According to Indian mythology, Mount Sumeru was the highest mountain in the world. Its base was on the earth and its summit reached the clouds as far as the eye could see. All the gods resided on it at different heights.
Sage Narad, as per his habit of gossiping, began to narrate gossip about somebody to Mount Sumeru when he and Sumeru got into an argument. Mount Sumeru said, ?You are only a sage, while look at me, I am the highest mountain. The sun, the moon and the stars revolve around me. What is more, even the gods live on my slopes while you keep wandering from one place to another, doing nothing but gossiping.?
Unable to bear the taunt and finding himself in a weak position to give a befitting reply, Narad quietly walked away to seek help from the gods. He went to Lord Indra, the God of Wind and said, ?Do you know Mount Sumeru made me appear so weak and useless. He said he was the most powerful one in the world. I threatened him that if Lord Indra were to shake you up you would tremble and collapse on the ground. But he laughed aloud ironically. Lord, how can you bear to see yourself being ridiculed thus??
Lord Indra lost his temper and said, ?How dare he speak like this? I will teach him a lesson.?
Narad, as was his wont, incited him further, ?Do not let Mount Sumeru get away with this. Why don'tyou blow fiercely till he is subdued??
Lord Indra began to blow so fiercely that Mount Sumeru, out of fear, rushed to Lord Vishnu for help. Vishnu sent his mighty garuda to shield the mountain with his wings. Each time Lord Indra blew a gust of wind, the garuda'swings bore the onslaught. Lord Indra tried for days, but was unable to cause any harm to the mountain. At last, Lord Indra turned to Narad, ?I am sorry I am unable to do anything because the garuda is protecting it.?
Narad thought for a while before saying, ?I will try to lure the garuda away and then you can blow fiercely to dislodge it.?
Narad went and sat down on one of the slopes of Mount Sumeru. He began to wail loudly, ?Narayana, Narayana, please help me; I am dying.?
On hearing someone call out his master'sname, the garuda flew towards Narad. As soon as he left, Lord Indra blew gusts of wind with such a force that the tip of Mount Sumeru broke off and fell in to the ocean. This tip of the mountain became an island and came to be called Sri Lanka.
