Garuda Puran Purva Khanda: Dharma, Vows, Ayurveda and Garuda Niti

At the name of the Garuda Puran people think only of death and hell, yet its larger part, the Purva Khanda, is about life: how to live, worship, stay healthy and behave.

How Garuda received the Puran

Garuda performed the feat of bringing nectar from heaven to free his mother Vinata from slavery to Kadru. Pleased with his strength and loyalty, Lord Vishnu made him His mount. Garuda asked the Lord about the world, dharma, life and death, and the Lord's answers became the Garuda Puran. The knowledge passed from Garuda to the sage Kashyapa, then to Vyasa and to Suta ji, who told it to the sages at Naimisharanya.

Avatars and creation

The order of creation and the avatars of Vishnu are described: Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki, with other partial avatars.

Worship and vows

The method of worshipping Vishnu, the worship of Surya, Shiva, Ganesha and the Goddess, nyasa, mudras and mantras. The method and fruit of Ekadashi, Janmashtami, Ananta Chaturdashi and other vows. The importance of the Vishnu Sahasranama is also described.

Pilgrimage

The glory of Gaya (especially for pinda offerings to the ancestors), Prayag, Kashi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Dwarka and other tirthas. Gaya is described in particular detail.

Ayurveda and gems

The Garuda Puran describes the symptoms and treatment of diseases, medicines, rules of diet and the treatment of poisons, since Garuda is the destroyer of poison. It also describes how to identify and test gems such as diamond, pearl, ruby and emerald.

Garuda Niti: practical lessons for life

The Purva Khanda contains many verses of practical wisdom, much in the style of Chanakya Niti:

• Testing a friend: a true friend is known in calamity, in loss of wealth and in hard times.
• Company: avoid the company of the wicked; like coal, hot it burns, cold it blackens the hand.
• Wealth: only wealth earned by dharma lasts; ill-gotten wealth perishes with its root after a time.
• Speech: sweet speech wins all; the wound of harsh words goes deeper than a sword's.
• Time: time gone never returns; one who puts off today's work until tomorrow falls behind.
• Family: serving parents, respecting one's spouse and giving children good values are the householder's dharma.
• Laziness: laziness is a person's greatest enemy, living in one's own body.

What this part teaches

• The Garuda Puran is a book about life as well as death.
• A good life balances health, sound conduct and dharma.
• Honest wealth, good company and sweet speech are life's true capital.