Lord Vishnu explains that hell is for reformative punishment . Once the soul has paid for its sins through suffering, it is recycled back into the womb of a mother on earth.

Lord Vishnu tells Garuda that the Preta (ghost) has no physical mouth to eat, but it has a subtle tongue that craves sustenance. When the son offers a pinda made of barley, black sesame, and rice, it creates a subtle energy body for the ghost.

When someone mentions the Garud Puran in a Hindu household, a familiar hush often follows. For many, it is associated with funeral rites, the 13-day period of mourning ( teravah ), and stories that are too intense for casual reading. But to dismiss it as merely a "book of death" is to miss its profound spiritual depth.

In many Hindu families, it is strictly forbidden to keep a Garud Puran in the same room as a deity idol, nor is it read on festival days. It is reserved for the 13 days of mourning or specific months like Shravan or Bhadrapada .

Have you ever listened to the Garud Puran during a family ritual? How did it change your perspective on life? Let us know in the comments below.