Garuda Purana is one of eighteen Mahpur a genre of texts in Hinduism.

It is a part
of Vaishnavism literature corpus,[1] primarily centering around Hindu god Vishnu but praises all gods.
[2]

Composed in Sanskrit, the earliest version of the text may have been composed in the 1st

millennium CE,[3] but it was likely expanded and changed over a long period of time.[4][5] The real
knowledge of Garuda Purana was given to Garuda Dev by Sant Kabir Das.
The Garuda Purana text is known in many versions, containing between 8,000 to 19,000 verses. [5]
[6]

Its chapters encyclopedically deal with highly diverse collection of topics. [7] The text

contains cosmology, mythology, relationship between gods, ethics, good versus evil, various schools
of Hindu philosophies, the theory of Yoga, the theory of "heaven and hell" with "karma and rebirth",
ancestral rites and soteriology, rivers and geography, types of minerals and stones, testing methods
for gems for their quality, listing of plants and herbs,[8] various diseases and their symptoms, various
medicines, aphrodisiacs, prophylactics, Hindu calendar and its basis, astronomy, moon, planets,
astrology, architecture, building home, essential features of a Hindu temple, rites of passage, charity
and gift making, economy, thrift, duties of a king, politics, state officials and their roles and how to
appointment them, genre of literature, rules of grammar, and other topics.[2][9][6] The final chapters
discuss how to practice Yoga (Samkhya and Advaita types), personal development and the benefits
of self-knowledge.[2]
The Padma Purana categorizes the Garuda Purana, along with itself, Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu
Purana, as a Sattva Purana (a purana which represents goodness and purity). [10] The text, like all
Mahapuranas, is attributed to sage Veda Vysa in the Hindu tradition.[11]
Contents
[hide]

1History

2Structure

3Contents: Purvakhanda
o

3.1Cosmology

3.2Worship of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva, Surya, Ganesha, Durga and others

3.3Features of a temple

3.4Gemology

3.5Laws of virtue

3.6Nitichara

3.7The good government

3.8Dhanvantari Samhita and medicine

3.9Yoga, Brahma Gita

4Contents: Pretakhanda

5See also

6References
o

6.1Bibliography
7External links

History[edit]
The date and author of this text is unknown. Pintchman estimates that the text was composed
sometime in the 1st millennium of the common era, but it was likely compiled and changed over a
long period of time.[4] Gietz et al place the first version of the text "only between the 4th-century CE"
and the 11th-century.[3]
Leadbeater states that the text is likely from about 900 CE, given that it includes chapters
on Yoga and Tantra techniques that likely developed later.[12]Other scholars suggest that the earliest
core of the text may be from the first centuries of the common era, and additional chapters were
added thereafter through the 6th-century or later.[13]
The version of Garuda Purana that survives into the modern era, states Dalal, is likely from 800 to
1000 CE with sections added in the 2nd-millennium.[5]Pintchman suggests 850 to 1000 CE.
[14]

Chaudhuri and Banerjee, as well as Hazra, on the other hand, state it cannot be from before about

the 10th- or 11th-century CE.[13]

The text exists in many versions, with varying numbers of chapters, and considerably different
content.[5][6][11] Some Garuda Purana manuscripts have been known by the title of Saupara
Puraa(mentioned in Bhagavata Purana section 12.13), Tarksya Puraa (the Persian scholar AlBiruni who visited India mentions this name), and Vaiateya Puraa (mentioned in Vayu Purana
section 2.42 and 104.8).[6]
In late 19th-century and early 20th-century, a text called Garudapuraasaroddhara was published,
then translated by Ernest Wood and SV Subrahmanyam. [15][16] This, states Ludo Rocher, created
major confusion because it was mistaken for Garuda Purana, when it is not, a misidentification first
discovered by Albrecht Weber.[15] Garuda-puraa-saroddhara actually is the original bhasya work of
Naunidhirama, that cites a section of now non-existent version of Garuda Purana as well as other

Indian texts.[15] The earliest translation of one version of Garuda Purana, by Manmatha Nath Dutt,
was published in early 20th-century.[2]

Structure[edit]

The text revolves around Vishnu, as recited by Garuda. Above: Vishnu and Lakshmi on Garuda (Delhi National
Museum).

The Garuda Purana is a Vaishnava Purana and has, according to the tradition, nineteen thousand
shlokas (verses).[5] However, the manuscripts that have survived into the modern era have preserved
about eight thousand verses.[5] These are divided into two parts, a Purva Khada (early section) and
an Uttara Khada (later section). The Purva Khada contains about 229 chapters, but in some
versions of the text this section has between 240-243 chapters.[6] The Uttara Khada varies between
34 to 49 chapters.[6] The Uttara Khada is more often known as Pretakhada or Pretakalpa.[13]
The Garuda Purana was likely fashioned after the Agni Purana, the other major medieval India
encyclopedia that has survived.[6] The text's structure is idiosyncratic, in that it is a medley, and does
not follow the theoretical structure expected in a historic Puranic genre of Indian literature. [6] It is
presented as information learnt from Vishnu by Garuda (the man-bird vehicle of Vishnu), and then
narrated by Garuda to sage Kashyapa, which then spread in the mythical forest of Naimisha
reaching sage Vyasa.[5]

Contents: Purvakhanda[edit]

The largest section (90%) of the text is Purva Khada that discusses a wide range of topics
associated with life and living. The remaining is Pretakhada, which deals primarily with rituals
associated with death and cremation.[6]

Cosmology[edit]
The cosmology presented in Garuda Purana revolves around Vishnu and Lakshmi, and it is their
union that created the universe.[17] Vishnu is the unchanging reality called Brahman, while Lakshmi is
the changing reality called Maya.[17] The goddess is the material cause of the universe, the god acts
to begin the process.[17]
The cosmogenesis in Garuda Purana, like other Puranas, weaves the Samkhya theory of two
realities, the Purusha (spirit) and Prakriti (matter), the masculine and feminine presented as
interdependent, each playing a different but essential role to create the observed universe.
[18]

Goddess Lakshmi is the creative power of Prakriti, cosmic seed and the source of creation. [18] God

Vishnu is the substance of Purusha, the soul and the constant. [18] The masculine and the feminine
are presented by the Garuda Purana, states Pintchman, as inseparable aspect of the same divine,
metaphysical truth Brahman.[14]
The Garuda Purana, states Madan, elaborates the repeatedly found theme in Hindu religious
thought that the living body is a microcosm of the universe, governed by the same laws and made
out of the same substances.[19] All the gods are inside the human body, what is outside the body is
present within it as well.[19] Body and cosmos, states Madan, are equated in this theme.[19] Vishnu is
presented by the text as the supreme soul within the body.[20][21]

Worship of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva, Surya, Ganesha, Durga and

others[edit]
The text describes Vishnu, Vaishnava festivals and Puja (worship), and offers Mahatmya a
pilgrimage tour guide[22] to Vishnu-related sacred places.[5][23] However, the Garuda Purana also
includes significant sections with reverence for Shaiva, Shakti and Smarta traditions, including
the Panchayatana puja of Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, Surya (Sun) and Ganesha. [5][24]

Features of a temple[edit]

The Garuda Purana describes a 8x8 (64) grid Hindu Temple Floor Plan in chapter 47 of Purvakhanda. [25]

The Garuda Purana includes chapters on the architecture and design of a temple. [25][26] It
recommends that a plot of ground should be divided into 64 squares, with the four innermost
squares forming the Chatusko (adytum).[25] The core of the temple, states the text, should be
reachable through twelve entrances, and the walls of the temple raised touching the forty eight of the
squares.[25] The height of the temple plinth should be based on the length of the platform, the vault in
the inner sanctum should be co-extensive with adytum's length with the indents therein set at a third
and a fifth ratio of the inner vault's chord.[25] The arc should be half the height of pinnacle, and the text
describes various ratios of the temple's exterior to the adytum, those within adytum and then that of
the floor plan to the Vimana (spire).[25][26]
The second design details presented in the Garuda Purana is for a 16 square grid, with four inner
squares (pada) for the adytum.[25] The text thereafter presents the various ratios for the temple
design.[25] The dimensions of the carvings and images on the walls, edifices, pillars and the murti are
recommended by the text to be certain harmonic proportions of the layout (length of a pada), the
adytum and the spire.[25][26]
Temples, asserts the text, exist in many thematic forms.[25] These include the Bairaja (rectangle
themed), Puspakaksa (quadrilateral themed), Kailasha (circular themed), Malikahvaya (segments of
sphere themed) and the Tripistapam (octagon themed).[25] These five themes, claims Garuda Purana,
have created forty five different styles of temples, from the Meru style to Shrivatsa style. Each
thematic form of temple architecture permits nine styles of temples, and the Purana lists all forty five
styles.[25] The inner edifice of a temple is best in five shapes, in these various styles of temples, and
the edifice can be triangle, lotus shaped, crescent, rectangular and octagonal, asserts the text. [25] The
text thereafter describes the design guidelines for the Madapa and the Garbha Griha.[25][26][27]
The temple design, states Jonathan Parry, follows the homology at the foundation of Hindu thought,
that the cosmos and body are harmonious correspondence of each other, the temple is a model and
reminder of this cosmic homology.[28]

Gemology[edit]
Gems: how to buy them?
First the shape, color, defects or excellences of a gem should be carefully tested and then its price should be
ascertained in consultation with a gem expert who has studied all the books dealing with the precious stones.
Garuda Puraa, Purvakhada, Chapter 68
(Traslator: MN Dutt)[29]

The Garuda Purana describes 14 gems, their varieties and how to test their quality.[9][30] The gems
discussed include Ruby, Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, Hessonite, Emerald, Diamond, Cats eye, Blue
Sapphire, Coral, Red Garnet, Jade, colorless Quartz, and Bloodstone. The technical discussion of
gems in the text is woven with its theories on the mythical creation of each gem, astrological
significance and talisman benefits.[30][31]
The text describes the characteristics of the gems, how to clean and make jewelry from them,
cautioning that gem experts should be consulted before buying them. [32] For pearl, for example, it
describes using Jamvera fruit juice (contains lime) mixed with boiled rice starch in order to clean and
soften pearls, then pierced to make holes for jewelry.[32] A sequential Vitaapatti method of cleaning,
states the text, wherein the pearls are cleaned with hot water, wine and milk gives the best results.
[32]

A pearl, asserts the text, should be examined by friction test which it describes. [32] Similar

procedures and tests are described for emerald, jade, diamonds and all 14 gems the text includes. [30]

Laws of virtue[edit]
The chapter 93 of the Garuda Purvakhanda presents sage Yajnavalkya's theory on laws of virtue.
The text asserts that knowledge is condensed in the Vedas, in texts of different schools of
philosophy such as Nyaya and Mimamsa, the Shastras on Dharma, on making money and temporal
sciences written by fourteen holy sages.[33] Thereafter, through Yajnavalkya, the text presents its laws
of virtue. The first one, it lists, is charity (Dna), which it defines as follows,
A gift, made at a proper time and place, to a deserving person, in a true spirit of compassionate
sympathy, carries the merit of all sorts of pious acts.
Garuda Puraa, Chapter 93[34]
The text similarly discusses the following virtues right conduct, damah (self-restraint), ahimsa (nonkilling, non-violence in actions, words and thoughts), studying the Vedas, and performing rites of
passage.[35][36] The text presents different set of diet and rites of passage rules based on
the varna (social class) of a person.[35] The Brahmin, for example, is advised to forego killing animals
and eating meat, while suggested to undertake Upanayana (holy thread ceremony) at the youngest
age. No dietary rules are advised for Shudra, nor is the thread ceremony discussed.[35][36] These
chapters on laws of virtue, in one version of the Garuda Purana, are borrowed and a duplicate of
nearly 500 verses found in the Yajnavalkya Smriti.[36][37] The various versions of Garuda Purana show
significant variations.[6][36][11]

The Garuda Purana asserts that the highest and most imperative religious duty is to introspect into
one's own soul, seeking self-communion.[34]

Nitichara[edit]
The chapter 108 and thereafter, present Garuda Purana's theories on Nitichara (, ethics and
right conduct) towards others.[38][36]
Quit the country where you can find neither friends nor pleasures, nor in which is there any
knowledge to be gained.
Garuda Puraa, Chapter 109[39]
Ethics
Little by little a man should acquire learning.
Little by little a mountain should be climbed.
Little by little desires should be gratified.
Garuda Puraa, Purvakhada, Chapter 109
(Traslator: MN Dutt)[40]

Save money for times of distress, asserts Garuda Purana, but be willing to give it up all to save your
wife.[36] It is prudent to save a family if that requires sacrificing oneself, and it is prudent to save a
village if that requires sacrificing one family, states the Purana. [36] It is prudent to save a country if left
with a choice to save the country or a village.[36][41] Yet, in verses that follow, the Garuda Purana
asserts that a man should renounce that country whose inhabitants champion prejudice, and forego
the friend who he discovers to be deceitful.[41]
The text rhetorically cautions against application of knowledge which is wedded to meanness,
cautions against pursuit of physical beauty without ennobling mind, and cautions against making
friends with those who abandon their dear ones in adversity.[41] It is the nature of all living beings,
asserts the Garuda Purana, to pursue one's own self interest. [36][41] Yet, do not acquire wealth, states
the text, through vicious means or by bowing down to your enemies. [39]
Men of excellence, asserts the Purana, live with honest means, are true to their wives, pass their
time in intellectual pursuits and are hospitable to newcomers. [36][41] Eternal are the rewards when one
weds one's knowledge with noble nature, deep is the friendship roused by connection of the soul,
states Garuda Purana.[42] The discussion on ethics is mixed in other chapters of Garuda Purana. [43]

The good government[edit]

Governance is part of the Nitisastra section of the Garuda Purana, and this section influenced later
Indian texts on politics and economy.[44]
The Purvakhanda, from chapter 111 onwards describes the characteristics of a good king and good
government.[45] Dharma should guide the king, the rule should be based on truth and justice, and he
must protect the country from foreign invaders.[46] Taxation should be bearable, never cause hardship

on the merchants or taxpayers, and should be similar in style to one used by the florist who harvests
a few flowers without uprooting the plants and while sustaining the future crops. [46] A good
government, claims Garuda Purana, advances order and prosperity for all. [46]
A stable king is one whose kingdom is prosperous, whose treasury is full, and who never chastises
his ministers or servants.[47] He secures services from the qualified, honest and virtuous, rejects the
incapable, wicked and malicious, states chapter 113 of the text. [48] A good government, states the
Purana, collects taxes like a bee collecting honey from all the flowers when ready and without
draining any flower.[48]

Dhanvantari Samhita and medicine[edit]

The chapters 146 to 218 of the Garuda Purana's Purvakhanda present the Dhanvantari Samhita, its
treatise on medicine.[49][50] The opening verses assert that the text will now describe pathology,
pathogeny and symptoms of all diseases studied by ancient sages, in terms of its causes, incubative
stage, manifestation in full form, amelioration, location, diagnosis and treatment. [51]
Parts of the pathology and medicine-related chapters of Garuda Purana, states Ludo Rocher, are
similar to Nidaasthaa of Vagbhata's Astagahridaya, and these two may be different manuscript
recensions of the same underlying but now lost text.[13] Other chapters of Garuda Purana, such as
those on nutrition and diet to prevent diseases, states Susmita Pande, are similar to those found in
the more ancient Hindu text Sushruta Samhita.[49]
The text includes various lists of diseases, agricultural products, herbs, formulations with claims to
medicinal value and such information.[50][49] In chapters 202 and 227 of the Purvakhanda, for example,
Sanskrit names of over 450 plants and herbs are listed with claims to nutritional or medicinal value. [8]
[52]

Veterinary science
The chapter 226 of the text presents veterinary diseases of horse and their treatment. [53] The verses
describe various types of ulcers and cutaneous infections in horses, and 42 herbs for veterinary care
formulations.[53][54]