The Geography of the Puranas c7.s5.46

c7.s5.46

(5) The height of Meru is given as 84,000 yojanas while that of the ranges north and south of it (including Himavān, Himavat, etc.) is given as 2,000 yojanas (see Fig. 4) which gives the N-S section across Jambū Dwīpa). This appears to be very much out of proportion since there is no mountain in the world which is 42 times the height of the Himavān or Himavat. The inference is clear that the staggering escarpment of Meru when observed from its base, appears to be of tremendous height, even higher than the highest mountain, for the obvious reason that from this position one cannot see the peak or top of the escarpment which dissolves in the misty haze above.