The Geography of the Puranas c7.s5.38

c7.s5.38

The shape of Meru, according to the above description, is that of an inverted cone; and on the analogy of the seedcup, its form should be circular: but there seems to be some uncertainty regarding this subject amongst the Purāṇics. The Padma compares its form to the bell-shape flower of ‘Dhaturā’. The Vāyu represents it as having four sides of different colours, i.e., white on the east, yellow on the south, black on the west, and red on the north. There are other opinions as well regarding the outline of the mountain Meru, e.g., according to Atri it has 100 angles, to Bhṛgu, a thousand; Sāvarṇi calls it octangular, Bhaguri, quadrangular and Vārṣāyani says it has a thousand angles; Galava makes it saucer-shaped; Garga, twisted like braided hair, and others maintain that it is circular. The Liṅga makes its eastern face the colour of ruby; its southern, that of lotus; its western, golden; and its northern, coral. The Matsya has the same colour as the Vāyu and both contain this line, ‘Four-coloured, golden, four-cornered, lofty’, but the Vāyu compares its summit in one place to a saucer, and observes that its circumference must be thrice its diameter. The Matsya also, rather incompatibly, says the measurement is that a circular form, but it is considered quadrangular.