Garud Puran Path

The Garud Puran is one of the 18 Mahapuranas, performed as a conversation between Lord Vishnu and his bird-vehicle, Garuda. Traditionally, this is chanted over the 13-days of mourning following a death.

The path specifically describes the mysteries of death, unlike other scriptures, the journey of the soul after leaving the body, and the nature of the afterlife. This is conducted to bless the departed soul and to help the surviving family know the cycle of birth and rebirth, ultimately getting mental peace.

The period following the departure of loved ones in Vedic tradition is a time for deep reflection and spiritual support.

The Garud Puran path acts as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms, giving a roadmap for the soul’s journey while giving the grieving family the knowledge to navigate the loss.

Scheduling a Garud Puran path needs a calm environment and a disciplined schedule. These are the traditional flows of service:

The path starts with preparing a small wooden pedestal where the sacred scripture is kept. A lamp is lit to show the divine existence of lord vishnu.

The family takes a formal vow, showing the merit of reading to the ancestors to assure their smooth journey into the ancestral realm.

A certified pandit chants the chapters daily, often in the afternoon. The family sits together, as hearing the path is believed meritorious for both the living and the dead.

Our pandits give a detailed summary of each chapter, describing the importance of Pind daan and the effect on one’s karma in the afterlife journey.

During each chapter, rituals are done to show the soul’s safety crossing the celestial river. On the final day, a concluding prayer is offered to receive forgiveness for any shortcomings and pray for eternal peace of lineage.