Garuda Purana - Glory & Significance

Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raaghavendraaya Namaha!

Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Raama Doothaaya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaaya!

An outlook of Garuda Purana

https://archive.org/details/garuda-purana-synopsis

While Vedas are the sacred scripts of Hindu Dharma; Puranas are the backbone of Hindu philosophy which contains essence of Hindu religion, civilization and culture. Sage Sri Vedavyaasa the Divine literary incarnation of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu has played a significant role in the field of Vedic and spiritual literature; whose works have become guiding principles of Hindu religion, philosophy and culture. He compiled 18 great puranas called Ashtadasa Maha Puranas; a great treasure gifted to the mankind. He compiled these puranas to draw the attention of the reader or its listener towards the ultimate goal of Dharma and the Supreme Being Lord Sri ManNarayana.  All may not have the right to learn Vedas. It is believed that Sage Vedavyaasa composed these puranas for the sake of those who have no access to Vedas to enlighten them on the spiritual path.

What is Garuda Purana?

Garuda Purana is one of those Ashtaadasa Maha-Puranas composed by Sage Sri Vedavyaasa. It is called Garuda Purana because, it was Garuda the Divine King of Birds who first heard it from Lord Sri Maha Vishnu which was in the form of a dialogue between the two.  Later, Garuda recited the same to Sage Kashyapa that percolated down the line. It contains about 19000 slokas and classified as Saattvika Purana. Others in the list are Sri Vishnu Purana, Sri Narada Purana, Sri Padma Purana, Sri Varaha Purana, and Srimad Bhagavatha Purana.

It is difficult to date Garuda Purana; as several revisions would have taken place and latest revision must have taken place during Sri Krishnaavathara when; Sage Sri Vedavyaasa edited and revised all Puranas.  Since it was Garuda (the Divine Charioteer of Lord Vishnu), who first heard it from the Primordial Person Lord SriManNarayana; thenceforth the sacred script came to be named after Garuda; referred to as Garuda Purana. 

What it deals with?

Like any other Vishnu related Puranas; Garuda Purana also deals with the incarnations of Lord Maha Vishnu, geographical description and origin of the Universe; Creation; Procreation; Genealogy of Gods; Sages and great Kings; Time element; brief about Raamaayana; Mahaabhaaratha; Lord Sri Krishna; about the history of Solar and Lunar dynasties etc.. 

Apart from the above; Garuda Purana also talks about the origin and propagation of Garuda; description of Shodasa Samskaras; Varnaasrama Dharma; different kinds of Austerities; methods of worship; Praayaschitta (atoning for sins); Divine & Sacred Manthras; study of Gems and Jewels (Navarathnas); rare Gems; various types & characteristics of Salagrama; Navagrahas; Astrology related topics like electional astrology; Saamudrika Saasthra, predictions based on physical traits the science of Physiognomy; Vaasthu Saastra related to Temples and Houses; prominent places of Pilgrimage; various types of Charities and their significance; about Go-daana (donating a cow), Medicine; antidotes etc..

What is its uniqueness?

Uniqueness of Garuda Purana lies in the fact that it is the only sacred text that talks about the life after death, the journey of the soul, death and its aftermath, rebirth or reincarnation. Even the modern science could not break the mystery of death and after; whereas, Garuda Purana has spelled out these realities ages before. Among the Shodasa Samskaaras prescribed in Hindu Dharma for a human being, last one called Anthyeshti samskara or Apara Karma is related to matters pertaining to funeral rites and other ceremonies. This Apara Karma is exclusively and exhaustively covered in Garuda Purana.

Further, Garuda Purana also covers description about the Nether worlds; Yama-Loka; various kinds of Naraka Lokas (Hell); experiences of the Soul when it leaves the body; cycle of countless births the Soul takes; Law of Karma; Fruits of Karma (action); various types of punishments for sins committed; about Moksha (Salvation); detailed description of the Funeral rites to be performed; its procedure including the rituals; followed by the ceremonies starting from death till the completion of one year including Sapindikarana Sraaddha; Asoucha Nirnaya; Sraaddha Vidhi; significance of Kusa Grass (Dharbha); Sesame seeds (Thila); Lavana Daana;  significance of Pinda daana; Gaya Sraaddha etc.

  

Merits from Garuda Purana

As a custom we find in traditional Hindu families, paarayana (reading) of Garuda Purana taking place whenever there is a death in the family till the completion of 13^th day ceremony; called Vaikunta Samaraadhana. Great merits (punya) is acquired from reading or listening to Sri Garuda Purana during that time.

Those who narrate and the one who listen to this sacred Garuda Purana within ten days or even after the death of a person will get absolved from sins and is assured of happiness in this world as well as in the next world.

One who listens to Garuda Purana on the occasion of his Parents death, such parents would attain Mukthi and also he will be blessed with good progeny.

Listening to Garuda Purana; one will get rid of sorrow; suffering and will be blessed with peace and prosperity.

By listening to Garuda Purana, a Brahmin will be bestowed with Vidya; a Kshatriya with Land; a Vysya with wealth and a Suudra will get refined.

Lord Sri Maha Vishnu would get pleased if the narrator of Garuda Purana is worshiped and it is as good as worshiping Lord Sri Hari.  Giving charity of any of the Shodasa Daanas to a Brahmin is prescribed after listening or paarayana (reading) of Garuda Purana.

Listening to or reading of Garuda Purana during Mahaalaya Pithru Paksha is sacred and meritorious that pleases the Pithru Devathas (Forefathers).

Donating the sacred book of Garuda Purana to a Brahmin is also highly meritorious.

By reading Garuda Purana one will get an opportunity to refine him-self and move on the righteous path.

Myth & Realities of Garuda Purana

There is an apprehension among people that, the text of Garuda Purana is inauspicious and hence can not be read or the book be kept at home or should be read only on the occasion of death at home.  People hesitate to keep this sacred text at their homes or read it because of its fearful subject matter.  It is only a misconception due to the contents of Garuda Purana. Reading Garuda Purana will definitely change the mindset of an evil-doer or a sinner. Just because it deals with death and its aftermath, it is incorrect to tag it as inauspicious. 

In Bhagawad-Geeta sloka # 27 chapter # 2 (Saankhya Yoga); Lord Sri Krishna says that, Jaatasya hi dhruvo mrutyu…(indeed certain is death for the born and it is inevitable). In fact death is a reality though we hesitate to accept because of lack of its knowledge. Death grins only at those who have no understanding and that it has no pain for those who understand its implications and working. Death can no more be a threat to a wise man. Death is a major learning experience.

In fact the entire epic of Garuda Purana is in the form of glorious dialogue between Lord Sri Maha Vishnu and his Divine mount Lord Garuda. When it was explained or narrated by Lord Sri Maha Vishnu Himself, how can it be inauspicious? Even in Bhagawadgeeta; Lord Sri Krishna makes a reference to the law of Karma; death and its realities; reincarnation etc. But we don’t consider Bhagawadgeeta as inauspicious; in fact we adore it.  A script that mentions about significance of Thulasi; Cow; Thila (sesame); Kusa (Dharbha) is always auspicious and we find all these referred in Garuda Purana. Thila and Dharbha have emerged out from the body of Lord Maha Vishnu.

One need not get scared with the contents of Garuda Purana either to read or to listen. It can be treated as learning; that enhances one’s spiritual knowledge to discipline himself and to follow the righteous path. Garuda Purana acts as a speed breaker for a person who is driving his life rashly. It can be treated as a caution for wrongdoers and acts as a direction to avoid committing sins. Is it not good to read Garuda Purana and understand its contents and implications when one is alive? instead of some one may be kith and kin reading it after the death when one can not listen.

I suggest that every one should read the sacred text of Garuda Purana at least once in their life time and there is nothing inauspicious about it and it is only an illusion.

Na vasudevabhaktaanaam-ashubham vidyate kvachit

Janma-mrutyu-jaraa-vyaadhi-bhayam naivopajaayate

No ill-fate befalls on the devotees of Lord Vaasudeva (Maha Vishnu) and they will never have fear from birth; death; old age and diseases;

Vanamaali Gadee Shaarngi Shankee Chakree Cha Nandakee

SrimanNaaraayano Vishnur -Vaasudevoabhirakshathu

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

naham karta harih karta

Hari Sarvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama