Of all the mountains the great Meru is said to be the first-born. Of all the cardinal and subsidiary points of the horizon, the eastern is said to be the foremost and first-born.
पर्वतानां महामेरुः सर्वेषामग्रजः स्मृतः। दिशां च प्रदिशां चोर्ध्वं दिक्पूर्वा प्रथमा तथा॥