मेरुदान

{ merudāna }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

MERUDĀNA   Merudānas (gifts of heaps like Meru) are all very effective and productive of good results. The Merus for the dānas are the following
: 1) Dhānyameru.
A dhānyameru or a thousand droṇas of dhānya (grain) is considered the best; a dāna of half that quantity (i.e. 500) was fair and half of the latter, the worst.
2) Lavaṇameru.
A dāna of sixteen droṇas of lavaṇa (salt) is considered to be Uttama (best); with half of that as Madhyama (fair) and with half of the latter as Adhama (worst).
3) Guḍameru.
One with ten bhāras of guḍa (jaggery) is considered Uttama; with half of that as Madhyama and with half of the latter as adhama.
4) Svarṇameru.
A svarṇameru with a thousand palas of Svarṇa (gold) is considered Uttama; with half of that as madhyama and with half of the latter as adhama.
5) Tilameru.
One with ten droṇas of tila (gingelly) is considered Uttama; with half of that as madhyama and with half of the latter as adhama.
6) Kārpāsameru.
A Meru with twenty bhāras of Kārpāsa (cotton) is considered Uttama; with ten as madhyama and with five as adhama.
7) Ghṛtameru.
One with twenty jars of ghṛta (ghee) is Uttama; with ten, madhyama and five, adhama.
8) Rajatameru.
One with ten thousand palas of silver is deemed Uttama; with half of that as madhyama and with half of the latter as adhama.
9) Śarkarāmeru.
One with eight bhāras of sugar is deemed Uttama; with half of that as madhyama and with half of the latter as adhama. [Chapter 210, Agni Purāṇa] .