Cosmic Mount Meru

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 Cosmic Mount Meru 

The Cosmic Mount Meru was made in the 18th century. The piece is contains a lot of detailed scenery. The Meru is made of appliqué and embroidery with silk. The scene on the Meru displays a desolate landscape that has a lot of floating skulls and beasts. The purpose of this setting was to focus on the mind if the meditator upon mortality. The Meru emphasizes upon the eternal. This piece is used to initiate in a ceremony. Inside the circle is a perspective of the world seen from above. By doing it from this angle the piece has a sacred, unreal concept but still based on reality. The four continents are displayed in groups of three different buildings. Between the continents and mount Meru are seven concentric oceans and mountain ranges. This mountain is in the center of the world both physically and in terms of significance. The south continent India is on the left. Mount Meru rises in the center of the circle. There is one heaven on the slopes and another heaven at the pinnacle, and four float above that. On top of the Mount Sumeru are the places of the Gods. Surrounding this mountain is seven chains of mountains and the ocean. This is to show the connection between heaven and Earth.

The universe is put into a vertical perspective. There is no form at the top of the realm because this realm does not have any qualities that can be perceived by human senses. However, there are realms displayed in this imagery that can be sensed through various states of meditation next to it. By achieving to be able to experience this realm it is said that it is a pleasant sight including bright light and a sense of coolness. Under this realm is another realm called the realm of desire, which has six different levels? This is humanism realm. The firs level is of the gods, or deva. Between the gods and human are demi-gods, or asura. The third level is where humans and animals take place on the surface of Jambudyipa. Below this level is where ghosts dwell and stay in the shadows. The last level is hell. In the last level there is no rest between tortures.

 

 


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