How many punishments are there in Garuda Purana?

The Garuda Purana has nineteen thousand shlokas that are divided into two parts, a purva khanda (first part) and a Uttara khanda (subsequent part). I will try to impart the various aspects of knowledge provided in this sacred book in my following blogs. But today, I will tell you about the various deadly punishments the death God ‘Yamraj’ has decided for the sins committed by us human beings in our lifetime.

Tamisram (Heavy flogging) – Those who rob others of their wealth are bound with ropes by Yama’s Servants and cast into the Naraka known as Tamisram. There, they are given a thrashing until they bleed and faint. When they recover their senses, the beating is repeated. This is done until their time is up.

Andhatamtrsam (Flogging) – This Hell is reserved for the Husband or the Wife who only treats their spouses well when they are to profit or pleasure to them. Those who forsake their wives and husbands for no apparent reasons are also sent here. The punishment is almost the same as Tamisram, but the excruciating pain, suffered by the victims on being tied fast, makes them fall down senseless.

Rauravam (torment of snakes) – This is the hell for sinners who seize and enjoy another man’s property or resources. When these people are thrown into this hell, those whom they have cheated, assume the shape of “Ruru”, a dreadful serpent. The serpent(s) will torment them severely until their time is up.

Mahararuravam (death by snakes) – Here there are also Ruru serpents but fiercer. Those who deny the legitimate heirs, their inheritance, and possess and enjoy others’ property will be squeezed and bitten nonstop by this terrible serpent coiling around them. Those who steal another man’s wife or lover will also be thrown here.

Kumbhipakam (cooked by oil) – This is the hell for those who kill animals for pleasure. Here oil is kept boiled in huge vessels and sinners are plunged in these vessels. Kalasutram (Hot as hell) – This hell is terribly hot. Those who don’t respect their elders esp. when their elders have done their duties are sent here. Here they are made to run around in this unbearable heat and drop down exhausted from time to time.

Asitapatram (sharp flogging) – This is the hell in which sinners abandon one’s own duty. They are flogged by Yama’s Servants with whips made of asipatra (sharp-edged sword-shaped leaves). If they run about under the flogging, they will trip over the stones and thorns, to fall on their faces. Then they are stabbed with knives until they drop unconscious, when they recover, the same process is repeated until their time is up in this Naraka.

Sukaramukham (Crushed and tormented) – Rulers who neglect their duties and oppress their subjects by misrule, are punished in this hell. They are crushed to a pulp by heavy beating. When they recover, it is repeated until their time is up.

Andhakupam (Attack of the animals) – This is hell for those who oppress the good people and not helping them if requested despite having the resources. They will be pushed into a well, where beasts like Lions, tigers, eagles, and venomous creatures like snakes and scorpions. The sinners have to endure the constant attacks of these creatures until the expiry of the period of their punishment.

Krimibhojanam (Food for worms)- Those who do not honor their Guests and make use of men or women only for their own gain, are thrown into this Naraka. Worms, insects, and serpents eat them alive. Once their bodies are completely eaten up, the sinners are provided with new bodies, which are also eaten up in the above manner. This continues, till the end of their term of punishment.

Salmali (Embracing hot images) – This Naraka is intended for men and women who have committed adultery. A figure made of iron, heated red-hot is placed there. The sinner is forced to embrace it, while Yama’s servants flog the victim behind. Vajrakantakasali (Embracing sharp images) – This Naraka is the punishment for Sinners who have unnatural intercourse with animals. Here, they are made to embrace iron images full of sharp diamond needles that pierce through their bodies.

Vaitarani (River of Filth) – Rulers who abuse their power and adulterers are thrown here. It is the most terrible place of punishment. It is a river that is filled with human excreta, blood, hair, bones, nails, flesh, and all kinds of dirty substances. There are various kinds of terrible beasts as well. Those who are cast into it are attacked and mauled by these creatures from all sides. The sinners have to spend the term of their punishment, feeding upon the contents of this river.

Puyodakam (Well of hell) – This is a well filled with excreta, urine, blood, phlegm. Men who have intercourse and cheat women with no intention of marrying them are considered like animals. Those who wander about irresponsibly like animals are thrown in this well to get polluted by its contents. They are to remain here till their time is up.

Pranarodham (Piece by Piece)- This Naraka is for those who keep dogs and other animals and constantly hunt and kill animals for food. Here the servants of Yama, gather around the sinners and cut them limb to limb while subjecting them to constant insult. Taptamurti (Burnt Alive) – Those who plunder or steal Gold and jewels are cast into the furnaces of this Naraka which always remains hot in blazing fire.

Visasanam (Bashing from Clubs) – This Naraka is for the torture of those rich people who look down on the poor and spend excessively just to display their wealth and splendor. They have to remain here for the whole term of their punishment where they will be bashed nonstop from heavy clubs from Yama’s Servants.

Sarameyasanam (Torment from dogs) – Those guilty of unsocial acts like poisoning food, mass slaughter, ruining the country are cast into this hell. There is nothing but the flesh of dogs for food. There are thousands of dogs in this Naraka and they attack the sinners and tear their flesh from their bodies with their teeth.

Avici (turned into dust) – This Naraka is for those who are guilty of false witness and false swearing. There are hurled from a great height and they are utterly smashed into dust when they reached the ground. They are again restored to life and the punishment is repeated till the end of their time.

Raksobjaksam (Revenge attacks) – Those who do animal and human sacrifices and eat the flesh after the sacrifice will be thrown in this hell. All the living beings they killed before would be there and they will join together to attacking, biting, and mauling the sinners. Their cries and complaints would be of no avail here.

Ayahpanam (Drinking of burning substances) – Those who consume alcohol and other intoxicating drinks are sent here. The women are forced to drink melted iron in liquid form, whereas the men will be forced to drink hot liquid molten lava every time they consume an alcoholic drink in their earthly lives.

Sulaprotam (Trident Torture) – People who take the lives of others who have done no harm to them and those who deceive others by treachery are sent to this “Sulaportam” hell. Here they are impaled on a trident and they are forced to spend the whole term of their punishment in that position, suffering intense hunger and thirst, as well as enduring all the tortures inflicted on them.

Dandasukam (eaten alive) – Sinners who persecute others like animals will be sent here. There are many beasts here. They will be eaten alive by these beasts. Vatarodham (weapon torture) – This hell is for those who persecute animals that live in forests, mountain peaks, and trees. After throwing them in this hell, sinners are tortured with fire, poison, and various weapons during their time here in this Naraka.

All the torments mentioned in the Purana may seem really scary but think about it – maybe that is what they are supposed to do – Scare the human beings before they do anything sinful. Garuda Purana is a great and mystical book that contains information that can baffle us and enlighten us at the same time.