The Garuda Purana

by Manmatha Nath Dutt | 1908 | 245,256 words | ISBN-13: 9788183150736

The English translation of the Garuda Purana: contents include a creation theory, description of vratas (religious observances), sacred holidays, sacred places dedicated to the sun, but also prayers from the Tantrika ritual, addressed to the sun, to Shiva, and to Vishnu. The Garuda Purana also contains treatises on astrology, palmistry, and preci...

Chapter II - Sources of the Garuda Puranam

Vishnu charges Garuda to compose the Garuda Puranam

The Rishis said:—Why did Vyasa describe to you the Garuda Purana? Do thou describe thus the most excellent theme relating to Vishnu.

The Suta said:—In the company of the ascetics I had gone to the hermitage of Vadarika. There I saw Vyasa meditating on the great Ishvara. Having bowed unto him I took my seat and accosted that foremost of ascetics saying:—

“O Vyasa, relate unto me the form of Hari from which has emanated the creation of the universe. Methinks, while thou dost meditate on the Lord, thou must be knowing it.”

Hear, O Vipras, what he did relate on being thus accosted by me.

Vyasa said:—Hear, O Suta, I will recount the Purana Guruda which Brahma described to me in the company of Narada, Daksha and others.

The Suta said:—How did Brahma relate the sacred Purana Garuda, describing the true essence, unto thee when united with Daksha, Narada and others.

Vyasa said:—Having saluted Brahma who was residing in the Brahmaloka, myself, Daksha, Narada, Bhrigu and others said to him. “Describe unto us the quintessence (of the sacred lore).”

Brahma said:—O Vyasa, I will recount to you, the Garuda Purada, the cream of sacred learning which Vishnu described to me and Rudra formerly while in the company of other celestials.

Vyasa said:— O Brahman, describe to me the Garuda Purana, pregnant with great significance, the essence of all, which Hari formerly described to Rudra while in the company of other celestials,

Brahma said:—With Indra and other celestials I had gone to the mount Kailasha. There I saw Rudra engaged in the meditation of the great station. Having saluted him I addressed him, saying:— “O Shankara, on what art thou meditating? Save thee, I do not? know of a greater deity. Do thou therefore describe unto me [the subject of thy meditation] the quintessence [of the sacred learning] who, along with the celestials, am anxious to listen to it.”

Rudra said:—I. meditate on Vishnu, the great soul, the Demiurgus, who gives all, who is present everywhere and who resides in the hearts of all creatures. O grand-father, my body is besmeared with ashes and my hairs have been clotted. All my vowed observances are intended for the adoration of Vishnu. I will describe him unto you, the essence of all, on whom I meditate. I meditate on the deity Hari, Vishnu, Jishnu, who is lotus-navelled and shorn of a body; who is purity, the source of purity; who is the impersonal self and the individual soul; who is the great Ishvara and unites all souls with himself. In him exist all the worlds and elements and into him they enter. All the gunas (qualities) and elements exist in that lord of elements as pearls are strung by a thread. He has a thousand eyes, a thousand heads, a thousand thighs and a most beautiful face. He is the minutest of the minute, the firmest of the firm, the heaviest of the heavy and the best of all that is good. In the words, letters, principal and minor sacred lores and in the true Saman he is lauded as truth and the author of true deeds. He is called the ancient Purusha and Brahma amongst the twice-born. He is called Sankar-shana in destruction. I therefore adore him in whom all these worlds shine us the Shakula fishes in the water. He is the divine law, the word (Om), Brahma, the that, the existent and non-existent and the supreme. The celestials, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas and the Pannagas adore him. Fire is his mouth, the heaven is his head, the sky is his navel and the earth is his feet and the sun and moon are his two eyes. I meditate on him. I meditate on that deity whose breaths are the wind, in whose belly the three worlds exist and whose arms are the divisions of the time. I meditate on that deity in whose hairs are the clouds, and in the joints of whose body are the four oceans. I meditate on that deity who is above time, who is above sacrifices, who is above the existent and nonexistent and who is the beginning and end of the universe. I meditate on that deity from whose mind emanates the moon, from whose eyes the sun and from whose mouth the fire. I meditate on that deity from whose feet the earth is produced, from whose ears the directions and from whose head the Div (celestial region). I meditate on that deity from whom have proceeded the works of principal and minor creations, the various races, Manvantaras, and histories of the families. We will proceed to him, to witness the true essence, on whom I do meditate.

Brahma said:—I was thus formerly addressed by Rudra. Having lauded and saluted Vishnu, the dweller of the white island (Shveta-dvipa) we sat calmly desirous of listening to (the subject). From amongst us Rudra said to Vishnu, the great Ishvara:— “Describe to us the most essential of all essence; we salute thee.” What, O Vyasa, you have asked me the Lord Bhava asked Vishnu in the hearing of myself and other celestials.

Rudra said:—O Hari, O king of gods, tell us who is the god of gods; who is Ishvara; who should be meditated on; who should be adored; with what vowed observances, the great is propitiated? With what religious observances, with what process of self-restraint, with what form of adoration and with what sort of conduct is He pleased? What is his form? From what deity the universe has emanated and who protects it? What are his incarnations? In whom the world is dissolved? From what deity proceed the works of principal and minor creations, the various families and Manvantaras? In whom do all these exist? Do thou describe all this and every thing else, O Hari.

Then Hari described to Rudra the glories of the great Ishvara, the Yoga and eighteen sorts of learning.

Hari said:—Hear, O Rudra, I will describe it, along with Brahma and other celestials.

I am the god of gods, the lord of all the worlds. I am the object of meditation and adoration and am lauded by the celestials with panegyric verses. When I am worshipped by men with self-restraint, vowed observances and good conduct O Rudra, I grant them the most excellent stage.

I am the seed of the preservation of the world and I am also the destroyer of the universe, O Shiva. O Hara, I am also the suppressor of the wicked and the protector of religion. With fish and other incarnations I do protect the earth. I am the import of the mystic formula and am engaged in adoration and meditation. I am the creator of heaven and I am myself the heaven, &c. I am the knower, the hearer, the speaker and the object of speech. I am all and the deity identical with all. I am the source of worldly enjoyments and emancipation. I am the presents of meditation and adoration; I am the Mandalas, the Itihasas, O Rudra. O Shiva, I am all the deities. O Shambhu, I am all the forms of knowledge. I am at one with Brahma, O Shiva. I am Brahma, all the regions, and identical with all the deities. I am the personification of righteous conduct and the religion of Vishnu. I am the Varnas (castes) and Ashramas (orders) and I am the ancient religion. I am the process of regulation, that of self-restraint and the various vowed observances, O Rudra. I am the sun, the moon, and all the auspicious things. Formerly with asceticism the bird Garuda had worshipped me on earth. Pleased (with him I asked him to pray for a boon; and he too prayed for a boon.

Garuda said:—O Hari, my mother Vinata had been made a slave by the Nagas. Do thou so order, that I may bring ambrosia after vanquishing the celestials, that I may release her from slavery and that I may be thy carrier. Do thou so order that I may be highly powerful, greatly strong, omniscient, the afflicter of the Nagas,.and the author of Puranas and Samhitas.

Vishnu said:—What you have said, O Garuda, will all be accomplished. You will release your mother Vinata from the Nagas. Having vanquished all the deities and others you will bring ambrosia. You will be the highly powerful carrier. By my favour you will be the author of the Purana, describing my glories and forms. By your name it will be celebrated on earth as Garuda. O son of Vinata, as I am the God of gods and Shri is celebrated so the Garuda Purana will be celebrated amongst all the Puranas. As I am worthy of being lauded so thou shalt be. Meditating on me by your mind do you describe this Garuda Purana by your bird mouth.” Thus accosted, O Rudra, Garuda described it to Kashyapa. Hearing the Garuda Purana Kashyapa revived the burnt tree. Hearing yourself with fixed attention do you revive others with your learning. “The bird, Om, Um, Svaha”—This is the great learning of Garuda. Hear, O Rudra, the great Garuda Purana narrated by Garuda.

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