One of the eighteen Mahapuranas, named for Garuda, Vishnu's eagle mount, in whose voice the second half of the text is framed as an answer to Garuda's own questions about death. It is best known for its uttara khanda (later section), which sets out the fate of the soul after death, the funerary and memorial rites (antyeshti and shraddha) owed by the living, the geography of the hell realms (Naraka) and the judgment of Yama and his recorder Chitragupta; recitation of this section at or after a death remains a living Hindu funerary custom. The earlier khanda covers cosmology, ritual, gemology and other miscellaneous topics typical of the genre's encyclopedic scope.
Facts
Origins
Era of Compositionthe earliest core might date back to between the 4th and 11th centuries CE 1 Wide scholarly range for the earliest core; the same source states substantial additions continued into the 2nd millennium CE, a later layer not included in the range recorded here. Status
Canonical Status Status TodayLiving tradition, practised today 2 Practice
Liturgical and Scriptural RoleIts uttara khanda is traditionally read or recited in the presence of a dying or recently deceased person and during the mourning period, giving it an active ritual role distinct from most other Puranas. 2 Text
Literary Form Structure
StructureDivided into a Purva Khanda covering cosmology, ritual and narrative material, and a shorter Uttara Khanda concentrated on death, the soul's journey after death and the funeral rites the section is used for liturgically. 2 Garuda Purana
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Connections
Associated With
This source names Chitragupta directly: "the judgment of Yama and his recorder Chitragupta; recitation of this section at or after a death remains a living Hindu funerary custom."
Source Garuda PuranaAnonymous
This source names Garuda directly: "of the eighteen Mahapuranas, named for Garuda, Vishnu's eagle mount, in whose voice the second half of the text is framed as an answer to Garuda's own questions about death."
Source Garuda PuranaAnonymous
This source names The Fates directly: "One of the eighteen Mahapuranas, named for Garuda, Vishnu's eagle mount, in whose voice the second half of the text is framed as an answer to Garuda's own questions about death."
Source Garuda PuranaAnonymous
Attributed To
Belongs to Tradition
Source Garuda PuranaAnonymous
In Language
Originates in Language
Source Garuda PuranaAnonymous
Sources
1. Garuda Purana (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia: Garuda Purana, lead section
The Garuda Purana was likely composed in the first millennium CE, with significant expansions and revisions occurring over several centuries. Scholars estimate that the earliest core might date back to between the 4th and 11th centuries CE, with substantial additions and modifications continuing into the 2nd millennium CE.
Lead section
The Garuda Purana was likely composed in the first millennium CE, with significant expansions and revisions occurring over several centuries
- In Group: Smriti Scriptures, One of 18 Mahapuranas in Hinduism.
Attributed To: Vyasa, Lead
The text, like all Mahapuranas, is attributed to the sage Vyasa in the Hindu tradition.
View the Source2. Garuda Purana
AnonymousOriginates in Language: Sanskrit, Stored language property on this entity, cited to this source: sanskrit
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