En-Garuda Purana(Motilal).pdf

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A N C I E N T I N D I A N T R A D I T I O N A N D

M Y T H O L O G Y S E R I E S

[ P U R N A S I N T R A N S L A T I O N ]

V O L U M E S

IVA 14

LIGA 56

BHGAVATA 711

GARUDA 1214

NRADA 1519

KRMA 2021

B RA H M N P A 2 2 2 6

A G N I 2730

V A R H A 3132

BRAHMA 3336

V YU 3738

PADMA 3948

SKANDA, PARTS IVIII 4956

V O L U M E S U N D E R P R E P A R A T I O N

S K A N D A , P A R T S I X X X I V

B H A V I S Y A

B R A H M A V A I V A R T A

DE V B H GA V AT A

K L I K

M R K A N D E Y A

MATSYA

V M A N A

V I S N U

V I S N U D H A R M O T T A R A


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THE

GARUDAPURNA

Translated and Annotated by

A BOARD OF SCHOLARS

PART I

M O T I L A L B A N A R S I D A S S P U B L I S H E R S

P R I V A T E L I M I T E D D E L H I


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First Edition: Delhi. 1978

Reprint: Delhi, 1990, 1995

MOTI LA L BA N A R S I D A S S PU BLI S HER S PR I V A TE LI MI TED

All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 81-208-0344-2

Also available at:

M O T I L A L B A N A R S I D A S S

41 U.A. Bungalow Road , Jawahar Nagar, Delhi 110 007

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16 St. Mark's Road, Bangalore 560 001

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UNESCO COLLECTION OF REPRESENTATIVE WORKSIndian Series

This book has been accepted in the Indian Translation Series

of the UNESCO Collection of Representative Works,

jointly sponsored by the United Nations Educa

tional, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) and the Government of India

PRINTED IN INDIA

BY JAINENDRA PRAKASH JAIN AT SHRIJAINENDRA PRESS,

A-45 NARAINA, PHASE I, NEW DELHI 110 028

AND PUBLISHED BY NARENDRA PRAKASH JAIN FOR

MOTILAL BANARSIDASS PUBLISHERS PRIVATE LIMITED,

BUNGALOW ROAD, DELHI 110 007


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P U B L I S H E R ' S N O T E

T h e pur est ge ms lie hi dd en in the bo tt om of the oc ea n o r

in the de pt h of roc ks. O n e has' to div e int o the oc ea n or de lv e

into the roc ks to find the m out. S imi la rl y, trut h lies co nc ea le d

in the l an gu ag e which with the pa ss ag e of ti me ha s be co me

obsolete . M a n has to lear n that la ng ua ge before he discov ers

that truth.

Bu t he ha s nei the r the me an s nor the lei sur e to em ba r k on

that cours e. We hav e, therefore, pl an ne d to help hi m ac qu ir e

kno wle dge by an easi er cou rse . We ha ve st ar te d the series ofAncient Indian Tradition and Mythology in En glish T ran sl at io n.

O u r goa l is to universa lize knowledge thr ough the most po pu la r

inter nation al med iu m of expression. T h e publ ica ti on of the

Purnas in English translation is a step towards that goal.


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P R E F A C E

T h e present V ol ume cont ains the Garuda Purana Part I

(c ha pt er s 1146) in En gl is h tran sla tion . It is the twelfth in t heseries of fifty Volumes on Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology.

T h e proj ect of t he series was envi sag ed an d fi nan ced in

1970 by late L a l a Sund erl al Ja i n , the Ve ter an enterprizer in

the fie ld of Or ien tal P ubli cati on an d the lea din g part ner Me ss rs

Mo ti la l Bana rsid ass. Hi thert o twelve Vo lume s of the Series,

in clu din g the pres ent one , (t ha t is, four Vols, of the iva Purna,

two Vols, of theLiga Purna, five Vo ls , of the Bhgavata Purna

and one Vol. of the Garuda Purna) hav e bee n pub lish ed an d

released for sale.T h e Garuda Purna is norma ll y classified as a V ai sn av a

Purna, but, in fact, this Purna is nonsectarian and cosmopolitan,

in character. It s enc ycl ope dic na t ur e is reflected in the treat-

men t of multifar ious or miscell aneous subjects such as Me di ci ne ,

A strology, P almi stry, M etrics, in addi t i on to the l eg i t i mat e

topics of a P ur n a. Th is variety of topics need ed el uci da ti on

a task whic h coul d not be ac com pl is hed by a me r e tr ans lat ion .

H e n c e the prov isi on has bee n ma d e for the footnotes. Furt her , to

help t he rea der unde rst and the ba ckg ro und of the subject matte r,

an int rod uct io n h as be en ad de d to this V ol um e. A list of

A bbreviat ions is also pr efixe d for the convenience of the reader .

Acknowledgment of Obligations

It is our ple as an t du ty to p ut on rec or d our sincere grat i-

tude to Dr. S. K. Chatterjee, Dr. V. Raghavan, Dr. R. N. Dan

dekar, Shri K . R . Kr ip al an i and the authorit ies of the U N E S C O

for their kind enc our age ment an d val uab le help which renderthis wor k mo r e useful to sch ol ar s th an it w oul d othe rwi se ha ve

b ee n. We mu s t also thank S hr i T . V . P a r ame s war I yer for his

va l uab l e spadework which lightened our l abour especial ly in

the initial stage.

E di tor


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CONTENTSA B B R E V I A T I O N S xi i i

I N T R O D U C T I O N x v x x x v

P A R T I

Chapters Pages

1 I nca rn ati ons of Vi sn u 1

2 T rad it ion of G a r u da Pur n a 6

3 S ta te men t of Co nten ts "

4 Beg in ni ng of C re ati on 15

5 C re at io n of Progeni tors 19

6 D es cr ip ti on of famili es 23

7 Wor sh ip of the sun, etc . 29

8 Worsh ip of Vis nu an d Va j ra n bh a ma nd al a 31

9 Vi snu di ks 33

10 Wors hi p of L ak sm 34

11 N av a vy h a worship of Vi snu 35

12 O r de r of worsh ip 39

1 3 V i s n u p a j a r a s t o t r a 4 11 4 Me d i t a t i o n 4 2

15 Visnusahas ranmastotra 44

16 Co nte mpl ati on of H ar i and Sun worship 72

17 S un Wors hi p 74

18 Worsh ip of A mrt e a M r t y u j a y a 7 5

1 9 Prn ev ar Vi dy 78

20 M a n t r a s for rem ovi ng poison 81

21 Wors hi p of P a c a - v a k t r a i va 83

22 23Wor shi p of i va 848624 Worship of T ri pu r 93

25 Ad orat ion of A sa na 94

26 A ss ig nm en t of limbs ove r the body 95

27 M an t r a s to cure snakebite 97

28 Worship of G o p l a 97

29 Tr ail okya mohin i 100

30 Worshi p of r d ha ra 101

31 Wors hi p of Vi sn u 10432 Wors hi p ofPa c a - t a t t v a s 1 0 8


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X

33 Worship of S ud ar a na 112

34 Worshi p of Ha ya gr v a 114

35 Worshi p of G y at r 119

36 M et ho d of performing S an dh y 12037 G yat r kal pa 12 2

38 Wors hip of D u r g 123

39 Wor shi p of the S u n 126

40 Worship of M ah e va r a 129

41 M an tr as to obtai n Wom en 132

42 Pa vit rr opan a of i va 133

43 Pa vi tr ro pan a of V is nu 136

44 Cont empl at ion of B ra hm an or Vi snu 's form 140

45 Characteristics of l ag r ma 14246 V st u pj 146

47 Charact eris tics of Pa la ces 150

48 In st all ati on of idol s 153

49 Fou r Va rna s and ra mas 163

50 D ai ly rout ine for the as pir ant 167

51 Cha ri ty 175

52 Pr ya ci tta 178

53 E ig ht nidhi s 181

5457Bhuvanakoa 182190

58 De sc ri pt io n of the pla net s 191

5962Astrology 194201

6365Physiognomy 203205

66 Astrol ogy 2 1 8

67 Sv ar oda ya or Pav ana vij aya 220

68 On the test of G e m s D i a m o n d 22 4

69 On the test of G em s P ea rl s 22 8

70 On the test of G e m s R u b y 23271 On the test of G e ms E me r a l d 23 6

72 On the test of G em s S a pp hi r e 23 8

73 On the test of G e ms L a p i s La zu li 24 0

74 On the tes t of G e ms T o p a z 24 2

75 On the tes t of G em s K ar ke t an a 242

76 On the test of G em s B h sm am an i 243

77 On the test of G em s P ul a ka 24 4

78 On the test of G e ms B l oo d stone 2 4 5

79 On the test of G em s Cr ys t al 2 4 6


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xi

80 On the test of G e ms C o r a l 246

81 Sa cr ed Pl aces 247

8286Greatness of Gay 251265

87 Four tee n M an us 268

8890S tory of R uci 272, 275, 282

91 Wors hip of H ar i 282

92 Med ita ti on on Vi snu 284

93 106 Teachings of Yjavalkya 286

107 Tea ch in gs of Parara 323

108115BrhaspatintiSra 327365

116137Sacred Rites (Vratas) 365397

138 T he So lar Dyna sty 398

139 T h e L un ar Dyn ast y 402

140 Ge nea lo gy of the Pa ura vas 407

141 Ge ne al og y of the P aur av as an d others 409142 Gr eat ness of S t 410

143 T h e Story of R m a 413

144 Inc arna tio n of K r s n a 416

145 T he Sto ry of the Ma h bh r at a 417

146 Des cri pti on of Di seas es 421


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I N T R O D U C T I O N

T H E P U R N A D E F I N I T I O NAs a class of l iterature the P u r n a deals with ancient

I nd ia n religion, philo sophy, history, geo gra phy , sociology,

polit ics an d other subject s an d suppl ies the mat er ia l for the

stud y o f vari ous bra nch es of know led ge an d ancie nt wisd om.

The Purna has been defined as Pacalakjana1 and is

su ppo se d to conta in five topi cs: ( i) Crea tio n (sarga), (ii) Di ss o

lution an d Re-cr eati on {pratisarga), (iii) Gen ea lo gy (vama),

(iv) Per iods of time with M a n u as the pr ima l ance sto r

(manvantara) an d (i v) His tor y of R oy al dynas ties bot h sola r

and lunar (vamnucarita). Bu t this definition is in ad eq ua te .

Fo r, the texts tha t ha ve co me to us und er the title ' P ur na '

co nt ai n either so met hi ng mo re or so met hin g less th an the fi ve

charact erist ics. T hi s fact was noti ced by the P ur ni c reda ctor s

thems elv es who later on ad op t ed a daalakfana2 definition that

suited the Purnic text.

B ut this too is not a st an da rd definition. Fo r, t he P ur n as

co nt ai n asp ect s tha t ar e not cove red by any of the ten ch ar ac -teristics. Bes ide s, so me of the charac ter ist ics cov ere d by this

definition are not found in certain Purnas.

In fact, the P ur n a as a class repres ents different ph as es

or asp ect s of I nd ia n life i n dive rse ag es . It is not poss ibl e,

therefore, to ad op t a st an da rd definition for the cl ass of lit erary

composition that contains heterogeneous phases or aspects.

1 Fo r, det ail s see Ki rf el : Das Purna Pacalaksana; a l s o Brahmnda

1. 1. 3738; Vyu 4. 101 1; Matsya 53 , 65;Krma 1. 1. 12; Garuda 1. 22 3. 14 ;

Vrha 2. 4.; Vmana 1. 1. 41; Bhavisya 1. 2. 4 5.

A ma r a s i r h h a , t he f a mo u s l e x i c o g r a p he r ( 6 0 0 A . D . ) , a l s o i ncludes t he

p a c a l a k s a n a d e f i n i t i o n i n h i s l e x i c o n NmalignuSsana, popul arl y known as

Amarakoia.

2 Fo r the da al ak sa na def ini t ion, see Bhgavala Purna ( x i i 7 . 9 1 0 ) .


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A B B R E V I A T I O N S

C D H M

C S L

G P E A

G V D B

M B H K

M SP E

P K

S E D

S K D

S S E D

V C

V I N S

V N

A Class ical D i ct ionary of H i n d u M y t h o -

logy : J o h n Dawso n (R out le dge and

K e g a n Paul Lt d, Lo nd on : 1968)

A C o mp a n i o n to S anskri t L i terat ure :

S . C. Banerji (Moti lal Ba naras idas s, Delhi,

1971)

G a r u d a Pu r na E k a A dh y ay ana : A . B.

Avasthi ( K a i l a s h P rakas han L u c k no w,

1968)

Glossary of Ve get abl e Dr ugs in B rhat

tray : K . C . Cham eka r (Chaw khamb a

Sanskr it Series, V ar an as i, 19 72)

Ma hb hr at a K o a (Parts I , I I ) : R a m

K um a r R a i (Ch awk ham ba Sanskrit Series

V a r a nas i 1964, 1966)

Maitryan SarhhitPurnic Encyc lop edia : (English Vers ion)

V e t t a m M a n i ( M o t i l a l B anars idass , D elhi

1975)

Paurni ka K o a : R. P. Sh ar ma (Gya n

mandala Ltd. Varanasi , Sar i ivat2028)

A S anskrit Engl ish D ict ionary : M o n i e r

Wi ll iams (M otil al B anarsidass, Delhi, 1 974)

a b dak al p adr u ma ( M ot i l a l Banar s i das s,

Delhi, 1964)T h e Students ' SanskritEnglis h Dicti onary

V . S . A pte (M ot i lal B anarsidas s, D el hi

1973)

A V e di c Concor dance : M a u r i c e B l oom

field (M oti la l Bana rsid ass, Del hi, 1964)

V edi c I ndex of N a me s and Subjects (V ols .

I, II) Macdonell & Keith, 1967)

V an au s a dh i N idari k : R . S . S i nh a

(H ind i Samit i , S cha n Vib hga, Luck

now 1969)


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xvi Garuia Purna

M or eo ve r, a definiti on for med on the nu mer ic al bas is of point s

cannot be perfect. 1

We can, howe ver, describe the P u r n a as a class ofli tera ture t hat deal s with the lege nds of go ds , as ur as , sag es and

kings of anc ien t times , conta ins abs tr act s of works in arts ,

sciences, medici ne, gr amm ar , dr ama tu rg y, musi c, astrol ogy

a nd other subjec ts, affor ds ins ight int o different pha ses a n d

aspects of Hi nd ui sm it s mythology , idolworship, theism,

pan the is m, love of G o d , phil osophy , superst itio n, festivals an d

ceremonies.2 In brief, the P ur n as constit ute a po pul ar encyc-

lop edi a of an cient an d mediev al Hi nd ui sm in all its tr ai ts

religious, phi loso phical , historical, pers onal , social an dpoli t ical .3

O R I G I N A N D D E V E L O P M E N T

T h e ter m P ur n a connotes simply an old narr ati ve 4

or the rec or d of old e vent s. 5 Ancient writers 8 der iv ed the

term as (i) TO ( i i ) TO Hfar (Hi)


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Introduction xvii

( i i ) U p a P u r n a . 1 E a c h class consists of eighteen P ur n as . 2

T h u s the numb ei of the P ur n as is thirtysix.

T h e M ah P ur n as are classified main ly into three

cat ego r ie sV ais nav a, Br ah ma and a iv a in proport ion as they

acc ord preferential trea tment to Vi snu , B ra hm a and iva. T h eP ur n as glorify ing V is nu ar e styled as S t tv ik a, those glorifying

B ra hm a as R j a s a an d those glorifying Ag ni and iva as

T m a s a . 3 Ac cor din g t o this descri ption the eighteen M a h

pur n as can be classi f ied into S ttvi ka, R j as a and T m a s a

as under :

Sttvika: Bh g av at a , V i s nu , G a r u da , M a t s y a , K r ma, V y u .

Rjasa: Sk a nda, Pa dma , V m an a, V r h a , A g ni , Bh av i s y a .

Tmasa: B r a h m n d a , L iga , Brahmava i var ta , M r k a n d e y a ,

Br ah ma, A di t y a .It is remarkable to note that in the list of Tmasa Purnas

the G a r ud a Pur na mentions Adi tya P ur na instead of

N r a d a . 4

T h e P ur na s ar e not una nim ous on this division. Fo r

instance , am on g the ttvika Pur nas, the P a dm a P ur na 5 omits

Ma tsy a, K r m a and V yu which are replaced by N ra da ,

P a d ma and V r h a, retains only the B hg av at a, Vi snu an d

G a ru da of the G a r ud a l ist. A mo ng the R j as a Pur nas theP a d ma Pu r na retains only the V ma n a Pu r na but leaves out

1 Fo r deta il s see R. G. H a z r a : Studies in the Upapurnas, 2 Vols.

2 B h g a v a t a X I I . 7 . 2 2 2 4 ; G a r u d a I . 2 2 3 , 1 5 2 0.

3 M r ka nd ey a P. 53. 6869.

. dj


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xviii Garuda Purna

S ka nd a, P ad ma , V r h a and Agni from the R j as a list which

are replaced by Brahmnda, Brahma, Brahma vaivarta,

M rka nde ya and Bhavi sya. Am ong the T ma s P urn as

P ad ma Pu r na retains only the L i ga Pu r na but omits Brah -

mnda; BrahmaV aivart a, Br ahma , M rk an dey a and Adity a

of the G ar ud a list. I nstead, i t includes Ma tsy a, K r ma , iv a,

S k a n d a and Agn i. T hu s we find that ther e is confusion in this

kind of classification which be co mes mor e co mpl ic at ed by the

statement of Skanda Purna 1 which assigns ten Purnas to iva,

four to Brahma, two each to Devi and Visnu.

Yet another kind of clas sification is recorded in the D evi

b h g a v a t a 2 which na mes the ma h P ur n as by their initial

letters except the Garuda which it mentions by the full name.

A ccordi ng t o the V i s n u p u r n a , 3 the sage K r s n a Dv ai

p ya na V y sa compil ed a Pu rn asa mhit from the various

ancie nt episodes an d impart ed it to his disciple R o ma

har san a. T h e latter comp ose d his own P ur n as amh it an d

amo ng his disciples K y a pa ( = Ak rt avr ana ), S var ni and

m a p y an a com pos ed their own. Th es e four were the origi-

na l Purnasar hhits. T hi s was the fir st sta ge.T h e V y up ur n a specifies the num be r of the Pu r nas as

ten. T hi s represe nts the second stag e in the de ve lo pme nt of the

Pu rn as. T h e tradi tional number eighteen is the final stage.

1 . S k a n d a P . K e d r a K h a n d a 1 :

W O T TO wrfWht ftra: IS rr fFHTf swt


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Introduction xix

T h e tra dit ion al list as given by mos t of the Pu r na s

comprises the following :

(1) Br ahm a, (2) P ad ma, (3 ) Vis nu, (4) V y u (o r

. iva) , (5) Bhg avat a, (6) Nrad ya, (7 ) M rka ndey a,

(8) Agni, ( 9 ) Bhavisya, (10) Bra hmav aiva rta , (11) L iga ,

(12) Vr h a, (1 3 ) Skand a, (14 ) V m a na , (15 ) K rm a,

(16 ) Mats y a, (17 ) G aru da, (18) B rah m nda.

T he Pur ni c scholar s ar e agr eed upon the authenticity

of the P ur n as . Bu t in re ga rd to V y u or iv a there is a

difference of opi nio n. M aj or it y of the P ur n as inc lud e i va

P ur n a in the list whil e a few othe rs sub sti tut e V y u for i va . 1

G A R U D A P U R N A : T H E N O M E N C L A T U R E

T he Pu r nas themselves discuss their nome ncl at ure . 2 S o

far as the G a r ud a P ur n a is concer ned it is so cal led beca use

th e spe ake r of this P ur n a is Ga r u d a himself.

On the evidence of the B h ga va ta P ur n a 3 the Garuda

P ur n a was also called S au pa rn a. T he V yu P ur n a calls it

V a i nat ey a , Alberuni* as T r k hy a. B al lla, the author of D n a

sgara, ment io ns T r ks ya in the list of M ah P ur n a s. In the

nibandhagr anthas, the terms T rks ya, Vai natey a, S aup ar na

ar e often used whic h ac cor di ng to Sa nsk ri t lexicons ar e

synonyms of G ar ud a.

B ut the quota tio ns m a d e unde r the na mes T r ks ya ,

V a i n a t e y a or S a u p a r n a are not found in the extant G a r u d a . I t

is not cert ain whet her these quo ta ti on s exi st ed in the ol d text

of the G a r u d a P ur n a which, later on, suffered c ha ng e in the

ha nd s of red act ors or whethe r they be lo ng ed to a P ur n a tha t

was qui te di fferent from the extant text cal led G a r u d a .

The Purna is called Garuda because the original speakeris G a r ud a who narrates it to Ka y a pa . T he latter narrates it

to V y sa a nd V y sa to i va .

A R R A N G E M E N T

T he G a r ud a Pu rn a in Ve ka tes var a Edit ion, on which

1. Fo r details , see intr oduct ion to i va Pu r na , Pa rt I E ng . T ra ns .

2. i va Pur na , U m Sar hhi t 44. 1251 35.

3 . B h g a v a t a P u r n a X I I . 1 3 . 8 .

4. Al ber un i : I nd ic a I . p. 13 0.


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X X Garuda Purna

the present trans lati on is bas ed, consists of thre e part s ( k nd as ) :

(i) cra or karma, ( i i ) preta or dharma ( i i i) Brahma or moksa.

A c r a K n d a i s known a s p r v a k h a n d a ( S ect i on I ) ,Preta as utt ara kha nda (Se ctio n I I ) , B ra hma kn da as Mo ksa

k n d a ( S ec t i o n I I I ) .

The cra knda is called karma knda bec aus e it deals

wi th K a r m a n , T h e pr et a k n d a is cal led dharma knda because

it concerns religion. T h e B r a h ma k nd a is call ed Moksa knda

bec ause i t leads to salvat ion. T h u s

1. cra ( = karma) knda1 P r v a k ha n d a

2. preta (= dharma) knda2 U t t a r a k h a n d a

3. Brahma (= moksa) knda3 U t t a r a k h a n d aThe three Sections (khandas) ar e dis ti nct an d differ wide ly

from one anot her in form as als o in cont ent . T h e nu mbe r of

chap ter s in the Se cti ons is not uni fo rm. Fo r inst ance , the

c r a k nd a consists of chap ter s 1 240 , p re ta kn da of 1 49 and

B *" ih ma k nd a of 129. B ut in spi te of this diff erenc e, the th re e

Sections together constitute the Garuda Purna. T hi s threef old

division is recognized in the Garuda Purna* itself.

G E N E R A L C H A R A C T E R O F T H E K N P A S

craknda

A s previously r ema r ked, the G P . cons ists of three k n d a s :

( i) Ac r a ( ii ) D ha rm a and ( i i i j Br ahma . cra {karma)

knda consists of 24 0 ch apt ers , is the bigge st of the three kn da s

in di men si on. Of these 14 de al with the fi ve pri nci pal ch ar a-

cteristics of the P ur n as , 48 with the me di ci ne , 53 with the

1. Col opho n of c r ak n da Ch I rea ds : ^fgf irret I^TyCFI ^ p w t

SWrrerreJf + * ? + ( < i 3 Hd^luiH^rr l ^H^Mui *m STspftssiTFT: I The colophons

of the other c h a p t e r s of this k han da r e a d TRTXWr i n s t e a d of + ^ + ( " 5 I

2 . C o l o p h o n o f t h e p r e t a k n d a ( U t t a r a K h a n d a ) C h . I r e a d s : ^ %

sf r rr ei TfTJ^ror fefkmret snl+|u2 I Th e Col op hons of

the oth er C ha pt er s of this K h a n d a r ea d sfcnT'i? r 5 M + | v or 5RT^?


20/459

Introduction xxdworship of deities, 61 with the D h a r m a s t r a mat t er , 8 wi th

mor al s, 13 with lap ida ry science, an d 43 with misce ll aneo us

topics, such as astrology, physiognomy, etc.

Dharma[Preta) knda

Dh ar ma (Preta ) k nd a deal s with the subject of dea th,

metemp sych osi s, ka rm an an d releas e from ka rm an . It throws

lig ht on the om en s of dea th , the pat h to Y a m a , the fate of th e

pret as, the tormen ts of hells an d the pre ta s as caus es of om en s

a n d dr ea ms . I t des cri bes rites to be per fo rme d at the ti me of

de at h, funeral rites, ance sto r wors hip an d special funeral rites

for the S at . T h er e ar e leg ends of the pret as, descr ibi ng the

ca us es of their w ret ched exis tence which rec all the Bu dd hi stlegends recorded in Petavatthu.

Brahmaknda

A vai l ab le only in V e kat es var a edit ion, this section

cont ains a dia log ue between lord K r s n a an d G a r u d a on the

su pr ema cy of Vi snu , the na tu re a n d forms of god s, descri ptio n

of Ve ka te va ra shrine at T ir up at i an d other T rt has (chs

2 3 2 7 ). It criticises the doctrines of U p dh i , M y , Avidy ,

a nd uphol ds the doctrine of M ad hv a' s dvai ta school.

1

G E N E R A L C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S O F T H E P U R A N A

A P P L I E D T O T H E G A R U D A P U R A N A

T h e G a r ud a P ur n a gives mor e attenti on t o extraneo us

subje cts th an to subjects that fall unde r the legi tima te l ak sa na of

Purna. For instance, of the 240 chapters in the PrvaKhanda,

14 chap ter s dea l with the Pa c al ak sa na . Sect ion I , Chs 4-5

de al with the pr i mar y an d se con dar y crea t ion (sarga-prati-

sarga). Sec ti on I , ch. 6 de al s with the gen eal ogi es o f go ds a n dsages (vama). Se cti on I, chs 8790 wit h the ages of M a n us (manv

antard). Se cti on I, chs. 13814 1 dea l with the gen eal ogy of

kings{Rjavarha). T h e history of R oy a l dyna sti es is tre ated in

a very condensed form and interspersed with the genealogies of

Royal dynasties (SectionI, chs 138141). The subject o f crea-

tion a n d disso lutio n is tak en up ag ai n in secti on I chap ter s

5458 and 224 respectively.

1 . F o r d e t a i l G P . A S t u d y b y N . G a g d h a r a n , p p . 1 1 0 9 A l l I n d i aK a s h i r j T r u s t , V a r a n a s i .


21/459

xxii Garuda Purna

(i) Creation (sarga)1

T h e sup re me g od Vi snu ass umes the form of B ra hm a,

an d as B ra hm a, he begins the process of creat ion. As Visnu , he

protects the world. As Rudra, he destroys the universe. 2

T h ou gh devoi d of attri butes, he has an inherent E ne rg y

which manifests itself in the form of three p r i n c i p l e s S a t t v a ,

R aj as an d T a m a s which are responsi ble for creation, mai n-

te nan ce a nd diss olut ion o f the univ erse .

A ccordingly, the s up r eme lord in the form of B r a h m a

crea tes the cos mic eg g consi stin g of 2 4 pri nci ple s. T h e cos mic

eg g is i ns en ti en t at first but whe n the lo rd in th e for m of

B r a hm a per va des it, it goes in mot io n. T h us different kinds ofcre at ion ar e evo lve d out of it.

Cr ea ti on is classified int o 3 c ate gori es : (i) Pr imar y, ( ii )

Se cond ary and Pri mary Sec ondary . T h e three categories are

ar ra nge d as follows: (V ide G P . I. 4)

Pr ima ry sri cr S ec on da ry ffcr Pr im ar y Se co nda ry

(1) =fkm (4) Tg&m

(I nt el lec t a n d E g o ) in se nt ie nt *fifrrPC

( 2 ) jcrePT = M


22/459

Introduction xxiii

A ccording to the P urnas , the ni nefol d creation re fused to

pr oce ed on the work of creati on. B r a h ma di vi ded himsel f in to

t w o O n e hal f in the form of a wo ma n an d the other ha lf in

the for m of a ma n. In tha t ha lf form of a wo ma n he crea te d

a co upl eS v ya mbh uva M an n and S at ar p who bega n t hewo rk of creation.

(ii) Recreation after Dissolution (pratisarga)1

T h e crea tio n of the univers e is not a pe rm an en t featur e,

for all crea ti ons end in diss olut ion whi ch in tur n give pl a ce to

re crea ti on. T h e desc rip ti on of this proce ss consti tutes on e of the

five ma i n features of a ma h P ur n a.

T h e process of dissolution is co mpl ic at ed . For , severaldissol utions occ ur before the univer se is compl ete ly diss olved .

As the P urnas relate, a creation las ts for a d a y of B r a h m a

eq ua l to the ag e of fourteen ma nv an ta ra s. At the end of each

man va nt ar a, there occurs a dissolution. T hu s a da y of B r a hm a

cont ai ns fo urteen dissol utions .

In like ma nn er , dur in g the life of the c rea tor , sev era l

creat ions an d dissolut ions take pl ac e. T he n occurs a comp le te

disso luti on when the creat or has comp le te d his lifetime. T h e

elemen ts ar e dissolved an d mer ge d into t he bod y o f the creat or.

T h e creat or takes rest for so me ti me a n d then star ts the pr oce ss

of re crea ti ng the univ erse . In this way , we hav e a series of

dissol utions an d recreat ions succe edi ng eac h other.

(iii) Genealogies (yatha)

T h e G a r ud a Pu r na deals with the Gen eal ogi es of kin gs

in c r a k nd a (chapte rs 13 81 41 ). T h e P ur n a follows the

V y u tradit ion as regards the solar dynasty, from V ai v as v at a

M a n u onwar ds an d the co mmo n tradition rega rdi ng the other

dynas ties . It omits several historical dynas tie s which the oth er

Purnas describe.

1 . B h g a v a t a P u r n a X I I . 7 . 1 2 .


23/459

Introduction XXV

T h e G ar ud a Pu r na deals with the dynasties of K o al a,

K and Vai li . T he Vi deh a dynasty descended from N im i ,

son of Iks vku. T h e G a r ud a P ur n a confuses the dynast ies of

A yodhy a n d V i de ha , omitt ing certain kings from the line of

V i d e h a a nd addi ng the se to the line of Vikuksi , the originator

of Ay odh y line. A mo ng the M a g a d h a kings the P ur n a men-

tions Brhadrathas 1 who l ived in pre B imb is r a ag e. In this

context, the Pu r na records that the Br ha dr at has will b e

succeeded by impious and dra kings. 2

T he B rh ad ra th as of M a g a d h a were the successors of the

B rh ad ba la dynast y which descend ed from the S ol ar rac e of

I k s v k u . 3 According to the Ga r ud a Pur na, ud dh od an a of

Kapilavastu, father of Gautama Buddha, and the son ofkya was Aiksvkava. 4 Th is is confirmed by M ah v as t u which

states that ud dh od an a belo nged to Ik sv ku dynas ty. He wa s

succeeded by Ba hul a ( = R h ul a ) . 5 R h ul a' s son was Prasenajit

( = Se naj it ) and his son Ks ud r ak a. 6

1. G P . 1. 14 1. 9ff.

sra^w ^rfV ^ftHN 5rf=ror*rf iSTUPT gg^ft Epf: $w?t ?QRT p: II

2. I b i d . 1 . 1 4 1 . 1 2 .

*raifa6i!M njaiiM Mfawfo ^ m^ f : I

3. Ib i d. 1. 14 1. 58.

^56ii*3 ^ > t % m%5crT5 ?r3rr: u

d=WT ER3P: S^ P T : H I M ^ ^ I I

g l w : fTSTTcT: g r H d M H I H I o t t " ! II

4 . V i s n u P u r n a 4. 2 2 . 8 .

5. G P . 1. 141. 8; Vis nu Pu r na 4. 22. 8.

6. Ibid.


24/459

Son s of Va iva sv ata M an u and their Succes sors 1

Ma nu V a i v a s v a t a

Iksvku

V i k uks i a da N i m iI I

A y odhy dy na sty V i de h a dy nas ty

Nbhnedista

IV ai al dy na st y

aryti

IA n ar t a dy na st y

Il

IPururavas Aila

Ayu

N a h u s a K s a t r a v r d d h a Ra m bh a Raji A nenas

A m v a s u

IK ny a k u bja

dynasty

Yat i Ya y t iKi dynasty R jey a K s a t r i y a s K s a t r a d h a r m a ns

Y a d u T u r v a s u D ruhy u

ISahasrajit

I atajit

I

Ha i h a y a

IHaihayas

Turvasu

I

Turvasuline

G a nd h r adynasty

A nu

IA nava s

Puru

IPauravas

UnaraI

Panjab dynasty

TitksuEasterndynasty

1. G P . I. 138.1 ff.


25/459

xxvi Garuda Purnar

Vaili Dynasty

V ai l i dynasty descended from M a n u ' s son N b h n e d i s t a .

T hi s dy na st y is re cor ded in seven P ur n as , bu t only four lists

of this P ur n a are comp le te : those in the V y u, V isn u,

Bh g av at a and G a r ud a. T he dyna sty derived its na me from

king Vi la who foun ded Vi l or V ai l as his cap it al .

(iv) History of Royal Dynasties (vamnucarita)

T h e G a r u d a P ur n a is not bothere d ab ou t the history of

ro ya l dyn as ti es. It tr eat s the subj ect in a very co nd en se d form..

Fo r inst ance, it doe s not take up the nar rat ive of king a da

though it mentions why the king was called by that name. 1 T h e

history of P ar a ur ma , the son of J a ma d a g n i is recorded onlyin two verses. 2 T he history of R m a , the son of D aa ra tha ,

which is longe r, i s recorded in eight verses. 3 T h e story of R m a

is t aken up aga in but t he entire ac cou nt is con den sed in

fif ty one verses.* T h e history of Vr sn i varha in the cont ext of

lord K r s n a is treat ed in eleven verses8 and that of the Pndavas

in thirtynine; 6 We find that the historical acc ount (v am n u

car it am) in the G a r u d a P ur n a (is mea gr e an d succinct but is

still useful for co mpa ri so n an d so met ime s for elu cid at in g the

older accounts.

(v) The Ages of Manus (manvantaras)

The time durations become manifest as manvantara, yuga,

sar hvat sar a a nd othe r relatively bigg er an d smal ler units in the

rotati ng wheel of time. T he Pu r nas menti on fourteen m a n -

vantar as in order.

1 Sv y a m b h u v a 2 Sv r oc is a

3 U t t a m a 4 T m a s a

5 R ai va ta 6 Ck sus a

7 Va iv as vat a 8 S varn i

1. GP. I. 138. 19. srsrrc: srspTSTTffi I2. Ibid. I. 142. 89.3. Ibid. I. 142. 1017.4. Ibid. I. 143. 151.5. Ibid. I. 144. 111.6. Ibid. I. 145. 139.


26/459

Introduction xxvii

9 D ak sa Sv arnj

11 Ru drapu tra

10 Dh arm apu tra

12 Rau c y a

13 Bhautya

T h e fourteen ma nv an ta ra s deri ve their na mes from four-

teen successi ve prog enit ors an d sover eigns of the ear th.

S v ya mb hu va ma nv an ta ra is the first a nd is known after

S v ya mbh uv a M a n u who prod uced the ten praj pati s an d is

so cal led bec aus e he sp ra ng from S va ya mb hu , the selfexistent

B rah m an.

Each manvantara comprises 4,3200 human years or l/14th

da y of B ra hm a. A compl ete set of fourteen ma nv an ta ra s ma ke s

up one whole da y of B ra hm a. E ac h of the fourteen ma nv an -

tar as is pre si ded over by its own M a n u , go d, seers an d king s.T hi s sc heme of crea tio n an d dissolut ion rep eat s itself from one

age of Manu to another and is described in all the mahPurnas.

T he Ga r ud a P ur na is no exception to the rule. G ar ud a

P u r n a 1 ment ion s the fourteen M a n us , their sons, seers, deities,

lords of deities an d as ura s slain by V i sn u who inc ar nat es hi m-

self in ea ch of the fourteen ma nv an ta ra s.

T he Ga r ud a Pur na is a compilati on of an encyc lop aedi cna tu re . T h e study of the text reveal s different stag es of pro -

duction. 2 In view of the addi tio ns and red act ion s dur in g

dif fere nt pe ri od s of ti me it is difficult to fix the d at e of the

Purna as a whole. 3

Ho wev er , on the basis of inte rnal an d ext ern al evid ence,

we can suggest only probab l e dates for each section separately.

(i) Dharma section

T h e earliest reference to this P ur n a is mad e by H al

y udha in hi s Brhmanasarvasva. Accor ding to P. V. K a n e ,

H a l y ud ha lived in the latter half of the 12th century A . D .

1 . G a r u d a P . 1 . 8 7 . 1 6 2; B h g a v a t a P . X I I . 7 . 1 5 .

2. Fo r exa mpl e, in the enume rat ion o f co ntent s of the G a r u d a

Pu r na ( G P . 1.3.1 9) there is no ment ion of the topi cs deal t with in the

U t t a r a k h a n d a .

3 . R . G . H a z r a : S t u d i e s i n t h e P u r n i c R e c o r d s o n H i n d u R i t e s a n d

C u s t o m s , p p . 1 4 1 1 4 5 .

D A T E O F C O M P O S I T I O N


27/459

xxviii Garuda Purna

H em dr i (1260 127 0 A . D . ) quotes from the G a r ud a

Purna in his Caturvargacintmani, Dana and Vrata khandas.

T he Mithi l pandits V idyp ati (13601448) and V cas

pat i M i ra (1425 149 0 A .D .) recognize the authorit y of the

G ar ud a Pu r na. T hey draw upo n it in their works G a g vkyval i a n d T r t hac i nt mani respectively.

Go vi nd n an da quotes from the G ar ud a P ur n a in his

rddhakaumudi, Varsakriykaumudi a nd uddhikaumudi ; R a g h u

nandana in his Smrtitattva, K am al k ar a in hi s Nirnayasindhu,

Gop l abha tt a in his Haribhaktivilsa an d R p ag os v mi n in his

Haribhaktirasmrtasindhu.

T h e citations from the G ar ud a Pu r na in the N ib an dh a

texts pro vid e a further clue to da te the D h a r m a secti on in the

G a r ud a P ur na. A tenth century da te has been pro pos ed by

D r. H a z r a on the basi s of the Sm rt i cha pt er s in the

Prvakhanda.

D r . K a n e holds the sa me view. O n the str engt h of verses

borrowed from Yjava lkya and Parara smrtis in the Dharma

section of the G a r u d a P ur n a he co mes to the concl usio n that

this section ca nno t be earlier th an the sixth cent ury A . D .

Grammar

In the chapters on G r a mm a r the G a r ud a P ur n a omits

refer ence to Pn in i. We kn ow fr om othe r sou rce s tha t the s tud y

of P nin i was disc ont inue d in the earl y pa rt of the Chri st ian

era an d the plac e of Pni ni was taken over by K t y y a n a and

other grammari ans. T he Gr ammat ica l chapters of K ty y an a

in the G a r u d a P ur n a were most p rob abl y co mpo se d in the

third century A.D.

Alamkra

T h e porti on on the al a k ra s in the G a r u d a P ur n a is

older than the fif th century A . D . , for the G a r ud a P ur n a does

not refer to an y wor k o n the al a k r as by n a me or to an y

wr iter , though there were wo rks on rhetorics in that period.

Medicine

T h e prel imina ry chap ter s of the As}gahrdaya of V g

b h a t a agree with the chapters on medi ci ne in the G a r u d a


28/459

Introduction xxix

P ur n a. V g bh a ta f lo uris hed between the 7th an d the 8th

century A . D . T hu s the medi cina l chapters in the G a r ud a Pu r na

co ul d not ha ve be en writ ten before the 8th or the 9t h cen tur y

A . D .Polity, Ethics

A verse of the B r h a s p a t i S arhhit of the G a r u d a P u r n a

occurs am on g the introductory verses of B n a' s K d a mb a r . 1

B n a lived in the seventh century A . D . A cons ide rab le pe ri od

of ti me be al lo wed for the verse to ga in po pu la ri ty . T h u s the

N ti porti on of the G a r ud a P ur n a cann ot be earlier than the

8th or the 9t h century A . D . Mo re ov er , a nu mb er of references

de pi ct the helpless con dit ion of the co un tr y du ri ng the for eig nrule. 2 T hi s in itsel f is sufficient to es ta bl is h a very la te d a t e

for this sec tio n of the Pu r n a .

Geography

T h e G a r u d a P u r n a ( 1 . 5 5 . 6 ) reads


29/459

xxx Garuda Purna

Th us the sections on Ge og ra phy in the G a r u d a P ur n a could

not have been written earlier than the 13th century A.D.

Lapidary section

V a r h a mi h i r a in hi s Brhatsamhit me nt io ns "22 ge ms butthe G a r u d a P ur n a treats of only 12. T hi s port ion is therefore

not later than Va rh ami hir a (550 A . D ) .

A compari s on betwe en the G a r u d a P u r n a and the A gni

P ur n a shows that the former was mode ll ed up on the latt er.

T h e G a r ud a P ur n a can be dat ed in the tenth century A . D .

T h e G a r ud a P ur n a quotes verses from those porti ons of

the K r m a Pur n a which were ad de d by the P up at as bet-

we en 700800 A . D .

V g b h a t a , the author of the a tgahrdayasarhhit lived

between the 8th a n d the 9th century A . D . T h e G a r u d a P u r n a

can not b e earli er tha n ab ou t the mi dd le o f the 9t h ce ntur y A . D .

It is highly proba ble that the extant Ga r ud a P ur n a was

compiled between 85010 00 A . D .

L O C A L I T Y

T he three K n d a s into which the extant G ar ud a Pu r na

is div ide d are distin ct works. E a c h K n d a has a fresh begin -ning an d mi gh t hav e bee n pr od uc ed at different local ity an d

later on put together.

craknia

T h e N i ba nd ha writers of Mi thi l quot e verses from

the c ra k nda of G ar ud a Pu r na in their dh ar ma stras. On

this basis Dr H a z r a rema rks that the c r ak n da migh t have

been produced in M i t hi l a .

Pretaknda

T h e K n d a , as previously stated, is a later addi ti on. T he

int erna l evi den ce does not hel p us to ass ign this k n da to an y

particular locality.

Brahmaknia

Th is K n d a deals with the greatness o f T ir up at i an d

other Va isn avit e sacred places, r raga , K c , etc., and s acred


30/459

.Introduction xxxi

rivers such as K ver l, Bh m , N ar ma d , Sv ar na mukh and hills

suc h as ri must a, r ai la, etc. a nd descr ibes waterfall s in the

hills. A s these sa cr ed pl ac es , river s a nd hil ls ar e in the S ou t h,

this K n d a migh t have been written in S ou th I ndi a.

B ut the for egoin g d a t a is conj ectur al. In the abse nce of

a d eq ua t e evide nce it is not possible, to de cl ar e the pl ace of

origin or compilation of the whole Purna.

A U T H E N T I C I T Y O F T H E P R E S E N T T E X T

T he r e hav e b een add it io ns to the P ur n as from time to

time and G a r ud a P ur n a is no exception. Ta ki ng the Prva

K h a n d a a t fir st, we fin d that chs 141145 deal with the incar-

nat ions of V is nu a nd in co nnect ion with t hem na rr at e thestor ies of the Rmyana, Mahbhrata and Harivama, none of

which has been ref er red to in the synopsis of contents s tated in

the Ga r ud a Pu r na I. 3. Th e number of inca rnat ions na me d in

the chapt ers 141 145 is only ten an d here V m a n a is re pl ace d

by D h anv ant a r i . T his numb er is not in ag r ee ment with that

given i n ch . I where 21 incar nat ion s are na med . Aga in in ch.

202 the number of Visnu's incarnations is seventeen 1 and among

them there are four name s, viz., R ma , Ha yag r va, M ak ar ad h

va j a a n d N g a which are not found in ch. I . T1

^se varyinglists of inca rnat ions can not be ascr ibe d to one ha nd . H en ce

these chapters cannot but be spurious.

So far abou t the Pr vakh anda . Bu t the U t t a r a k ha nd a is

de ci de dl y a later add it io n. Fo r, in the verses whic h ar e cit ed

from the G P . in Madanaprijta, Smrtitattva a n d Haribhakti

vilsa, G a ru da h as b e e n addres s ed as " k h a g a " "p ak s nd ra "

an d these verses ar e not found i n this kh an da . H en ce , the

spurious character of this khanda is undeniable.

G A R U D A P U R A N A A V A I S N A V A P U R A N A

The Garuda Purna is ranked among the Vaisnava

P ur n as , for it glorifies V is nu by his va ri ous na me s a nd in his

var ious forms . In thi s respect, it fol lows the P a c a r tra School

of Vaisnava sampradya which eulogi ses V i sn u fre quent ly by his

na mes H ar i and Nr ya na . But the Paca r tra gamas speak

1. H a z r a : Pur ni c R ec or ds P. 144, re fers to V a g a E dit ion.


31/459

xxxii Garuda Purna

of four Vy ha s while the Ga r u d a P ur n a menti ons nine . 1 T h e

G a r ud a P ur na (S ect ion 1, Chapt er 12, Verses 1314) introduces

nine forms of V is nu: (1) Su dar a na , ( 2 ) Ha ri , (3) Acyu ta,

(4) T riv ikr ama, (5 ) V sudev a, (6) Pr adyu mna, (7) S a mkars ana, (8) Ani rudd ha and ( 9 ) A nan ta ka. B ut elsewhere2 , it

mentions five forms: (i) V sude va, (ii) S amk ar sa na , (ii i )

Pr ady umna , (iv) A nir uddha and ( v) N r y an a.

A s a V a i s n a v a P ur na, the G a r u d a P u r na gi ves prominent

pl ac e to Vi sn u, descr ibi ng his var ious forms which V is nu

as su med for the prot ecti on of the V ed i c dh a r ma an d the des-

truction of dai ty a cul t. 3 This section mentions twelve incarnat-

ions viz. (1 ) Ma ts ya, (2) K r ma , (3) Dhan vanta ri 4 , (4)

Mohi n (5) V r h a, (6) Na ra si mha, (7) Pa ra ur ma, ( 8)

R m a D arath i , (9 ) B a la rm a Vs u dev a, (1 0 ) K r s n a

V s ud e v a, (1 1 ) B u d dh a , (12) K a l ki . T hi s lis t omits V m a n a .

In I. 86. 1012, the G a r ud a P ur n a mentions 11 incar nat ion s

of Vi snu . It omits Dhan van ta ri an d Mohi n but includes

V m a n a . T h e G a r u d a P u r n a (1.86 .1011) me ntions ten

avatra s, viz. (1) Ma ts ya, (2) K r ma , (3) Var ha , (4 )

Narasimha, (5) Vmana, (6) Paraurma, (7) Rma, (8)

Kr sn a, (9) Bu ddh a an d (10 ) Kal ki . Th e G ar ud a Purna ( 1 .3. 143 4) mention s 22 inc arna ti ons of Vi snu , viz. ( 1 ) K u m r a

(2) Var ha , (3) N ra da , (4) Na ra N ry ana (5 ) Ka pil a, (6 )

Datta , (7 ) Yaja , (8) Ur uk ra ma (Rs ab ha ) , (9 ) Pr thu, (1 0)

1. G P .I . 1 1 .1.

2 . I b i d . 1 . 3 2 . 3 - 6

trap rrerpspr: ^rr^T: TOTTeTr *PTRre: II

4i


32/459

Introduction xxxiii

Ma tsy a, (1 1 ) K r ma , (12 ) Dhan vanta ri , (13) Mohin i, (1 4)

Na ras imha , (15) V m an a, (16 ) Pa ra ur ma, (17 ) Vysa, (18)

R m a D ar ath i , (19 ) B al ar m a, (2 0 ) K r s n a, (2 1 ) B u ddh a,

(22) Ka l ki . T h e G ar ud a P ur n a verses ( I . 1. 1334) that

descri be the ava t ra s of Vi sn u are V er ba ti m found in theBh g ava ta Pur na (1.3. 62 6). T he G ar ud a Pu rn a ( 1 . 196.

61 3) ment io ns twentyeight in car na ti ons which inc lud e all

in car nat ion s of other lists.

A mo n g the deities gl or ified in this P u r na V i s nu holds

the supr eme position. T he G a r ud a Pur n a ( I . 227 ff )de als with

V i snubhakt i . I n I . 233. S a g e M r k a n d e y a glor if ies V i s nu by

h is nam e s : D m oda ra , Adh oks a j a , Va rh a, V m a na , Vis nu ,

Naras im h a, J a n rd an a, Md h av a, Pu ru s a, L oka nth a, Sah as ra i ras , De v a, Mah y og a, Yajayoni and Vivarpa. Besides, the

G a r ud a Pur na (1.15) records one thousand na mes of Vi snu

as the S up r em e Be in g an d ment ion s his att rib utes . In all these

pla ces the influence of B h ga va t a cult is dist inctly visible.

Sti ll this P ur n a can not be de em ed as sect ar ia n. F or , as

the study reveal s, this P ur n a dea ls with the wors hip of other

deiti es too, th ou gh it devo tes gre ate r attent ion to V is nu as the

S up r em e Bei ng. Fo r ins tance, we fi nd the mo d e of worshipof i va ( I . 22 2 3) , the mo de of worshi p of S r ya as a form of

V i s nu ( I . 17, 3 9 ) , the m o d e o f worship o f D u r g ( I . 3 8 ) a n d

others.

N ex t to Vi snu, iv a holds a pro minen t pl ace . His wor-

ship, his Vratas such as ivartri, building his temple, installa-

tion of his i ma ge ar e des cri bed in several cha pt ers . A mo ng the

aivite deities we find references to Vinyaka, Skanda, Vikha,

Durg and Seven Mothers (saptamtrks):

Ne xt to i va co me Br ah ma, I nd ra , Sr ya, Agni, Ca nd r a

and Vyu.

T h u s we fi nd that tho ugh the P ur n a descri bes Vi sn u as

the S up re me Bei ng, identical with Br ah man , it does not omit

the wor sh ip of oth er dei tie s, th oug h no other deit y rece ives

mor e atte ntion than Vi snu . T he eulogy of i va, Dv rg , S ka nd a,


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xxxiv Garuda Purna

G an e a a n d other deities in an otherwise Va i s na va P ur n a is

the strongst testi mony tha t this P ur n a at te mpt s to re mai n

nonsect arian in c har act er. T h e other deities are Vi sn u' s

attenda nts. T h e concept of Vi snu as B r ah ma annihilates all

object s in the uni vers e to the con ce pt of formless, non dualentity which is de si gn at ed as an indivis ible al l perv adi ng

B r a h m a n . 1

T h o u g h other deities receive equ al ly an hono urab le

treat ment, yet por tions of this P ur n a are decid edly pro

V ai s na vi t e . 2 T h e last Se cti on, B ra hm a, i s evidently pro

V a i s n a v a . I t cannot tolerate the nondevotees of V i s nu. I t

is very ha rd upo n non V ai sna vit es. It shows ext re me rigidity in

its preference for Visnu over other gods.

In betwee n the sect ari an an d non sectar ian char act er of

the P ur n a ther e is a ma r ke d ten denc y to uph ol d the non dual

na tu re of the su pr eme deity 'V is nu ' who ca n be rea li zed by

know led ge an d not by worshi p (kriy) . 3 I n Ch . 22 6 the

supreme lord is considered to be limitless, impersonal, nondual,

infinite a nd for mles s. T h e P ur n a refers to the ident ity of the

1. G P . I. 6. 72 73

2 . I b i d . I I I . 1 2 . 5 9 :

cre*m? 4KtU4*recrpc *m tfn nI b i d . I I I . 1 2 . 7 9

frnprgf wPi


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Introduction XXXV

In div idu al Se lf with the S up re me Se lf and descri bes the reali-

zat ion of this identi ty as libe rat ion . 1

Cons id eri ng the P ur n a as a whole we find that thou gh

the wors hip of V is nu pre domi nat es an d th oug h for differentobjec ts an d desires the asp ir ant is adv is ed to wors hip different

deities2 In dra , Sr ya, Agni, Vi nya ka, Ca nd ra , V yu and the

rest in the pres cri bed way, liber ation coul d be ac hie ved by

focusing thought on Vi snu alo ne. 3 I n this proc es s no dist inct-

ion was ma de amo ng the dei ti esB rah ma, Vi snu and i va. 4

T h e P ur n a refers to the c ompo si te nat ure o f the supr eme deity

in the concep t of A mr te a who is the emb od im en t of B ha ir av a,

Srya, Krsna, iva and Brahma. 5 T he Su pr eme lordis conceiv-

ed in his impe rso nal form, dev oi d of att ribu tes , pur e, cha nge -less, ete rna l, unb orn , de voi d of act s, be yo nd t he sta tes of

waking, d r e a m and deep sleep, name less, without beginning

and without end. 8 It is known only by the fo rmu la s 't at tv am

asi ' , 'aharh Brahmsmi' , ' p r a jnam Br ahm a' , 'a yam t m

B r a h ma . " S uc h concepts indicate the metaphysical trend an d

the cosmopolitan character of the Garuda Purna.

1. G P . I . 22 6, 22 7

Ibid. I. 226, 227

2. Ibid. I. 51. 1620

3. I bi d. I. 5 1. 21

4. I bi d. I. 51

5 . I b i d . h l 8

6. I bi d. I. 91 2ff

ff*rTTf|cf $3 ^wafaerfiW II

*rerfe ^^R'Hr^nri sr^rrfcr Wsr*^ n


35/459

CHAPTER ONE

Incarnations of Visnu

1. I bow to L o r d H ar i, the unbor n, un age in g, end le ss ,identica l with Kn owl edg e, S up re me, auspici ous, pure, begin

ningles s, dev oi d of physi cal bo dy an d senseo rgans, the inner

pr esi di ng dei ty of all li ving bei ngs , the uns ul li ed and the only

omnipresent force that transcends allillusions.

2. Wit h mi nd , spee ch a nd act ion s, ever an d ano n, I

offer my obeisa nce unt o Ha ri , R ud ra , B ra hm a, Ga n e a an d

the Goddess Sarasvat .

35. T he learned S ta , 1 wellversed in all paurnika lore,

ever ca lm, a mas ter of all sac red script ures a nd a gr eat devo tee

of L o r d V is nu ha ppe ned to visit the holy forest N a i mi sa 2 in

the cou rs e of his pi l gr im ag e. As he wa s sit tin g on a hol y se at

con te mpl at in g on the sinless L o r d V is nu the lea rne d S t a was

adore d b y S au n ak a 3 an d other holy sag es of the N a i mi s a

forestthe sages who were effulgent like the sun, yet ever calm

a nd ever en ga ge d in the cel ebr ati on of sacrifices.

The Sages said :

6. O S t a, we ask you, sin ce you kno w ever ythi ng.

Who, a m o n g the gods, i s the most godly, al mi ghty, worthy of

our wor sh ip ?

7. Wh om ar e we to co nt emp la te u po n ? Wh o crea tes

th e uni ver se ? Wh o pr ot ec ts it ? Wh o des tr oy s it ? Wh o is th e

so ur ce of re li gi on ? Wh o is kn own to be the su pp re ss or of th e

wicked ?

8. Wh at is the for m of th at G o d ? H o w is the pr oce ss

of cre ati on e xpl ai ned ? Wha t are the reli gious rites to pro pi-ti at e him ? By whic h Y o g a can he be at t ai ne d ?

1 . T h e stas in t h e P a u r n i ka a g e w e r e r e g a r d e d a s v e n e r a b l e p e r -sons who pre ser ved the ge nea lo gi es of de it ies, sag es an d kin gs in the fo rmo f s o n g s a n d b a l l a d s . [ Vi d e d e t a i l s in P {AITM) p.l. fn. 2.]

2 . A f o r e s t n e a r t h e G o m a t r i v e r . H e r e S a u t i r e l a t e d t h e M a h b h r a t a to t h e s a g e s . ( A l s o ref er P {AITM) p. 2107; Liga [AITM)p . 800).

3. A g r e a t s a g e , t h e a u t h o r o f t h e R g v e d a P r t i kh y a a n d o t h e rV e d i c c o m p o s i t i o n s . ( A l s o s e e P (AITM) p. l. fn. 1 ) .


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2 Garuda Purna

91 0. Wh at ar e his in ca rn at io ns ? Wh at is the ori gin

of different li nea ges ? Who ass ign s the va ri ous dut ie s to per -

sons of different ca st es 1 a n d r a m a s 2 of life ? Who controls

h i m ? O wise sa ge , na rr at e to us all this an d eve ryt hin g else .

T el l us the most excell ent stories of N r y a na .

Sta said :

11 . I shall re co un t to yo u the Garuda Purna, the essence

of the anec dot es of Vi sn u. For mer ly , this was na rr at ed to

K a y a p a 3 by G ar u da . I he ar d it from V y sa 4 in the past.

12. T h e L o r d N r y an a alo ne is the most powerful

al mi gh ty of all god s. He is the supr eme s oul. He i s thes u p r e m e B r a h m a n . 5 Al l this wor ld ori gin at es from hi m.

13. Fo r the pre ser vat io n of the uni ver se the un bo rn , un

ageing , deathless V su de va assumes var ious incar natio ns 6 i n

the form of K u m r a etc.

14. At f irst, that god, H ar i, assum ed the form of K u m r a 7

1 . T h e r e a r e f o u r m a i n c a s t e s p r e v a l e n t a m o n g t h e H i n d u s : ( i )

Brkmana, (ii) Ksairiya, (iii) VaiSya and (iv) Sdra. ( V i d e PAITM) p.

2098).

2 . A cc o r di n g t o H i n d u s cr i p t ur e s , m an ' s l i f e s p an i s d i v i d e d i n t of o u r p e r i o d s (iramas) v i z . , ( i ) Brahmacarya, ( i i ) Grhastha, ( i i i ) Vnaprastha,

( i v ) Sannysa. T h a t i s t o s ay , ( 1 ) a p e r i o d o f s t ude n t s h i p t o t a l ly de v o t e d

t o s t udy an d p r e p ar at i o n f or l i f e, ( i i ) a p e r i o d o f h o us e h o l de r s h i p e n j o y i n g

the worl dly l i fe, ( i i i ) a pe ri od of ret ire d l i fe in the fores t an d ( iv ) a pe ri od

of co m p l e t e r e n u n ci at i o n .

3 . A g r e at s a g e , t h e le g e n dar y f at h e r o f de i t i e s an d de m o n s . ( A ls o

refer P (AITM) p. 2104, Liga {AITM) p. 798 ).

4 . T h e r e n o w n e d s a g e , a u t h o r o f t h e M a h b h r a t a . ( v i d e Liga

{AITM) p. 808.)

5 . Brahmanail i n d e f i n a b l e s u p r e m e p o w e r .

6 . V i s n u ' s p r e s e r v i n g a n d r e s t o r i n g p o w e r i s m a n i f e s t e d i n a v a r i e t y o f

f o r m s c a l l e d avatras l i t e r a l l y ' d i s c e n t s ' b u t m o r e i n t e l l i g i b l y ' i n c a r n a t i o n s '

in whi ch a por ti on of h is div ine ess enc e is em bo d i ed in a h u ma n or su per -

n a t u r a l f o r m p o s s e s s e d o f s u p e r h u m a n p o w e r s . A H t h e s e avatras b e c a m e

man if es t for co rr ec ti ng so me evi l or ef fec ting som e go od in the wo rl d.

{CDHM p . 3 6 1 ) . T e n i n c a r n a t i o n s o f V i s n u a r e a c c e p t e d u n i v e r s a l l y F i s h ,

T o r t o i s e , B o a r , M a n l i o n , D w a r f , P a r a u r m a , R m a , K r s n a , B u d d h a a n d

K a l k i . B h g a v a t a P u r n a e n u m e r a t e s t w en t y t w o i n c a r n a t i o n s a n d a s s e r t s

t h a t i n r e a l i t y t h e y a r e i n n u m e r a b l e . G a r u d a P u r n a f o l l o w s t h e s u i t .

< V i d e d e t a i l s in CDHM pp. 338.)

7 . A s o n o f i v a : g e n e r a l l y k n o wn as K r t t i k e y a . {P {AITM) p.'2104; Liga {AITM) p. 798 ).


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1.1.18 3

an d O B r ah ma n, perf ormed the unb rok en vow of B ra hm a

ca r y a (c el ib ac y) , very difficult for every one.

15 . S ec on dl y, the lo rd of sacrifi ces took up the fo rm

of a b o a r lifting up the ea rt h th at h a d su nk de ep int o th e

aether region.16. T h e thi rd in car na ti on was in the form of a sa ge .

A s s umi n g the form of the div ine s a g e ( N r a d a 1 ) he expounded

t h e S t v a t a T a n t r a 2 t he p hil osop hy of inactivity of acti ons.

17. In the fourth inc arn at ion L o r d H ar i, as sum in g the

f o r m o f N a r a N r y a n a 3 pr act is ed pen an ce for the preser -

v at i on of rel igion. H e wa s h ono ur e d b y g ods as wel l a s d e mon s .

18. T h e fif th was in the form of K a p i l a , 4 the foremost

among the Siddhas* who inst ructed A sur i in the phi lo so phy

of Skhyc which ha d be en ra va ge d by the la ps e of ti me a nd

categorised the (twenty five) tattvas (e lements).

1 . T h e f a m o u s l e g e n d a r y s a g e , a g r e a t d e v o t e e o f V i ? n u . (P

{AITM) p . 2 1 0 8 ; Liga (AITM) p. 8oi: )

2 . O b v i o u s l y r e f e r s t o N r a d a S a r h h i t of Pacartraa ritualist ic

w o r k on Vaisnavism.

3 . T h e y ar e s a i d t o h a v e b e e n p r ac t i s i n g au s t e r e p e n an ce o n t h e

H i m a l a y a s , w h i c h e x c i t e d t h e f e a r o f I n d r a w h o s e n t d o w n s e v e r a l d a m s e l s

t o d i s t ur b t h e i r aus t e r i t i e s . B u t N r y a n a p u t a l l o f t h e m t o s h am e b y

cr e a t i n g a n y m p h U r v a i f r o nt a f lo we r o n h i s t h i g h wh o e xce l le d t h e m

i n b e aut y . (SSED p. 281; P (AITM) p. 2108; Liga (AITM) p. 801.)

4 . A r e n o w n e d s a g e w h o r e d u c e d t o a s h e s t h e s i x t y - t h o u s a n d s o n s

of S a g a r a . (P (AITM) p. 2104, Liga (AITM) p. 798).

5 . SiddhasA c l a s s o f s e m i - d i v i n e b e i n g s , ( r e f e r P (AITM) p.

2 1 1 4 ; Liga (AITM) p. 804).

6 . O n e o f t h e s i x s y s t e m s o f H i n d u P h i l o s o p h y a t t r i b u t e d t o s a g e

K a p i l a . T h i s p h i l o s o p h y d e r i v e s i t s n a m e f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t i t d e s c r i b e s

t w e n t y - f i v e tattvas ( t r u e p r i n c i p l e s ) w i t h t h e o b j e c t t o a c h i e v e t h e f i n a l

e m a n c i p a t i o n o f t h e tw e n ty - fi f th tattva, v i z . , t h e Purusa o r S o u l , f r o m t h e

b o n d s o f h i s w o r l d l y e x i s t e n c e t h e f e t te r s o f p h e n o m e n a l c r e a t i o n . I t c o n

v e y s a c o r r e c t k n o w l e d g e o f t h e t w e n t y - f o u r tattvas a n d e ff e c t s t h e d i s e n

t a n g l e m e n t o f t h e S o u l f r o m t h e i r v i c i o u s i n f l u e n c e . I t r e g a r d s t h e w h o l e

u n i v e r s e t o b e a d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n i n a n i m a t e p r i nc i p l eP r a k r t i , w h i l e

Purusa i s a l t o g e t h e r p a s s i v e a n d s i m p l y a l o o k e r - o n . I t a g r e e s w i t h t h e

Vednta i n b e i n g s y n t h e t i ca l , an d d i f f e r s f r o m t h e an a ly t i ca l Nyya. or

VaUefika; b u t i t s g r e a t p o i n t o f d i v e r g e n ce f r o m t h e Vednta i s t h a t i t m a i n -

t a i n s ce r t a i n p r i n c i p l e s wh i ch t h e Vednta de n i e s , ch i e f a m o n g t h e m b e i n g

t h at i t do e s n o t ad m i t G o d as t h e cr e at o r an d co n t r o l l e r o f t h e U n i v e r s e ,

w h i c h Vednta a f f i r m s . (SSED. p. 596.)


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4 Garuda Purna

19. T h e sixth in car nat ion was in the form of D a t t a , 1

the son of A tr i 2 and Anas y 3 . When L o r d exp oun de d the

philosophy of Anvksik (M et ap hy si cs ) to Al arka , P ra hl d a 4

and others,

20 . T h e n in the seve nth i nca rn at io n h e was bo rn asY a j a , 8 the son of Ruc i* a nd Ak t i , 7 as a res ult of pr o-

piti atio n by I nd r a an d other god s in the S v ya mb hu va era . 8

2 1 . In the eighth inc arn ati on he was bor n as U r uk r a ma

the son of N b hi an d Me ru dev . He in di cat ed to wome n the

pa t h of duty des ervi ng respec t of pe op le of al l st ages of life.

2 2. In the nin th inc ar na ti on , as req ues te d by the

sa ge s, he took up the for m of P rt hu . 9 Wi th the mil k of po te n-

tial herbs he resuscitated the brhmanas and other creatures.

2 3 . He took the form of a fi sh in the gr ea t D el ug e at thee n d o f C k s u s a M a n v a n t a r a 1 0 and s av e d Vaiv as v ata Manu 1 1 b y

putting him in a terrestrial boat.

1 . P o p ul ar ly k n o wn as D at t t r e y a, h e i s r e g a r d e d as an i n c ar n at i o n

o f B r a h m a , V i s n u a n d i v a .

2. T h e n a me At ri oc cu rs in the R g v e d a as well as in the E pi c a nd

P u r n i c l i t e r a t u r e . (CDHM p . 32. A ls o refer P (AITM) p. 2096; Liga

(AITM) p. 624 ).3 . W i f e o f S a g e A t r i . S h e i s t a k e n a s a m o d e l f o r c h a s t i t y . B r a h m a ,

V i s n u and i v a i n c a r n a t e d as her son D a t t t r e y a . (P (AITM) p . 2095;

Liga (AITM) p. 642.)

4 . S o n o f H i r a n y a k a i p u .

5. He ha d the he ad of a d eer a nd was ki l l ed by V ra bh ad r a a t

D ak s a ' s s acr i f i ce . A cc o r di n g t o t h e H ar i v ar h a, h e wa s r a i s e d t o t h e

p l a n e t a r y s p h e r e b y B r a h m a , a n d m a d e i n t o t h e c o n s t e l l a t i o n M r g a i r a s .

(CDHM p. 371 .)

6. Fa th er of Y a j a a n d D a k s i n .

7 . A d a u g h t e r o f M a n u S v y a m b h u v a a n d a t a r p .

8 . S v y a r n b h uv a was t h e f i r s t M a n u an d h i s p e r i o d o f r e i g n i s

c a l l e d S v y a m b h u v a .

9. S o n of V e n a . He mi l ke d the ea rt h in the for m of a co w an d

ga ve a ne w li fe to the cr ea tu re s wh o wer e suff ering on acc ou nt of a fa mi ne .

( F o r d e t a i l s , CDHM p p . 2423.)

10. T h e per io d of the re ign of the s ixt h M a n u (P (AITM) p .

2106; Liga (AITM) p. 800; SSED. p. 423; SED. p. 784; CDHM p p . 199-

201 for Manu a n d Manvantara).

M . T h e s e v e n t h M a n u , f a t h e r o f I k s v k u e t c . (P (AITM) p 2106;

Liga (AITM) p. 800; SSED. p. 4 23; SED p. 784; CDHM p p . 199-201) .


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1.1.31 5

24 . In the elevent h in car nat io n the all pe rvas ive

L o r d took the form of a tortoise an d bore the M o un t M a n d a r a 1

on his ba ck whil e the go ds a n d de mon s ch ur ne d the oc ea n.

2 5 . In his twelfth an d thi rtee nth in ca rn at io ns as

D h a n v a n t a r i 2 an d a wo ma n Mo hin respectively , 3 the L o r d

grat ifi ed the gods an d ch ar me d others.

26. In the fourteenth inca rnat ion as M a n L i o n 4 he

to re the powerful de mo n with his fi erc e claws ju st as the ma t

maker tears the willowbarks.

27 . In his f ift eent h i nca rn at io n, as su min g the form of

V m a n a 5 he wen t to the sacrif icial alta r of B a l i . 6 Wis hi ng to

re ga in he av en , he be gg ed of him three steps of spa ce .

28. In his sixteenth inca rna ti on as P ar a u r m a 7 see-in g the pri nces in imi cal to the brhmanas he be ca me infuriat-

ed and made the earth devoid of ksatriyas twentyone times.

29 . In his sevent eenth in car na ti on he was bo rn of

S a t y a v a t 8 a n d P a r a r a . 9 S eei ng me n defici ent in intel lect, he

cr ea te d bra nch es of the tree of V ed a .

30 . After that in his eight eenth inc arn ati on he b ec a me

a Pr inc e Rm a 1 0 an d, i n his des ir e to do wo rk of the go ds , per -

formed many deeds such as bridging the ocean.3 1 . In his nine teen th an d twenti eth in ca rn at io ns

1 . M a n d a r a a f a m o u s m o u n t i n I n d i a n l e ge n d s . (P AITM)

p. 2106; Liga (AITM) p. 799) .

2 . D h a n v a n t a r i T h e d e i t y o f m e d i c i n . .., (P (AITM)p. 101 fn. 82)

3 . M o h i n a c e l e s t i a l n y m p h ; a c c o r d i n g t o th e l e g e n d oTSamudra

manthana, V i s n u a ss um ed the for m of M oh i n to c hea t the de mo ns of the

d i s t r i b u t i o n o f n e c t a r .

4. V is nu a ss um ed th is f orm of hal f man a nd half l i on to kil lH i r a n y a k a i p u wh o was e m p o w e r e d wi t h a b o o n t h at n e i t h e r m e n n o r

animals could ki l l h im.

5 . V m a n a t h e d wa r f. Liga (AITM) p . 51 4) .

6 . B a l i t h e c e l e b r a t e d k i n g o f t h e n e t h e r w o r l d (P (AITM)

p. 750; fn. 147, 955; Liga AITM) p . i 4 ) .

7 . H e v o w e d t o d e s t r o y t h e Ksatriyas a l t o g e t h e r f r o m t h e e a r t h (P

(AITM) p. 751 fns. 1512 p. 1453; f n . 2 1 1 ) .

89. T h e pa re nt s of sa ge V y s a .

1 0. A s o n o f D a a r a t h a , t h e k i n g o f A y o dh y ; (P (AITM), p. 751

fn", p. 1236 fn. p. 94, 16 13 ; Liga (AITM) p . 118 . )


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6 Garuda Purna

ob taining b i r th as B al ar m a 1 an d r k rs na, 2 in the family of

the Vrsnis 3 the L o r d lesse ned the bu rd en of the ear th.

32 . At the ju nct ure of K a l i 4 e ra, in ord er to de lu de

demon s, he will be bor n in the K k a t a 5 co un tr y as the son o f

J i n a 6 and nam e d as B u ddh a. 7

33 . A ga in in the eighth ju nc tu re ( ch an ge of cycle s)

when all kings wi ll be on the verge of ext inct ion, the L o r d of

the univers e will be bo rn of V is nu ya a s 8 and named as Kalki .*

34. Thus O Brhmanas ! inn umera ble ar e the inca rna-

tions of Ha ri , the Om ni pot ent L or d.

3 5. F r o m t hem ori gin ate creat ions etc. T he y hav e to

be wors hi ppe d a n d pr opi t i a t ed by Vrata10 and other religious

rites. Lo n g ago , V y sa na rr at ed to me this Garuda P u r n a .

CHAPTER TWO

Tradition of Garuda Purna

The sages said :

1. H ow di d V y sa nar rat e this Garuda P ur na to you ?

P le as e el uc id at e this in full, for it is ess ent ial ly ba se d on the

ane cdot es of Vi sn u.

12. W e l l k n o w n b r o t h e r s c e l e b r a t e d i n I n d i a n L i t e r a t u r e .

K r s n a k i l l e d K a r h s a , t h e d e m o n i c r u l e r o f M a t h u r a . (P (AITM) p. 2104)

3 . V r s n i w a s a d e s c e n d a n t o f Y a d u . H i s d e s c e n d a n t s w e r e c a l l e d

V r s n i s .

4 . T h e las t i n ca r n at i o n i n t h e cy c le o f f o ur e r as (yugas), s u p p o s e d

t o h a v e b e g u n a f t e r t h e M a h b h r a t a w a r . (P (AITM) p. 2103, Liga

(AITM) p. 798).

5 . Kkatafamous for G a y , a hol y pl a c e of th e H i n d u s . I t is

i d en t if i e d w i t h M a g a d h a ( m o d e r n S o u t h B i h a r ) .

6 . J i n a t h e r e s e e m s t o b e s o m e c o n f u s i o n h e r e a b o u t t h e n a m e o f

B u d d h a ' s f a t h e r .

7. S o n o f u d d h o d a n a . ( P (ATIM) 2098).

89. T h e la st in ca rn at io n is yet to ta ke p l a c e (P (AITM) p. 2103) .

10. Vratas m e a n s r e l i g i o u s a u s t e r i t i e s . (Liga (AITM) p. 808) .


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1.2.7 7

Sta said :

2. In the co mp an y of the sages I had bee n to B a d a r i k

A r a m a . 1 T he re I saw V y sa in dee p con tem pla ti on on the

S u p r e m e L o r d .

3. Wit h du e salu ta ti on to the gr eat sa ge, I sat do wn

there an d ask ed hi m.

Sta said :

O sa ge V y sa , ple ase exp la in the form of H ar i a n d

na rr at e the full pro ces s of cr eat io n of the un iv ers e.

4. S in ce you pon der over the all per vasi ve L o r d, I thi nk

y o u know him. T h u s as ked, what he s aid, the s a m e O brhma-nas ! you l ea r n fro m me .

Vysa said :

5. O S t a, hear . I shall na rr at e Garuda Purna as it has

b e en na r r at e d t o me by B r a h m a , i n the pr e s e nc e of N r a d a ,

D a k s a 2 and others.

Sta said :

6. H ow did B r a hm a nar ra te the holy Garuda P u r n a

ex po und in g all essential thi ngs to you ac co mp an i ed by

Nrada, Daksa and others ?

Vysa said :

7 . N r a d a , D a k s a , I , B h r g u 3 and others saluted Brahma

in his Brahmaloka a n d re que st ed hi m to tell us wh at wa s ess en-

tially important.

1 . A p l ac e s a cr e d t o V i s n u, o n t h e G an g e s i n t h e H i m a l a y a s ,

p a r t i c u l a r l y t o V i s n u ' s d u a l f o r m o f N a r a N r y a n a . T h u s i n t h e M a h

b h r a t a , f v a , a d d r e s s i n g A r j u n a , s a y s , " y o u w e r e N a r a i n t h e f o r m e r b o d y

a n d , w i t h N r y a n a f or y o u r c o m p a n i o n , y o u p e r f o r m e d d r e a d f u l a u s t e r i t y

a t B a d a r i f o r m y r i a d s o f y e a r s " . I t i s n o w k n o w n a s B a d a r n t h a

t h o ug h t h i s i s p r o p e r ly a t i t le o f V i s n u, as L o r d o f B a d a r i . ( V i de P

{AITM) p. 927 fn. 142 ; CDHMp, 39).

2. A s o n o f B r a h m a , ( f o r d e t a i l s P (AITM) p . 2099, Liga

(AITM) p . 795) .

3 . A V e d i c s a g e , o n e o f t h e P r aj p at i s an d f o u n de r o f t h e r ac e o f

t he B h r g u s or B h r g a v a s . (P (AITM) p . 2097; 'Liga (AITM) p. 794^

CDHM p p . 5 4 - 5 5 ) -


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8 Garuda Purna

Brahma said :

8. O V y s a, I sha ll na rr at e to yo u the stor y of Garuda

P ur n a ju st as nar ra te d by Vi snu to me an d R u d r a in the

co mp a ny of the god s.

Vysa said :

9. O B ra hma n, H ow did L o r d Ha ri nar rat e in the pas t

the essence of Garuda P ur na , preg nan t with mea ni ng to

Rudra accompanied by the gods ?

Brahma said :

10. I ha d been to the mo un t K a i l s a 1 accompanied by

I nd ra and other god s. Th er e I saw R u d r a con temp la ti ngup on the highest st ate .

11 12. After due sal uta ti on, I aske d him, O L o r d

a ka r a , wh om do you po nd er over ? S in ce I do not know of

a gr ea te r go d th an yo u, pl eas e tell me the ess ent ial of all

ess ent ial s. I am des ir ous of hea ri ng al on g wit h the go ds .

Rudra said :

It is L o r d Vi snu who m I co nt emp la te upo n. He is the

Supreme Soul, the Almighty.13. He is the giver of ever ythi ng, the omn ip re se nt , the

co sm i c form, a n d pr es en t in the for m of every li ving be in g, I

have smeared the sacred ash all over my body. I have decorat-

ed my head with matted hair.

14. O P i t ma h a , this is th e sa cr ed rit e I follow for the

wors hip of L o r d V i s nu . We shall go to h i m a n d as k him

about the essence I have been contemplating upon.

15. Lo rd V is nu known as P ad ma n bh a an d Ha ri is

de vo i d of phys ica l bo dy an d is ever vic tor iou s. He is pure,

the source of purit y, he is S up re me Sou l, the Al migh ty, conne-

cted by the word Tad (in the U pa ni sa ds ) . 2

1 . N a m e o f a m o u n t a i n i n t h e H i m a l a y a r a n g e . (Mbh iii 503; P(AITM) p. 2103; Liga (AITM), p. 798, SED. p . 301).

2 . T h e m y s t i c a l a n d p h i l o s o p h i c a l w r i t i n g s o f t h e a n c i e n t I n d i a n

s a g e s . T h e s e d i s c u s s t h e n a t u r e o f Brahman t h e s u p r e m e s o u l , jvtman,

t h e p e r s o n a l s o ul , wo r ld ly e x i s t e n ce , h u m a n act i o n (karma) e t c . T h e s ea r e a l s o c a l l e d Vednta. T h e y gene ra ll y for m the last st ag e of the V e di ct e xt s . T h e i r n u m b e r i s p le n t y b ut a k ar a h as co m m e n t e d o n ly up o n t e n

Upanisads. ( V i de de t a i l s i n CDHM p p. 3256; CSL pp. 35455)


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1.2.21 9

1617. Un it in g mysel f with t hat universal So ul, I am

medit ati ng on that very G o d T h e L or d of creatures, the unit-

in g st ri ng, in wh om the enti re univ ers e con si st in g of all li vin g

beings lies preserved a n d later on, b ec omes me r g e d , like closelyclust ering be ad s in thr ead.

He who has t hou sa nd eyes, t hou sa nd feet, tho usa nd thigh s

an d a hand so me f ace;

18. Wh o is the subtl est a mo n g the subt le, the st abl est

a mo n g the stab le, the big gest am on g the big an d the sub li mest

among the sublime.

19. Wh o i s pre ser ved in the sa cr ed li te rat ure a n d the

U pa ni sa ds , in sentences and phrases an d the true S ma n s,1

a strue a n d of true acti vit ies.

20 . He is cal le d purna purusa ( the Pr imordia l be in g) ,

among the twiceborn. He is spoken of as Brahman 2 and

in the process of ann ihi la ti on he is t ermed as S ar hk ar sa na . 3 We

a do r e tha t ad or ab l e one . _____

2 ) . Al l the worl ds qui ck en in him like the a kul a fis h in

water. He who isRta* (t he cosmi c order) an d the ones ylla bled

god, the syllable Om 6 , is b ey on d the exi sten t an d t he no n-

existent.

1 . T h e m a n t r a s o f t h e S m a v e d a a r e c a l l e d smans si nce they a r e

m e an t f o r s i n g i n g . M aj o r i t y o f t h e m o cc ur i n t h e R g v e d a .

2. V i d e P. 2. fn. 5.

3 . N a m e o f B a l a r m a . T h i s co n f o r m s t o t h e s y s t e m o f Pacartra

w h i c h en j o i n s t he wo r s h i p o f V i s n u i n f i v e f o r ms vi z . , V s u d e v a , S a -

k a r s a n a , P r a d y u m n a , A n i r u d d h a a n d N r y a n a .

4. Rta i s a s igni f ica nt te rm in the Ve d i c l i te ra tu re . It gen er al lym e an s 'c o s m i c o r d e r ' 'd i v i n e law o r t r ut h ' , ' s e t t le d r u le o r s a cr e d cu s t o m . '

5. Om i s a wor d of so l em n aff i rma tion an d respec tful as se nt . It i s

g e n e r al ly p l ac e d at t he b e g i n n i n g o f a t r e a t i s e , as a m a r k o f aus p i c i o u s n e s s .

I t ap p e ar s i n t h e Upanisads as a mys ti c mon os yl la bl e set forth as the obj ect

o f p r o f o un d r e l i g i o us m e di t at i o n , t h e h i g h e s t s p i r i t u al e f f i cacy b e i n g a t t r i -

b u t e d n o t o nl y t o t he w h o l e w o r d b u t a l s o t o t h e t h r e e s o u n d s a u m, of

wh i c h i t con s i s t s . I n l at e r t i m e s Om i s the mys ti c n a me for the H i n d u tr i ad ,

an d r e p r e s e n t s t h e un i o n o f t h e t h r e e g o ds ; v i z . , a ( V i s n u ) u ( i v a ) , m

( B r a h m a ) ; i t m a y a l s o b e t y p i cal o f t h e t h r e e V e da s . I t i s a l s o ca l le d

aksara or ekksara, (Also refer P (AITM), p. 2108; Liga (AITM)

Ac

p . 801; SED p . 235).


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10 Garuda Purna

22 . Who is wors hip ped by the deities, Ya k s a s , 1

R k s a s a s 2 a n d serpent s, whose mo ut h is fi re, crest the fi rma-

ment, navel the horizon, feet the earth;

2 3. Ey es the sun an d the mo on . I am contemplatingup on t hat lo rd, in who se belly ar e the three wor lds a n d wh os e

arms are the different directions.

24 . I am co nt emp la ti ng upo n that L o r d whose br eat h is

the win d, in whos e hai r ar e the cl oud s a nd in whos e jo in ts ar e

the rivers.

2 5 . I am con te mpl at in g up on that L o r d whose belly ar e

the oce an s, wh o is be yo nd sacrifices a nd be yo nd the Ex is ten t

and the Nonexistent.

26 . He is beg in ni ngl ess but the begi nn in g of the univ erse

ca n be tr ace d to hi m. I am cont empl at ing upon him. T h e

m o o n ha s c o me ou t of his mi nd a n d th e sun out of his eye s.

27 . T h e fire has co me out of his mo ut h. I am co nt em -

pl at in g up o n hi m. T h e ear th ha s co me out of his feet, th e

qua rt er s o ut of his ear s.

28 29 . T h e he av en has co me out of his he ad . I am

con te mpl at in g upo n him. T h e creat ion, the subsidi ary cre a-

tion, the li neag e, the M a nv an t ar a s an d the recor ds of kin gsan d gr ea t per son age s ca n all be tr aced to him. I am con te mpl at -

ing up o n hi m. We shall go to hi m to se et he T r u e E ss en ce o n

w h o m I contemplate.

Brahma said :

3 0 . T h u s I was spok en to by R u d r a who, hav in g wor-

shi ppe d an d bow ed to V is nu , the dweller of vetadvipa3, stood

by, al ong with the g ods desirous of hear ing the narrat ive.

31 . Fr om amo ngs t us R ud r a a ddre sse d V is nu the al-

mi gh ty , the essen ce of essences an d after d ue sa lut at io ns ask ed

him.

1 . A c las s o f de m i g o ds . A t t e n da n t s o f K u b e r a , t h e de i t y o f

w e a l t h . P (AITM), p. 2120 ; (Liga (AITM) p. 808).

2 . T h e de m o n s ( f o r de t a i l s , P (AITM), p . 2111; Liga (AITM)

p. 802; CDHM, p p . 2525).

3. R e f e r (P (AITM) p. 2118; Liga (AITM) p. 806).


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1.2.41 1 !

Brahma said :

32. As Vy s a asked me, so L or d R ud r a asked V is nu

while the gods , al ong wi th other i mmor ta l s s tood l istening.

Rudra said :

33 . O L o r d V is nu , the foremost am o ng god s, pl ea se tell

us, wh o is the mo st powerful a mo n g go ds ? Wh o ha s to be

co nt emp la te d up on ? Wh o is the mos t wort hy of our wors hip ?

By what sacr ed rites, is tha t great L o r d pr opi ti at ed ?

34 . Wit h what sa cr ed rituals, obser vati ons, pious wor-

shi ps a n d co nd uc t of life ca n he be p l ea se d ? Wh a t is his di vi ne

form like ?

35 . Of wha t god is the univ ers e bo rn ? Wh o pro tec ts ita nd by wha t sort of in car na ti on s ? I n wh om doe s the univ ers e

merge ultimately ?

36. T h e creation, the subsi diar y creat ion, the li nea ge,

the M a nv a nt ar as f r om wha t god do they pro ceed ? In wh om

are these wellestablished?

3 7. O H a r i ! pl eas e na rr at e all this, a n d al so if the re is

anythi ng e lse . T he n L or d H ar i nar rat ed to R ud r a the glory

of the al mig ht y, the yo gi c me an s etc. an d al so the ei ght een

varieties of lor es ( v i d y s ) . 1

Hari said :

38. O R ud r a, listen al ong with B r a hm a an d other god s.

I shal l tell yo u I am the G o d of go ds , the ma s t er of all th e

worl ds .

3 9. I am the mos t wort hy of co nt emp la ti on an d wor sh ip .

I am to be pr ai se d wit h pr ay er s by the g o ds .

4 0 . O R u d r a , I aw ar d the loftiest of pos it io ns on be in gwors hi pped a n d grati f ied by sacred rites, obs ervances a n d g o o d

conduct by men.

4 1 . O iv a, I am the seed of the exis te nce of the wo rl d.

I am the cr ea to r of the wor ld . I pu ni sh the wi cke d. I pr ot ec t

religion.

i . E i g h t e e n Vidys c o n s t i t u t e 4 V e d a s , 4 U p a V e d a s , 6 V e d g a s ,

P u r n a s , M i m m s , N y y a a n d D h a r m a .


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12 Garuda Purna

42 . I sus ta in the ent ire uni ver se by my in ca rn at io ns as

fis h etc . I am the sa cr ed mantras1 and their purport. I am en-

gaged in worship and contemplation.

43 . I am the creat or of H ea ve n an d other worl ds. Ve ri ly

I am my se lf the he av en a n d oth er wo rl ds . I am the firs t yogi

and also the yoga.2 I am the Purnas.

4 4 . I am the kno wer, th e hea re r, the thinke r, the

sp ea ke r an d the ob je ct of sp ee ch . I am al l. I am the so ul of

all . I a m the highes t go d who b esto w enj oymen t an d fi nd

b eat i t ude.

4 5 . O Ru dr a , verily I am the acti vit y of con te mpl at io n,

"worship a n d offer ing. I a m the my st ic al or bs 3 an d mytho-

logical epics.4

O i va , I know everyt hing.46 . O a m b h u , I am all knowl edge . I am the unive rsa l

sou l. O i va , I am B r a h ma . I am the enti re uni ver se. I am

the inne r so ul of all go ds .

47 . Ve ril y, I am the go od con duc t. I am the V a i s na v a 5

cul t. I am the cas tes a nd the r a ma s, a n d their an ci ent reli-

gion I am.

48. I am the var io us rel igi ons a nd mor al cur bs a n d

ob se rv an ce s. I am the different kind s of rites. O R u d r a , I am

the S un , the M o o n and the M a r s etc.

49 . In days of yore, G ar ud a pro pit ia ted me with pe-

na nc e which he und ert ook on the ear th. Fe el in g gratifi ed I

sai d : " a s k me a b o o n " , an d he chose a bo on .

Garuda said :

505 2. O Ha ri , my mother Vi na t 6 has been made a

1 . G e n e r a l l y us e d t o de n o t e V e di c p r a y e r s , s p e c i a l ly t h e rks. Also

us ed for a pr ay er or fo rm ul a sa cr ed to any d ei t y.

2 . D e e p m e di t a t i o n o n t h e S up r e m e S o u l wi t h an a i m t o un i t e

o n e 's o wn s o ul wi t h I t . A s y s t e m o f p h i l o s o p h y , p r o p o u n d e d b y P a t a j a l i ,

e l a b o r a t i n g t h e a f o r e s a i d i d e a .

3 . T h e m y s t i c a l d r a w i n g s , g e n e r a l l y k n o w n a s mandalas f o r w o r

s h i p , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n T n t r i c t r e a t i s e s .

4 . T h e R m y a n a a n d t he M a h b h r a t a .

5 . O n e o f t h e t h r e e m a i n cu l t s o f M o d e r n H i n du i s m . I t s f o l lo we r s

b e l i e v e i n t h e s u p r e m a c y of V i s n u . T h e o t h e r t w o s e c t s aiva a n d Skta

b e l i e v e i n t h e s u p r e m a c y o f i v a a n d a k t i r e s p e c t i v e l y .

6 . A d a u g h t e r o f D a k s a , a w if e o f K a y a p a .


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1.2.59

sla ve by ser pen ts. A ct thus, O go d, that co nq ue ri ng th em I

ma y br in g the nec ta r; tha t I , your carri er, m ay secu re her

rele ase from bo nd a ge ; that I ma y bec om e strong, migh ty,

omnisc ient , destr oyer of serpents an d expo unde r of P ur n a

S a m h i t .

Visnu said :

O G ar ud a, everything shall ha pp en as yo u have req uest ed

for. i

53 . Yo u will secu re the rel ease of your mot her , V i n a t

fro m her slaver y to the ser pent s. Co nq ue ri ng the go ds , yo u

will br ing the div ine nec t ar .

54 5 5. Yo u will be str ong. Y o u will be my carr ier. Yo u

wi ll be the devourer of poi son. Wit h my bless ings you wi l l

know the P ur n a glorif ying me an d ex po un di ng my div ine

for m. By yo ur n a me , it will be cel eb ra te d in the wo rl d as

G a r u d a P u r n a .

5 6. O son of V i na t , ju st as I am kn ow n as the essen-

tial glo ry of all god s, so als o G a r u d a P ur n a will at ta in the

greatest fame among the Purnas.

57 . Yo u too shall be glorified like me , O G a r u d a . O

chief of birds, cont emp la ti ng upo n me pr op ou nd this Garuda

Pu rna.

5859 . T hu s init iated by me, G a r ud a exp oun ded this

P ur n a to K a y a p a who soug ht it from hi m. By the powe r he

received on hearing Garuda P ur n a, he resus cita ted a burnt

tre e. Wi th his mi nd fi xed on an ot he r, he rev iv ed othe rs by

me an s of this le arn ing . Taksi om urn svh. T hi s is the sa cr ed

vidy Grudi. O R ud r a, plea se hear the Garuda P u r n a d e a l -

ing with my pers onal ity and nar ra ted by G a r u d a .


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14 Garuda Purna

CHAPTER THREE

Statement of Contents

Sta said :

1. T hu s R ud r a an d B r a hm a hea rd this from Vi snu, sa ge

V y s a from B r a h m a a n d I h e a r d this from V y s a . I shall now

narrate this to you, O aunaka, in the sacred forest Naimisa.

2. In this au gu st au di en ce consi sti ng of sag es, will be

na rr at ed the deta ils of cre at ion , the mo d e of wo rs hip of the

go ds , pl ace s of pi lg ri ma ge , the trea sures of the wor ld a n d t

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