Part 5.2 - The ten Merudānas

The Matsyapurāṇa has elaborately discussed about another type of important and expensive dānas which produce exalted results. These are called merudānas. Meru means hill and in this in this type of dāna, hills of different things like salt, grain, gold, cotton etc. are prescribed for donation.

Ten types of merudāna are elaborated here. They are:

1. dhānyaśaila (hill of grain),
2. lavaṇācala (hill of salt),
3. guḍācala (hill of molasses),
4. hemaparvata (hill of gold),
5. tilaśaila (hill of sesamum),
6. kārpāsaparvata (hill of cotton),
7. ghṛtaśaila (hill of clarified butter),
8. ratnaśaila (hill of jewels),
9. rajatācala (hill of silver) and
10. śarkarācala (hill of sugar).

The performer of these dānas attains highest of the climes and is respected by all devas.

a) Dhānyaśaila

In this ordinance four (4) heaps of grains representing hills are made. Sixteen thousand (16,000) seers or one thousand (1,000) droṇas are regarded as the best for making the hills.^[1] The hill of dhānya is decorated by followers, sandal etc. The silver made images of lokapālas, golden images of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva and many other articles. After performing prescribed rituals the central hill is given away to the preceptor and corner hills along with twenty four or ten cows are given away to the four ṛttvikas.^[2] On the ayana saṃkrānti, viṣuva saṃkrānti, vyātīpāta, third day of bright fortnight (śuklapakṣa), on the Sun eclipse and moon eclipse, on the dvādaśī, full moon day etc. the dhānyaśailadāna is performed.^[3]

b) Lavaṇācala

The performer of this dāna attains the śivaloka.^[4] The hill of lavaṇa of two hundred fifty six (256) seers or sixteen (16) dronas is regarded as the best. The lavaṇacala is also decorated by followers, sandal, silver made images of Lokapālas, golden images of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva. After completion of the rituals the devotee gives away the lavaṇācala along with other articles.

c) Guḍācala

The performer of this ordinance remains in the heaven and is honoured by the gods. Guḍa (molasses) of fifty (50) mounds or twenty five (25) mounds or fifteen (15) mounds is used in this dāna. The guḍācala is decorated with gold and silver images. Following the rituals guḍā with other gifts are given away to the preceptor and other ṛttvikas. One who performs this dāna remains healthy. He is never defeated by his enemies.^[5]

d) Hemaparvata

The ritual of the hemaparvatadāna is the same as the dhānyaśailadāna. The decorated hill of gold of four thousand (4,000) tolās or two thousand (2,000) tolās or one thousand (1,000) tolās is given away to the priests. The giver of this dāna attains emancipation.^[6]

e) Tilaśaila

The tilaśaila should be of sixteen hundred (1600) seers or ten (10) dronas or eight hundred (800) seers five (5) dronas or four hundred eighty (480) seers or three (3) dronas. According to the Matsyapurāṇa the devotee who performs this ordinance attains the realm of Viṣṇu. He gets long life. The devas and gandharvas respect him in the heaven.^[7]

f) Kārpāsaparvata

For this ordinance the devotee makes the hills of cotton for one hundred (100) mounds or fifty (50) mounds or twenty five (25) mounds. In this ordinance also the prescribed rituals of dhānyaparvata dāna are observed. One who gives away the hill of cotton along with other articles according to these rites attains śivaloka.³³³

g) Ghṛtaśailadāna

There should be twenty, ten or five pitchers full of clarified butter for this ghṛtaśailadāna.^[8] On the ghṛtaśaila (pitchers of the clarified butter) the vessels of uncooked rice are also placed and are surrounded by sugarcane, fruits and clothes etc.

One who performs this ordinance attains the Śivaloka^[9] and gets rid of all ill.

h) Ratnaśaila

The mount of one thousand (1,000) pearls is regarded as the best, mount of five hundred (500) pearls is second best and the mount of three hundred (300) pearls is the third best in the ratnaśailadāna. Of this ratnaśaila diamonds is used on making the eastern spurs of the mount; southern spur is made of sapphires and topazes; western spur is also made with the corals, topazes and gold.^[10] Performing all the rituals and passing the night the devotee gives away everything to the preceptor and priests uttering mantras.^[11]

i) Rajatācala

For the rajatācaladāna forty thousand (40,000) tolās of silver is regarded as the best. The golden images of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Arka are also established there.^[12] After proper rituals the devotee gives away the silver hill along with other articles to the preceptor. According to Matsyapurāṇa the performer of this ordinance devotee attains the candraloka.^[13]

j) Śarkarācala

The rituals as performed in the dhānyaśaila are followed in this ordinance also. Twenty (20) mounds or ten (10) mounds or five (5) mounds of sugar as per the capacity of the devotee are used for this dāna.^[14] After the rituals, the hills of sugar are given away to the preceptor and brāhmaṇas.^[15] The devotee who performs this dāna gets liberation from all sins and attains bliss.^[16]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid., 83.12

[2]:

Ibid., 83.35-36

[3]:

, 83.7-9

[4]:

Ibid., 86.1

[5]:

Ibid., 85.9

[6]:

86.7

[7]:

Ibid., 87.7³³³ Ibid., 88.5

[8]:

Ibid., 89.2

[9]:

Ibid., 89.7-10

[10]:

Ibid., 90.3-4

[11]:

90.6

[12]:

Ibid., 91.5

[13]:

Ibid., 91.9-10

[14]:

Ibid., 92.2

[15]:

Ibid., 92.9

[16]:

92.13