Garud Puran is of the most ancient texts in Hindusim. One of the Vishnu Puranas is a conversation between Garuda, the King of Birds, and Lord Vishnu. In its second version, Purana talks about the issues like death, specifically funeral rites as well as reincarnation or the afterlife. A few of the exhibits of Garuda Purana are used in funeral liturgy too. Many believed reading it except during the funeral is considered as unlucky.
It involves teaching between birth and rebirth, which is parallelly related to the heaven and hell of western concepts. Basically, it was written in the medieval era, so there is a high chance that the writer was aware of Christianity. Before that, Hindus never really talked about heaven and hell. These topics are completely not present in the older texts.
Garud Puran describes the torment of hell that will be out of place in a Baptist revival tent (or Dante, for that matter). Additionally, it involves the God of Death, the four-square city of Yama and is reminded of the heavenly city in Revelation.
The Garuda Purana starts with a description of the afterlife consisting last rituals and funeral procedures, ritual gits as well as the astrological timing of the post-death observances. After that is an enumeration between the macro cosmos and the human body.
The last part of Garud Puran is an appeal to self-knowledge. This is the only way to liberate yourself and go beyond the materialistic world. There is a phrase in Garud Puran that says- “The fool, not knowing that the truth is seated in himself, is bewildered by the Shastras,–a foolish goatherd, with the young goat under his arm, peers into the well.”
If you follow Hinduism then you would know almost every ancient book as well as script talks only about life and how one should live with it. But hardly there are books that talk about the afterlife and how a person can change through his good deeds. Garud Puran goes in-depth on such topics. It teaches you how to find solace within yourself and Karma is the only thing that matters when it comes to live life happily and peacefully.
One of the most intriguing parts of the book is “Purva Khanda i.e Purva means former, and the other part is named “Uttar Khand”, i.e Uttar means latter. It consists of shlokas about the type of punishment depending on the nature of sin. It also tells a detailed version of the penalties in such shlokas. It is Lord Yamraj that has the charge of giving these punishments.
Horrific Punishments For Bad Deeds Mentioned In Garud Puran
1. Punishment for Money Robbers
According to Garuda Purana, after the death of such people who loot others’ money, Yamadutas, the messengers of death take such sinners to hell by tying them with a rope, where they beat them until they get unconscious, once they regain consciousness, they are beaten again. This cycle continues till the time for the next birth of that soul comes.
2. Those who disrespect Elders
It is said in Garuda Purana – Those who disrespect elders, such sinners get the punishment of their deeds in the birth itself. Even after death, such people have to suffer in hell, where they are thrown into the fire of hell and this is done till their skin separates from the body.
3. The Murderer of An Innocent Creature
Those who kill innocent creatures because of their greed, says the Garud Puran, such sinners are punished very cruelly in hell, where they are fried alive in huge cauldrons of hot oil.
4. Selfish Wife/Husband
According to Garuda Purana, the husband or wife who live together only as long as they can use each other’s wealth. Such a husband or wife is beaten with hot iron rods in hell.
5. Evil eye on Guru’s wife
Our holy scriptures tell us that Guru is the one who gives us the knowledge to differentiate between good and bad, hence he is given the status of God. So, those who think bad things about their Guru’s wife are considered great sinners. Such people reside in the hell called ‘Jayanti’ after their demise. On the other hand those who cast evil eye on other’s husband or wife are punished by pouring molten iron on organs.
6. Animal Sacrificers
It is said in the Garud Puran that those who kill animals and eat their flesh, such sinners remain in hell among the stray animals, who tear and eat such people.
7. Punishments of Rapists
Such people, who rape women are considered like animals in hell and are thrown into a well filled with excreta, urine, blood, phlegm, biting by poisonous insects and animals, and remain until their time is up.
Also Read: 10 Life-Changing Bhagavad Gita Quotes or Shlokas on Karma
Also Read: 10 Best Life-Changing Bhagavad Gita Quotes and Shlokas on Life
