One of the 18 Mahapuranas, a collection of historic Hindu scriptures that examine many facets of Hindu mythology and philosophy, is the Garuda Purana.

The Garuda Purana specialises in discussing death, the afterlife, and the rites connected to these topics.

Its name is derived from the legendary bird Garuda, which is the mount of the Hindu god Vishnu, and it is thought to have been written around the eighth century CE.

A thorough explanation of what happens to a person's soul after death is given in the Garuda Purana. The scripture claims that when a person passes away, their soul dissociates from their body and enters the antarvyoma, a realm of transition that is a place of judgement. Yama, the god of death, and his helpers judge the soul in this stage.

The soul's destiny is decided by Yama after an examination of its activities throughout its lifespan. If a person has led a good and moral life, their soul is transported to Svarga, the world of the gods, where they can experience heavenly pleasures. The soul, on the other hand, is sent to Naraka, the domain of the demons, where it endures numerous penalties and torments, if a person has led a life of sin and immorality.

Based on the severity of a person's virtues or faults, the Garuda Purana discusses the many levels of Svarga and Naraka.

As an illustration, Svarga has various degrees, and a person's level depends on their karma.

Good karma-rich individuals ascend to the highest level, where they mingle with gods and other heavenly beings.

Those with lower positive karma, on the other hand, go to lower levels, where the joys are proportionally scaled back.

According to this, there are various levels in Naraka, and each person's degree is based on their sins. Depending on the type of sin committed, the text details the various penalties and torments meted out to offenders. Those who have been violent are punished by being beaten with whips and clubs, while those who have been dishonest or deceitful in the past are punished by being immersed in boiling oil.

The Garuda Purana also discusses the significance of carrying out funeral rites and ceremonies to make sure that the departed person's spirit travels to the right place in the afterlife.

The ceremonies that must be carried out, such as the burning of the body, the gift of food and drink to the deceased, and the reading of sacred scriptures, are all clearly described in the book.

Also included in the Garuda Purana is the idea of rebirth or reincarnation. Hinduism holds that the cycle of birth and death, known as samsara, never ends and that a person's soul is reborn into a new body in accordance with their karma. The Garuda Purana outlines the different elements that influence a person's subsequent birth, including their previous life's deeds, goals, and aspirations, as well as their mental condition at the time of death.

It's crucial to remember that there are other other writings and traditions that cover various facets of this subject, and the Garuda Purana is only one interpretation of Hindu beliefs regarding the afterlife. The Garuda Purana still continues to be a significant literature in Hinduism because it offers a thorough and vivid explanation of what happens to a person's soul after death and stresses the significance of living a good and moral life.

                         -YASHISH SHIVA