī (measure of jagat) called Parama-pada of Viṣṇu where sun is just visible as a point (Sūrya-siddhānta,12/82, 90) 

आक्रन्ददग्नि स्तनयन्निव द्यौः क्षामा रेरिहद्वीरुधः समञ्जन्।

सद्यो जज्ञान् वि हिमिद्धो अख्यदा रोदसी भानुना भात्यन्तः॥ (वाजसनेयी संहिता १२/६)

Zone lighted by Sun is Rodasī, its holder or source is Krandasī.

(2) Merus of solar system-These are of 2 types-

(a) Nāka svarga or Meru-This is axis of rotation of solar system itself. Seen from earth, earth axis rotates around it in a circle of 24⁰ in a period of 26000 years. The star group looks like a reptile called Śiśumāra, Thus, Nāka-meru is centre of Śiśumāra-chakra described in Viṣṇu purāṇa, chapters (2/8-9). Its size is 100,000 yojana (yojana for solar system is diameter of sun). This has also been described by Al-Biruni in his India and by Madhusudan Ojha in Brahma-siddhānta etc. Sphere of this radius is called Maitreya-maṇḍala within which the bodies will move in gravitation of sun.

तम् (त्रयस्त्रिंशं स्तोमं) उ नाक इत्याहुर्न हि प्रजापतिः कस्मै च नाकम् । (ताण्ड्य महाब्राह्मण १०/१/१८)

विश्वा रूपाणि प्रति मुञ्चते कविः ग्रासावीद् भद्रं द्विपदे चतुष्पदे। वि नाकमख्यत् सविता वरेण्योऽनु प्रयाणमुषसो वि राजति॥ (वाजसनेयी संहिता १२/३) स्वर्गो वै लोको नाकः (शतपथ ब्राह्मण ६/३/३/१४, ६/७/२/४)

नागवीथ्युत्तरं यच्च सप्तर्षिभ्यश्च दक्षिणम्। उत्तरः सवितुः पन्था देवयानश्च स स्मृतः। (विष्णु पुराण २/८/९०)

ऊर्ध्वोत्तरमृषिभ्यस्तु ध्रुवो यत्र व्यवस्थितः। एतद्विष्णुपदं दिव्यं तृतीयं व्योम्नि भासुरम्॥९८॥ 

तारामयं भगवतः शिशुमाराकृति प्रभोः। दिवि रूपं हरेर्यत्तु तस्य पुच्छे स्थितो ध्रुवः॥(२/९/१)

सैष भ्रमन् भ्रामयति चन्द्रादित्यादिकान् ग्रहान्। भ्रमन्तमनु तं यान्ति नक्षत्राणि च चक्रवत्॥२॥

सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ तारा नक्षत्राणि ग्रहैः सह।वातानीकमयैर्बन्हैर्ध्रुवे बद्धानि तानि वै॥३॥

शिशुमाराकृति प्रोक्तं यद्रूपं ज्योतिषां दिवि। नारायणोऽयनं धाम्नां तस्याधारः स्वयं हृदि॥४॥

उत्तानपादपुत्रस्तु तमाराध्य जगत्पतिम्। स तारा शिशुमारस्य ध्रुवः पुच्छे व्यवस्थितः॥५॥

आधारः शिशुमारस्य सर्वाध्यक्षो जनार्दनः। ध्रुवस्य शिशुमारस्तु ध्रुवे भानुर्व्यवस्थितः॥६।

Vāyu purāṇa (6/11) tells that Varāha holding the earth on its tooth is 100 yojana high and 10 yojana wide. Thus earth is somewhere between 100-110 yojana from sun. In terms of sun diameter, it is 108-109 units, thus sun diameter is yojana here. Obviously, even the tooth of this Varāha is much bigger than earth whose size in this yojana is 1/108 only. This is called Bhū-varāha which is zone whose material condensed into earth planet.

वायु पुराण, अध्याय ६-आपो ह्यग्ने समभवन्नष्टेग्नौ पृथिवीतले। सान्तरालैक लीनेऽस्मिन्नष्टे स्थावरजङ्गमे॥१॥

एकार्णवे तदा तस्मिन्न प्राज्ञायत किंचन॥२॥ ब्रह्मा नारायणाख्यः स सुष्वाप सलिले तदा॥३॥

आपो नारा वै तनव इत्यपां नाम शुश्रुम। अप्सु शेते च यत्तस्मात्तेन नारायणः स्मृतः॥५॥

तुल्यं युगसहस्रस्य नैशं कालमुपास्य सः। शर्वर्यन्ते प्रकुरुते ब्रह्मत्वं सर्गकारणात्॥६॥

जलक्रीडासु रुचिरं वाराहं रूपमस्मरत्। अधृष्यं सर्व भूतानां वाङ्मयं धर्म संज्ञितम्॥१०॥

दश-योजन विस्तीर्णं शतयोजनमुच्छ्रितम्। नीलेमेघ प्रतीकाशं मेघस्तनित निःस्वनम्॥११॥

रसातल तले मग्नां रसातल तले गताम्। प्रभुर्लोक हितार्थाय दंष्ट्रयाऽभ्युज्जहार गाम्॥२४॥

(b) Earth axis-Astronomy texts call north pole as Sumeru and south pole as Kumeru. But height of this Meru is stated as 100,000 yojanas out of which only 1000 yojana part is within earth because earth size is 1000 yojana only. Basically, this is meant to be rotation axis of earth. Its length is 100,000 yojanas (1 yojana = 1000 part of equatorial diameter = 12800 kms approx. here).  The disc shaped zone around earth in plane of ecliptic is called Jambū-dvīpa of 50, 000 yojana radius in Bhāgavata purāṇa, skandha  5, Viṣṇu purāṇa 2/7-8 etc. That is exclusive gravitational zone of earth in which a body will revolve round earth. Moon is at about 61r distance, r = radius of earth.

This is description of Jaina text Lokaprakāśa (18/15-16). Purāṇas give same measure of Meru, but tell that 16000 yojana part is within earth. Geo-synchronous orbit has diameter of this size which has been called earth here.

Axis of solar system and galaxy (Parameṣṭhī maṇḍala) have been called Lingas in space in Śiva-purāṇa.

शिव पुराण, विद्येश्वर संहिता, अध्याय ५-निष्कलस्तम्भरूपेण स्वरूपं समदर्शयत्॥२८॥

अध्याय ७-महानलस्तम्भविभीषणाकृतिर्बभूव तन्मध्यतले स निष्कलः॥१२॥

अतीन्द्रियमिदं स्तम्भमग्निरूपं किमुत्थितम्।  अस्योर्ध्वमपि चाधश्च आवयोर्लक्ष्यमेव हि॥१४॥

आवयोर्मिश्रयोस्तत्र कार्यमेकं न सम्भवेत्। इत्युक्त्वा सूकरतनुर्विष्णुस्तस्यादिमीयिवान्॥१६॥

तथा ब्रह्माहं सतनुस्तदन्तं वीक्षितुं ययौ। भित्त्वा पातालनिलयं गत्वा दूरतरं हरिः॥१७॥

अध्याय ११-मण्डलं चतुरस्रं वा त्रिकोणमथवा तथा। खट्वाङ्गवन् मध्य सूक्ष्मं  लिङ्गपीठं महाफलम्॥६॥

प्रथमं मृच्छिलादिभ्यो लिङ्गं लोहादिभिः कृतम्। येन लिङ्गं तेन पीठं स्थावरे हि विशिष्यते॥७॥

लिङ्गं पीठं चरेत्वेकं लिङ्गं बाणकृतं विना। लिङ्गप्रमाणं कर्तॄणां द्वादशाङ्गुलमुत्तमम्॥८॥

Kutub-minar is model of Sumeru of earth in space. At Delhi, its semi-vertical angle is equal to difference between true and mean latitude there. Earth was taken as perfect sphere from Mahābhārata till 1850 AD. Difference between true and mean latitude is due to its spheroidal shape which was nor perceived or measured. In 456 BC, at start of Śrī-Harṣa śaka (Al-Biruni, Abul Fazal), it was place of northern most position of moon on earth surface (inclination of earth’s axis 23.9⁰ + inclination of moon’s orbit with ecliptic 5.02⁰)-Refer my commentary on Siddhānta-Darpaṇa, chapter 16. So, ‘Chandra’ has been written on iron pillar there. A pillar of 12 units (called Śiva-linga of 12 angula in Śiva purāṇa) was used to measure time and latitude of a place.

 (3) Merus on earth surface-(a) Polar Merus-These are reference points for survey and mapping of earth. Mapping of earth surface of north (and south) hemisphere was in 4 sheets of 90⁰ longitude width. It was centered round north pole called Meru or Sumeru. Bhārata-varṣa (India) has been called one of the 4 petals of that lotus (earth surface) as it roughly extends 45⁰ west and 45⁰ east of Ujjain. Thus, Meru has 4 faces and its linga (symbol) has square base-called Svayambhū linga as in Kābā of Arab at west end of Bhārata. Pyramids were constructed 45⁰ and 180⁰ west of Ujjain in Ezypt and at Mexico (called Siddhapura in Sūrya siddhānta)-Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kiṣkindhā kāṇḍa (40/54, 64).

   South pole was called Kumeru (opposite to Sumeru in north). Āryabhaṭa (Kali 360 = 2742 BC) has stated that north pole is in water and south pole on land mass. South pole is joint of 2 land masses-called Yama-dvīpa. Yama is lord of south and Yama also means twin or double. Till 1985, it was not confirmed whether south pole is in water channel between 2 land masses or on land itself. Only by echo-sounding, in 1985, it was known that it is actually on land. Land nearest to it is New Zealand which has again 2 islands. So, it was called Yama-koṭi-Dvīpa (at end of Yama dvīpa). Actually, Yama star (southern Crux) has same southern latitude as this island. Its south western tip has been called Yama-koṭi-pattana (port of Yama-koṭi)-stated to be 90⁰ east of Ujjain in Sūrya-siddhānta etc. There should be a pyramid at this point also-probably it is submerged in ocean now. Each zone from north pole to equator of 90⁰ longitude width is a shercal triangle, but it is projected as a rectangle on plane paper. Due to this plane projection, scale of polar region becomes infinity. This is not a problem for north pole which is in water. But map of south pole region becomes of infinite size, so it was called Ananta (infinity).

    Largest land mass is Jambu-dvipa (Asia + Europe). Center of mountain ranges is called Prāṇ-Meru (Eastern Meru) or Pamir. Human Brahmā was here at Puṣkara (12⁰ west of Ujjain and 35⁰ north where maximum day length is of 16 hours). This is now called Bukhārā on north of ancient Persia, now in Uzbekistan. 4 highways went in 4 directions, so Brahmā was called 4 faced. Till today convention of script by him continues- north east part writes from up to down, south west to left and south east (India) to right side. North west part uses Sāṇkhya script of 5² letters-see my article ‘Vedic origin and classification of scripts’ on www.scribd.com/Arunupadhyay. Opposite to that is Puṣkara-dvīpa (south America) having Apara-Meru (western Meru) at Peru from where 4 highways emanated in 4 directions from Kuzco as in Prāṅ-meru.

In between is central Meru at equator in Kenya (mount Kilimanjaro). Earth's Diameter at the Equator: 7,926.28 miles (12,756.1 km)

Earth's Diameter at the Poles: 7,899.80 miles (12,713.5 km)

विष्णु पुराण (२/२)-

भद्राश्वं पूर्वतो मेरोः केतुमालं च पश्चिमे। वर्षे द्वे तु मुनिश्रेष्ठ तयोर्मध्यमिलावृतः।२४।

भारताः केतुमालाश्च भद्राश्वाः कुरवस्तथा। पत्राणि लोकपद्मस्य मर्यादाशैलबाह्यतः।४०।

मत्स्य पुराण ११३-चातुर्वर्ण्यस्तु सौवर्णो मेरुश्चोल्बमयः स्मृतः।१२।

नाभीबन्धनसम्भूतो ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः।पूर्वतः श्वेतवर्णस्तु ब्राह्मण्यं तस्य तेन वै।१४।

पीतश्च दक्षिणेनासौ तेन वैश्यत्वमिष्यते।भृङ्गिपत्रनिभश्चैव पश्चिमेन समन्वितः।

पार्श्वमुत्तरतस्तस्य रक्तवर्णं स्वभावतः। तेनास्य क्षत्रभावः स्यादिति वर्णाः प्रकीर्तिताः।१६।

मध्ये त्विलावृतं नाम महामेरोः समन्ततः।१९।

मध्ये तस्य महामेरुर्विधूम इव पावकः। वेद्यर्थं दक्षिणं मेरोरुत्तरार्धं तथोत्तरम्।२०।

ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण (१/२/१५)-चतुर्वर्णश्च सौवर्णो मेरुश्चारुतमः स्मृतः। द्वात्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि विस्तीर्णः स च मूर्द्धनि॥१६॥

नाभिबन्धन सम्भूतो ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः। पूर्वतः श्वेत वर्णश्च ब्राह्मणस्तस्य तेन तत्॥१८॥

पार्श्वमुत्तरतस्तस्य रक्तवर्णः स्वभावतः। तेनास्य क्षत्रभावस्तु मेरोर्नानार्थ कारणात्॥१९॥

पीतश्च दक्षिणेनासौ तेन वैश्यत्वमिष्यते। भृङ्गपत्रनिभश्चापि पश्चिमेन समाचितः॥२०॥

तेनास्य शूद्रभावः स्यादितिवर्णाः प्रकीर्त्तिताः। वृत्तः स्वभावतः प्रोक्तो वर्णतः परिमाणतः॥२१॥

भागवत पुराण (५/२४/७)- उपवर्णितं भूमेर्यथासंनिवेशावस्थानमवनेरत्यधस्तात् सप्त भूविवरा एकैकशो योजनायुतान्तरेणायामं विस्तारेणोपक्लृप्ता अतलं वितलं सुतलं तलातलं महातलं रसातलं पातालमिति॥७॥

Maps of these places were in different colours as indicated in Viṣṇu purāṇa (2/5/17-22). This still continues as 4-colour theorem-all divisions of any map can be shown in 4 colours. This theorem has not been proved in modern topology (generalized geometry) so far. Important places of each have also been given like Prahlāda ruled Talātala, Bali went to Sutala, Maya in Atala etc.

Texts of astronomy have given cardinal points on earth separated from Lankā or Ujjain at intervals of 90⁰ each. Yama-koṭi-pattana is 90⁰ east (Yama Dvīpa = Antarctica, Yama is lord of south, yama = 2, Yama-koṭi dvīpa is nearest twin island Newzealand, its south western tip is 90⁰ east), Romaka-pattana is 90⁰ west (Konacry = Koṇārka or some place west of Rabat = place of sun)-both are ports (pattana). 180⁰ east (or west) is Siddhapura where Brahmā had constructed a dvāra to mark the end of east direction (Rāmāyaṇa, Kiṣkindhā kāṇḍa 40/54, 64)-that is place of greatest Pyramid in Mexico. This was not a pattana or a coastal town.

उज्जयिनी लङ्कायाः सन्निहिता योत्तरेण समसूत्रे।

तन्मध्याह्नो युगपत् विषमो दिवसो विषुवतोऽन्यः। (वराहमिहिर, पञ्चसिद्धान्तिका, १३/१७)

मेरुर्योजनमात्रः प्रभाकरो हिमवता परिक्षिप्तः। नन्दनवनस्य मध्ये रत्नमयः सर्वतो वृत्तः॥११॥

स्वर्मेरु स्थलमध्ये नरको बडवामुखं च जलमध्ये। अमरमरा मन्यन्ते परस्परमधः स्थितान् नियतान् ॥१२॥

उदयो यो लङ्काया सोऽस्तमयः सवितुरेव सिद्धपुरे। मध्याह्नो यवकोट्यां रोमकविषयेऽर्धरात्रं स्यात् ॥१३॥

स्थलजलमध्य लङ्का भूकक्षाया भवेच्चतुर्भागे। उज्जयिनी लङ्कायाः तच्चतुरंशे समोत्तरतः॥१४॥

 (आर्यभटीय ४/११-१४)

भूवृत्तपादे पूर्वस्यां यमकोटीति विश्रुता। भद्राश्ववर्षे नगरी स्वर्णप्राकारतोरणा॥३८॥

याम्यायां भारते वर्षे लङ्का तद्वन् महापुरी। पश्चिमे केतुमालाख्ये रोमकाख्या प्रकीर्तिता॥३९॥

उदक् सिद्धपुरी नाम कुरुवर्षे प्रकीर्तिता (४०) भूवृत्तपादविवरास्ताश्चान्योन्यं प्रतिष्ठिता (४१)

तासामुपरिगो याति विषुवस्थो दिवाकरः। न तासु विषुवच्छाया नाक्षस्योन्नतिरिष्यते ॥४२॥

मेरोरुभयतो मध्ये ध्रुवतारे नभः स्थिते। निरक्षदेशसंस्थानामुभये क्षितिजाश्रिये॥४३।

अतो नाक्षोच्छ्रयस्तासु ध्रुवयोः क्षितिजस्थयोः। नतिर्लम्बकांशास्तु मेरावक्शांशकास्तथा॥४४॥

मॆषादौ देवभागस्थे देवानां याति दर्शनम्। असुराणां तुलादौ तु सूर्यस्तद्भागसञ्चरः॥४५॥

(सूर्य सिद्धान्त १२/३८-४५)

यल्लङ्कोज्जयिनीपुरोपरि कुरुक्षेत्रादिदेशान् स्पृशत्। सूत्रं मेरुगतं सा मध्यरेखा भुवः॥

निरक्षदेशात् क्षितिषोडशांशे भवेदवन्ती गणितेन यस्मात् (सिद्धान्त शिरोमणि, गोलाध्याय, मध्यगति वासना, २४ ) वाल्मीकि रामायण किष्किन्धा काण्ड, अध्याय ४०-

यत्नवन्तो यवद्वीपं सप्तराज्योपशोभितम्। सुवर्णरूप्यकद्वीपं सुवर्णाकरमण्डितम्॥३०।

ततः समुद्रद्वीपांश्च सुभीमान् द्रष्टुमर्हथ।।३६॥

स्वादूदस्योत्तरे तीरे योजनानि त्रयोदश। जातरूपशिलो नाम सुमहान् कनकप्रभः॥५०॥

त्रिशिराः काञ्चनः केतुमालस्तस्य महात्मनः॥५३॥पूर्वस्यां दिशि निर्माणं कृतं तत् त्रिदशेश्वरैः॥५४॥

पूर्वमेतत् कृतं द्वारं पृथिव्या भुवनस्य च। सूर्यस्योदयनं चैव पूर्वा ह्येषा दिगुच्यते ॥६४॥

This also refers to Golden Sumeru of Java (Yava) dvīpa built by Indra. Tip of Mount sumeru of Java is at 8°6′28.8″S 112°55′12.0″E

Purāṇas give 4 cardinal towns of Indra-Vasvaukasārā, Soma-Vibhāvarī (90⁰ east), Varuṇa-Sukhā (180⁰ east), and Yama-Sanyamanī (90⁰ west) separated by 90⁰ longitude. These could be at junction of Talas or could be earlier division at time of Svāyambhuva Manu.

कूर्म पुराण (१/४३)-जम्बूद्वीपः समस्तानां द्वीपानां मध्यतः शुभः। तस्य मध्ये महामेरुर्विश्रुतः कनकप्रभः॥६॥

चतुरशीति साहस्रो योजनैस्तस्य चोच्छ्रयः। प्रविष्टः षोडषाधस्ताद् द्वात्रिंशन्मूर्ध्नि विस्तृतः॥७॥

मूले षोडषसाहस्रो विस्तारस्तस्य सर्वतः। भूपद्मस्यास्य शैलोऽसौ कर्णिकात्वेन संस्थितः॥८॥

हिमवान् हेमकूटश्च निषधाश्चास्य दक्षिणे। नीलः श्वेतश्च शृङ्गी च उत्तरे वर्षपर्वताः॥९॥                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             अग्नि पुराण, अध्याय १०७-इलावृते मेरुमध्यं रम्ये नीलाचलाश्रितम्॥६॥

भद्राश्वाय च भद्राश्वं केतुमालाय पश्चिमम्॥७॥ मेरोः प्रियव्रतः पुत्रानभिषिच्य ययौ वनम्। (८)

नाधमं मध्यमं तुल्या हिमदेशात्त नाभितः॥१२॥ ऋषभो मेरुदेव्यां च ऋषभात् भरतोऽभवत्। (१३)

अग्नि पुराण, अध्याय १०८-जम्बूद्वीपो द्वीपमध्ये तन्मध्ये मेरुरुच्छ्रितः। चतुरशीतिसाहस्रो भूयिष्ठः षोडशाद्रिराट्॥३॥

द्वात्रिंशन् मूर्ध्नि विस्तारात् षोडशाधः सहस्रवान्। भूयस्तस्यास्य शैलोऽसौ कर्णिकाकार संस्थितः॥४॥

हिमवान् हेमकूटश्च निषधश्चास्य दक्षिणे। नीलः श्वेतश्च शृङ्गी च उत्तरे वर्ष पर्वताः॥५॥

भारतं प्रथमं वर्षं ततः किंपुरुषं स्मृतम्। हरिवर्षं तथैवानयन् मेरोर्दक्षिणतो द्विज॥७॥

रम्यकं चोत्तरे वर्षं तथैवान्यद्धिरण्मयम्। उत्तराः कुरवश्चैव यथा वै भारतं तथा॥८॥

पूर्वेण मन्दरो नाम दक्षिणे गन्धमादनः। विपुलः पश्चिमे पार्श्वे सुपार्श्वश्चोत्तरे स्मृतः॥११॥

कदम्बस्तेषु जम्बूश्च पिप्पलो वट एव च॥१२॥

एकादशशतायामाः पादपाः गिरिकेतवः। जम्बूद्वीपेति संज्ञास्यात् फलं जम्ब्वा गजोपमम्॥१३॥

जम्बूनदी रसेनास्यास्त्विदं जाम्बूनदं परम्। भद्राश्वः पूर्वतो मेरोः केतुमालस्तु पश्चिमे॥१४।

तयोर्मध्यगतो मेरुः कर्णिकाकार संस्थितः। भारताः केतुमालाश्च भद्राश्वाः कुरवस्तथा॥२२॥

पत्राणि लोकपद्मस्य मर्यादा शैलबाह्यतः॥

विष्णु पुराण (२/८)-मानसोत्तरशैलस्य पूर्वतो वासवी पुरी।

दक्षिणे तु यमस्यान्या प्रतीच्यां वारुणस्य च। उत्तरेण च सोमस्य तासां नामानि मे शृणु॥८॥

वस्वौकसारा शक्रस्य याम्या संयमनी तथा। पुरी सुखा जलेशस्य सोमस्य च विभावरी।९।

शक्रादीनां पुरे तिष्ठन् स्पृशत्येष पुरत्रयम्। विकोणौ द्वौ विकोणस्थस्त्रीन् कोणान्द्वे पुरे तथा।॥१६॥

उदितो वर्द्धमानाभिरामध्याह्नात्तपन् रविः। ततः परं ह्रसन्तीभिर्गोभिरस्तं नियच्छति॥१७॥

एवं पुष्करमध्येन यदा याति दिवाकरः। त्रिंशद् भागं तु मेदिन्याः तदा मौहूर्तिकी गतिः।२६॥

सूर्यो द्वादशभिः शैघ्र्यान्मुहूर्तैर्दक्षिणायने। त्रयोदशार्द्धमृक्षाणामह्ना तु चरति द्विज।

मुहूर्तैस्तावदृक्षाणि नक्तमष्टादशैश्चरन्॥३४॥

मत्स्य पुराण अध्याय १२४-मेरोः प्राच्यां दिशायां तु मानसोत्तरमूर्धनि॥२०॥

वस्वौकसारा माहेन्द्री पुण्या हेमपरिष्कृता। दक्षिणेन पुनर्मेरोर्मानसस्य तु पृष्ठतः॥२१॥

वैवस्वतो निवसति यमः संयमने पुरे। प्रतीच्यां तु पुनर्मेरोर्मानसस्य तु मूर्धनि॥२२॥

सुखा नाम पुरी रम्या वरुणस्यापि धीमतः। दिश्युत्तरस्यां मेरोस्तु मानसस्यैव मूर्धनि॥२३॥

तुल्या महेन्द्रपुर्यापि सोमस्यापि विभावरी।

वैवस्वते संयमने उद्यन् सूर्यः प्रदृश्यते। सुखायामर्धरात्रस्तु विभावर्यास्तमेति च॥२८॥

वैवस्वते संयमने मध्याह्ने तु रविर्यदा। सुखायामश्च वारुण्यामुत्तिष्ठन् स तु दृश्यते॥२९॥

विभावर्यामर्धरात्रं माहेन्द्र्यामस्तमेव च। सुखायामथ वारुण्यां मध्याह्ने तु रविर्यदा॥३०॥

विभावर्यां सोमपुर्यामुत्तिष्ठति विभावसुः। महेन्द्रस्यामरावत्यामुद्गच्छति दिवाकरः॥३१॥

सुखायामथ वारुण्यां मध्याह्ने तु रविर्यदा। स शीघ्रमेव पर्येति भानुरालातचक्रवत्॥३२॥

(b) Secondary Merus-The above description tells that there should be 2 polar merus and 4+4 merus in north and south hemispheres. But natural mountains will not be exactly separated by 90⁰ longitude. Thus, there is a meru peak in Himalaya close to meridian passing through Ujjain.

लङ्कातः खरनगरं सितोरुगेहं पाणाटो मिसितपुरी तथा तपर्णी।

उत्तुङ्गस्सितवरनामधेयशैलो लक्ष्मीवत्पुरमपि वात्स्यगुल्मसंज्ञम्॥१॥

विख्याता वननगरी तथा ह्यवन्ती स्थानेशो मुदितजनस्तथा च मेरुः।

अध्वाख्यः करणविधिस्तु मधमानानेतेषु प्रतिवसतां न विद्यते सः॥२॥ (भास्कर-२, महाभास्करीय २/१-२)

लङ्काकुमारी तु ततस्तु काञ्ची मानातमश्वेतपुरी त्वथोदक्।

श्वेतोऽचलोऽस्मादपि वात्स्यगुल्मं पूः स्यादवन्ती त्वनु गर्गराटम्॥१॥

आश्रमपत्तनमालवनगरे पट्टशिवमेव रोहितकम्।

स्थाण्वीश्वरस्तु हिमवान् मेरुर्लेखाध्वकर्म नास्त्येषाम्॥२॥ (वटेश्वर, वटेश्वर सिद्धान्त १/८/१-२)

Jaina Harivamśa purāṇa specifically indicates separate Merus for each continent-

जैन हरिवंश पुराण (पञ्चम सर्ग)-पूर्वापरौ महामेरोर्द्वौ मेरू भवतोऽस्य च। इष्वाकारौ विभक्तारौ पर्वतौ दक्षिणोत्तरौ॥४९४॥

अशीतिश्च सहस्राणि चत्वारि अ समुच्छ्रयः। चतुर्णामपि मेरूणां परयोर्द्वीपयोर्भवेत्॥५१३॥ (धातकी खण्ड, पुष्कर द्वीप)

पुष्करिण्यः शिलाकूट प्रासादाश्चैत्य चूलिकाः। समानाः पञ्चमेरूपां व्यासादवगाहनोच्छ्रयैः॥५३०॥

तत्त्वार्थ वृत्ति, तृतीय अध्याय-तन्मध्ये मेरुनाभिर्वृत्तो योजनशतसहस्रविष्कम्भो जम्बूद्वीपः॥९॥

Even local map references of each major country have been called Meru-

1. Meru, Tanzania, a village in northern Tanzania (Arumeru District). It is inhabited by the Meru people of Tanzania, known as the "Wameru" in Bantu. Mount Meru is a volcano near Arusha in northern Tanzania 3°14′ S, 36°45′ E

2. Nearby Mount Kilimanjaro  at 3°4′33″S, 37°21′12″E is in Kenya. Mount Kenya is at  0°9′00″S 37°18′00″E with nearby Meru Town at 0°03′N 37°39′E. There are Meru central and nortyh districts, Maara district. Its people are called Ameru, their language is Kimiiru. The forest region is Meru National Park.

3. Meru, Hazaribagh, a small town in Jharkhand, India, 24°1′46″ N, 85°27′26″ E. This is almost at old Karka rekhā and about 100 east of Ujjain, thus a local reference.

4. Meru, Malaysia, a town in Klang, located in Selangor, 3⁰8’ N, 101⁰27’ E

5. Meru, Western Australia, a locality near Geraldton, 28°48′11″S 114°41′10″E

6. Méru, a commune of the Oise département in France 49⁰ 14’N, 2⁰ 8’ E- about 73045’ west of Ujjain or 12 time zone west. Place of Time zones are places of Śiva called Mahākāla at Ujjain at central longitude. Similarly, town near Greenwich longitude here is called Lourdes (Rudreśa) at 43⁰6’ N and 0⁰3’ E.

7. Meru Peak, a mountain in the Indian Himalayas 30°52′5″N, 79°1′56″E

8. Phra Sumeru Temple, Bangkok, Thailand,13°45'N 100°35'E

9. Sumeru mountain, Java, 8⁰6’S, 120⁰35’E

10. Mount Sumeru of China at 36°01′N 106°15′E is of red sandstone like colours of Meru in purāṇs. It is full of minerals -Coal reserves of 930 million tons, Copper pyrite 8.93 million tons, phosphate 139,000 tons, gypsum 30 million tons, Quartz sand 16 million tons, Lime stone 130 million tons, Glauber salt 200 million tons, Dolomite 59 million tons, Gold ore 10 million tons. Large rock figures called Grottoes are located in nearby Guyuan, located in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

11. Amaru Meru, Peru, 16 12' 51.62"S, 69 30' 21.28W. The Amaru Muru is the strangest ancient structure in the world. It is hidden in the rugged Hayu Marca mountain terrain of Peru some 35 kilometres from Puno near the Titicaca lake. It was only recently discovered in 1996 although of course, it was already known among the Native Indians of the region. They call it the "Gate of the Gods" or “Gate to Heaven”. Meru and Mu are Cosmic Masters who are to the Andes of South America as Shiva and Parvati are to the Himalayas. Carved from the rock, it resembles a huge facade - some 7 metres high and some 7 metres wide - with a strange rock formation above it.

12. Meru Creek Fizi, 179⁰54’ E, 16⁰33’S

(c) Instrument-It is called Śaṅku of 12 unit length in Sūrya-siddhānta etc. This has been called Linga of 12 angulas in Śiva purāṇa, Vidyeśvara samhitā (11/8) quoted earlier. Smallest shadow is at noon time and locus of shadow end around that time is in shape of a ‘Kutup’ called kuppi (funnel, thistle-kip) in Hindi. So, the muhūrtta at noon time is called Kutupa-muhūrtta. By bisecting the shadow line equi-spaced from noon, say at 11 and 13 hrs-we get north–south direction. This is explained as traversing in books of astronomical survey for M.Tech (civil). The bisection is by common part of two circles in shape of a ’Mīna’ (fish), so the pillar is called Kutup-Mīna or Kutub-minar. Magnetic compass does almost same work, so it is called Kutub-numa. In that also, needle floating on mercury is called ‘Mīna’. Local references of latitude also have been given name of fish like Rohataka (almost at longitude of Ujjain) and Hilsa near Patna (10⁰ east of Ujjain). 

 (d) Building type-Buildings have been classified into 5 types as per shape-Vairāja, Puṣpaka, Kailāsa, Mālaka, Triviṣṭap. Their shapes are Chaturasra (square), chaturāyata (rectangle), vṛtta (circle), vṛttāyata (elliptical), aṣṭāa (8 sides). Each of 5 types is divided into 9 sub-types as per land, roof, cells (aṇḍaka). Vairāja types are-Meru, mandara, vimāna, bhadraka, sarvatobhadra, ruchaka, nandana, nandivardhana, śrīvatsa. Puṣpaka types are-valabhī, gṛharāja, śālāgṛha, mandira, vimāna, brahmamandira, bhavana, uttambha, śivikāveṣma. Kailāsa varieties are valaya, dundibhi, padma, mahāpadma, bhadraka, sarvatobhadra, ruchaka, nandana, guvākṣa or guvāvṛtta. Mālava types are-gaja, vṛṣabha, hamsa, garuḍa, simha, bhūmukha, bhūvara, śrījaya, pṛthivīdhara. Triviṣṭap varieties are-vajra, chakra, muṣṭika or vabhru, svastika, khaḍga, gadā, śrīvṛkṣa, vijaya. Details are in books of architecture like Samarāngaṇa-sūtradhāra of king Bhoja.  Meru roof is like Meru of purāṇas-a rectangular pyramid. At many places in Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Meru has been called a building.

श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे– किष्किन्धाकाण्ड- सर्गः३३-

विंध्य मेरु गिरि प्रख्यैः प्रासादैः नैक भूमिभिः । ददर्श गिरि नद्यः च विमलाः तत्र राघवः ॥४-३३-८॥

श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे नवमः सर्गः ॥५-९॥

मेरु मन्दर संकाशैरुल्लिखद्भिरिवाम्बरम् । कूटागारैः शुभाकारैः सर्वतः समलङ्कृतम् ॥५-९-१४॥

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः-

तं हि नित्यं महाराजो बलवन्तं महाबलः । उपाश्रितोऽभूद् धर्मात्मा मेरुर्मेरु वनं यथा  ॥२-७३-१५॥

(e) Towns-From usage in Veda and purāṇas, there are many types of towns. All towns need drainage of water whose scheme classifies the types.

1. Uru- is earliest type built by Viṣṇu, later on followed by Varuṇa. These town names are found only in south India having older traditions of Svāyambhuva Manu-Bengaluru, Mangaluru (Karnataka), Nellur, Elluru (Andhra pradesha). Oldest town of Iraq (region of Varuṇa) was also called Ur. This could be short form of Urvī (spherical earth). This type will have surface like sphere, with central region uppermost and outer circles at successively lower levels.

उरुं हि राजा वरुण श्चकार (ऋग् वेद १/२४/८) शं नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः (ऋग् वेद १/९०/१)

2. Pura was built by Indra. He also destroyed Puras of asuras, so he was called Purandara. This was rectangular matrix, with drainage from one side to another. This is more useful for plane lands near rivers. Peking of China is perfect example of a Pura.

3. Meru-Here the slope will be from central top to outside in flat rectangular pyramid. These towns have been called Meru-Ajayameru (Ajmer), Jaisalmer. Sumeru of China and Thailand are like that.

4. Vajra-Harivamśa purāṇa has called a city as Vajra-nagar on coast of west Asia. This is now called Basra port of Iraq. This is on both sides of a river with drainage into the river. On both sides there will be a triangle with side near river as lowest point and vertex at highest point. Triangles on both sides join to form a rectangle with river as its diagonal. This is called Diamond shape in playing cards. As diamond is the hardest, it was called Vajra. Carbon molecule is hardest as it has shape of triangular pyramid, called Trikakud (three edged) parvata in Atharva veda (4/9/10)-that is best kajjala (molecular carbon). Budapest in Hungary is a similar town with Buda and Pest parts on both sides of Danube river. 

(4) Models-(a) Meru daṇḍa-Vertebral column of human or animals is central part of body linking all parts (ulba), so it is called Meru-daṇḍa.

(b) Meru of rosary (beads for japa) is the central point where counting of 108 or 54 is complete.

(c) Meru design combining all faces modeling creation of world is called solid Meru or Śrī-yantra. Its 9 circles and 3 bases are described by a popular verse-

विन्दु त्रिकोण वसुकोण दशार युग्म मन्वस्र नागदल संयुत षोडशारम्।

वृत्तत्रयं च धरणी सदनत्रयं च, श्रीचक्रमेतदुदितं परदेवतायाः॥

(d) Top place-As number one in hierarchy, Mir is head of a state, specially in Ilāvṛtta-varṣa (central Asia) where Meru is described in Purāṇas. Mir also means number 1 or first. Other chiefs are Amir (apara Meru or Mir)-this means a rich person also.

 First published : 20-10-2011(Kaartika krishna Ashtami, Vikram Samvat 2068)