The Garuda Purana in English

Garuda Purana is one of the Vishnu Purunas. This abridged version of Garuda Purana contains a conversation between Vishnu and his vehicle, Garuda about death, afterlife, sin, life in hell, location of hell, Yama, the Lord of the Underworld, his assistant Chitragupta, description of the City of Yama, the various kinds of punishments meted out to the sinners, how to avoid sin upon earth, expiation of sin, what types of funeral rites should be performed for the departed and what happens when they are not performed and so on.

The Hindu concept of heaven and hell described in this scripture has some similarities with the descriptions of heaven and hell in other religions such as Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. However unlike in these religions, souls who go to these worlds do not stay there eternally. Once the punishment is over, they return to earth and take birth again. This Purana also deals with the subject of liberation and how it can be attained through the practice of yoga and devotion.