Garuda Purana

Punishments for OUR SINS according to GARUDA PURANA

Sinners are sent to the Various Narakas (Hells) by Yamadharma according to their nature and
seriousness of their Sins. There is a total of 28 Narakas. They are:



DOOR TO HELL

(1) Tamisram (Heavy flogging)-Those who rob others of their wealth are bound with ropes
by Yamas 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.

(2) Andhatamtrsam(Flogging)-This Hell is reserved for the Husband or the Wife who only
treat 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.

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

(4) Mahararuravam(death by snakes)- Here there is also Ruru serpents but more fiercer.
Those who deny the legitimate heirs, their inheritance and possess and enjoy others
property will be squeezed and bitten non stop by this terrible serpents coiling around them.
Those who steal another mans wife or lover will also be thrown here.


(5) 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 this vessels.

(6) Kalasutram( Hot as hell)- This hell is terribly hot. Those who dont 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.

(7) Asitapatram(sharp flogging)- This is the hell in which sinners abandon ones own duty.
They are flogged by Yamas 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.

(8)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.

(9) 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 this creatures until the expiry of the period of
their punishment.

(10) 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.

(11) Krimibhojanam(Food for worms)- Those who do not honour 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.

(12) 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 Yamas servants flog the victim behind.

(13) 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.
Garuda Purana

(14) 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 which 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.

(15) 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.

(16) Pranarodham (Piece by Piece)- This Naraka is for those who keep dogs and other mean
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.

(17) Visasanam(Bashing from Clubs)- This Naraka is for the torture of those rich people
who look down at the poor and spend excessively just to display their wealth and
splendour. They have to remain here at the whole term of their punishment where they will be
bashed non stop from heavy clubs from Yamas Servants.

(18) Lalabhaksam-(River of semen)- This is the Naraka for lustful men. The lascivious fellow
who makes his wife swallow his semen, is cast into this hell. Lalabhaksam is a sea of semen.
The sinner lies in it, feeding upon semen alone until his period of punishment.

(19) 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.

(20) Avici( turned into dust)- This Naraka is for those who are guilty for 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.

(21) 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 for every time they consume a
alcoholic drink in their earthly lives.

(22) 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 no avail here.
Garuda Purana

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

(24) Ksharakardamam(hanged upside down) -Braggarts and those who insult good people are
cast into this hell. Yamas servants keep the sinners upside down and torture them in many ways.

(25) Dandasukam(eaten alive)- Sinners who persecute others like animals will be sent here.
There are many beasts here. They will be eaten alive by this beasts.

(26) Vatarodham(weapon torture)- This hell is for those who persecute animals which live
in forrests, 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.

(27) Paryavartanakam( torture from birds)- One who denies food to a hungry person and
abuses him is thrown here. The moment the sinner arrives here ,his eyes are put by being
pierced the beaks of birds like the crows and eagles. They will be pierced later on by this birds
till the end of their punishment.

(28) Sucimukham(Tortured by needles)- Proud and Miserly people who refuse to spend
money even for the basic necessities of life, like better food or buying food for their
relations or friends will find their place in this hell. Those who do not repay the money they
have borrowed will also be cast into this hell. Here, their bodies will be constantly be pricked
and pierced by needles.