The Purvakhanda opens as Vishnu's direct teaching to Garuda and immediately establishes its encyclopedic character: cosmology and the thousand names of Vishnu, an extended survey of sacred fords with special attention to Gaya, and then a sequence of highly practical material — how to judge a diamond, ruby, or pearl; how to lay out a temple according to Vastu; the full procedure for consecrating a deity's image. A long dharma-shastra block, closely following Yajnavalkya, works through the stages of life, the samskaras, marriage law, shraddha, and the doctrine of karma-vipaka — which specific acts yield which specific results. The text then widens its scope further: a complete cosmography of the seven island-continents and the geography of Bharatavarsha, a full treatment of astrology and physiognomy, and the classical Nitisara — practical ethics and statecraft attributed to Brihaspati and Shaunaka, dense with independently famous Sanskrit maxims on kingship, trust, and equanimity. Dynastic genealogies follow, with the Purana pausing to summarize the Ramayana, the Harivamsha, and the Mahabharata in turn. Monthly vratas are described in detail, and the khanda's closing movement is given over almost entirely to Ayurveda: a sustained, chapter-by-chapter medical treatise diagnosing and treating fever, consumption, heart disease, diabetes, and dozens of other named conditions, closing the largest single book of this Purana.
Chapters
1Why This Purana Was Spoken36 v2The Origin of the Garuda Purana59 v3The Purana's Contents9 v4The Account of Creation38 v5The Lords of Creatures and Their Progeny38 v6The Lineage of Uttanapada and Others73 v7Worship of the Sun and the Planets, and of Sarasvati11 v8The Vajranabha Mandala for Worshipping Vishnu16 v9Initiation into Vishnu12 v10Worship of Lakshmi6 v11Worship of the Nine Emanations44 v12The Sequence of Worship17 v13The Vishnu-Panjara Hymn14 v14The Yoga of Meditation12 v15The Vishnu Sahasranama Hymn160 v16Meditation on Hari and Worship of the Sun19 v17The Rite of Sun Worship9 v18Worship of Amriteshvara, the Conqueror of Death20 v19The Remedy for Snake Poison (Pranesvara Lore)34 v20A Cluster of Mantras Against Poison and Harm21 v21Worship of the Five-Faced Shiva7 v22The Manner of Worshipping Shiva17 v23The Full Rite of Shiva Worship59 v24Worship of the Ganas, Durga, and Tripura10 v25Worship of the Seat5 v26Hand-Placement and the Kubjika Mandalas4 v27A Mantra Against the Poison of Serpents and Other Creatures1 v28Worship of Gopala13 v29The Rite of Worshipping Trailokyamohini7 v30The Rite of Worshipping Shridhara20 v31The Rite of Worshipping Vishnu32 v32The Rite of Worshipping the Five Principles42 v33The Rite of Worshipping Sudarshana16 v34The Rite of Worshipping Hayagriva57 v35The Placement of the Gayatri11 v36The Rite of the Twilight Worship18 v37The Gayatri Rite9 v38The Mantra, Worship, and Offering to Durga16 v39The Manner of Worshipping the Sun22 v40The Rite of Worshipping Maheshvara19 v41Mantras of Subjugation and Kindred Aims3 v42The Installation of Shiva's Sacred Cord25 v43The Installation of Vishnu's Sacred Cord43 v44Meditation on the Form of Brahman15 v45The Characteristics of Shalagrama Forms34 v46The Characteristics of Vastu Measurement38 v47The Characteristics of Temples, Lingas, and Pavilions47 v48The Consecration of Deities101 v49The Duties of the Varnas and Ashramas40 v50Daily Rites and the Rules of Impurity86 v51The Dharma of Giving34 v52The Rule of Expiation27 v53The Description of the Nine Treasures14 v54The Lineage of Priyavrata for the Cosmography18 v55The Description of Bhuvanakosha20 v56The Description of Bhuvanakosha (Continued)21 v57The Description of Patala and the Netherworlds10 v58The Description of the Cosmography31 v59Astrology: Nakshatras, Their Deities, and Dagdha-Yogas49 v60Astrology: Planetary Periods and the Kalapurusha23 v61Astrology: The Auspicious and Inauspicious Positions of the Planets18 v62Astrology: The Measure of the Ascendant and Ghatikas19 v63Astrology: The Physiognomy of Men20 v64Astrology: The Physiognomy of Women16 v65Astrology: The Physiognomy of Men and Women121 v66Shalagrama, the Sixty-Year Cycle, and the Rising of the Breath23 v67Svarodaya: The Auspicious and Inauspicious Signs of the Breath43 v68The Examination of Gems: The Diamond52 v69The Examination of Pearls44 v70The Examination of the Padmaraga (Ruby)34 v71The Examination of the Marakata (Emerald)29 v72The Examination of the Indranila (Sapphire)19 v73The Examination of the Vaidurya (Cat's-Eye)19 v74The Examination of the Pushparaga (Topaz)5 v75The Examination of the Karketana7 v76The Examination of the Bhishma Gem8 v77The Examination of the Pulaka4 v78The Examination of the Rudhiraksha Gem3 v79The Examination of Sphatika (Crystal)3 v80The Examination of Vidruma (Coral)4 v81The Glory of All Tirthas31 v82The Glory of Gaya (I) — The Slaying of Gayasura19 v83The Glory of Gaya (II) — The Sacred Sites and Their Fruits78 v84The Glory of Gaya (III) — The Pilgrimage Rite and the Story of Vishala48 v85The Glory of Gaya (IV) — The Invocation for All the Departed23 v86The Glory of Gaya (V) — Adi-Gadadhara and the Conclusion of the Gaya-Mahatmya40 v87The Fourteen Manus and Their Lineages64 v88Karma and Knowledge — The Dialogue of Ruchi and the Ancestors28 v89The Hymn to the Ancestors Composed by Ruchi83 v90The Coming of Pramlocha7 v91Meditation on Hari18 v92Meditation on Vishnu19 v93Yajnavalkya's Teaching on Varna-Dharma13 v94Yajnavalkya's Teaching on Varna-Dharma (II) — Upanayana and the Duties of a Student32 v95Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Duties of the Householder33 v96Yajnavalkya's Teaching on Mixed Castes and the Householder's Daily Rule73 v97Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Purification of Substances10 v98Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Law of Giving20 v99Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Rule of Shraddha45 v100Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Ganapati Rite17 v101Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Propitiation of the Planets12 v102Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Duties of the Forest-Dweller7 v103Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Duties of the Renunciant5 v104Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Ripening of Karma9 v105Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Discernment of Expiation73 v106Yajnavalkya's Teaching on Impurity and Livelihood in Adversity27 v107Parashara's Teaching on Dharma39 v108The Essence of Ethics Declared by Brihaspati29 v109The Great Essence of Ethics54 v110The Great Essence of Ethics (II)30 v111The Great Essence of Ethics (III) — On Kingship33 v112Brihaspati's Essence of Ethics — On the Qualities of Royal Officials25 v113The Great Essence of Ethics (IV) — On Karma and Equanimity63 v114The Great Essence of Ethics (V) — On Friendship, Trust, and Conduct75 v115Shaunaka's Essence of Ethics and Its Transmission83 v116The Vows of the Lunar Days and Other Observances8 v117The Vow of Ananga-Trayodashi15 v118The Telling of the Akhanda-Dvadashi Vow5 v119The Vow of Offering Arghya to Agastya6 v120The Vow of Rambha-Tritiya11 v121Exposition of the Chaturmasya Vow9 v122The Month-Long Fasting Vow7 v123The Kartika Vows and the Bhishmapanchaka15 v124The Shivaratri Vow23 v125The Glory of Ekadashi7 v126The Vishnu-Mandala Worship Rite7 v127The Glory of Ekadashi (continued): the Bhima-Dvadashi20 v128The Definition of Vows20 v129The Dashtoddhara-Panchami Vow: Deliverance from Snakebite32 v130Exposition of the Saptami Vows8 v131The Krishnashtami Vow21 v132The Budhashtami Vow21 v133The Mahanavami Vow (with the Ashoka-Ashtami)18 v134The Great Kaushika Mantra-Rite of Mahanavami7 v135The Rishi-Ekadashi Vow7 v136The Shravana-Dvadashi Vow12 v137Vows by Lunar Day, Weekday, and Asterism19 v138Description of the Solar Dynasty60 v139Description of the Lunar Dynasty78 v140Description of the Lunar Dynasty (continued)41 v141Description of the Future Royal Dynasties16 v142Description of the Ten Avatars28 v143Description of the Ramayana51 v144Description of the Harivamsha11 v145Description of the Bharata and Its Incarnations43 v146The Diagnosis of All Diseases24 v147The Diagnosis of Fever and Related Matters86 v148The Diagnosis of Raktapitta (Bleeding Disorders)17 v149The Diagnosis of Cough21 v150The Diagnosis of Dyspnea (Shvasa)18 v151The Diagnosis of Hiccup15 v152The Diagnosis of Consumption (Rajayakshma)27 v153The Diagnosis of Anorexia (Arochaka)10 v154The Diagnosis of Heart Disease, Thirst, and Amlapitta20 v155The Diagnosis of Alcoholism and Related Disorders (Madatyaya)35 v156The Diagnosis of Piles (Arsha)59 v157The Diagnosis of Dysentery (Atisara) and Grahani29 v158The Diagnosis of Urinary Obstruction and Urinary Difficulty40 v159The Diagnosis of Prameha (Urinary and Metabolic Disorders)39 v160The Diagnosis of Abscess and Abdominal Tumors (Vidradhi and Gulma)61 v161The Diagnosis of Abdominal Diseases (Udara Roga)45 v162The Diagnosis of Pandu (Anemia/Jaundice) and Shotha (Swelling)40 v163The Diagnosis of Visarpa (Spreading Skin Eruption)24 v164The Diagnosis of Kushtha (Skin Disease)41 v165The Diagnosis of Krimi (Intestinal Worms)14 v166The Diagnosis of Vata Vyadhi (Wind Disorders)53 v167The Diagnosis of Vatarakta (Gout)61 v168Definitions of Medical Science (Vaidyaka Shastra Paribhasha)54 v169The Rule of Anupana: Properties of Foods and Drinks65 v170The Treatment of Fever and Other Diseases78 v171The Treatment of Fistulous Wounds and Other Ailments71 v172The Treatment of Women's Diseases43 v173The Six Tastes and the Properties of Unctuous Substances33 v174Brahmi Ghrita and Other Medicated Preparations24 v175Various Fever-Destroying Formulas18 v176On Hair Growth and Related Remedies18 v177Eye Collyriums and Miscellaneous Remedies89 v178Formulas of Attraction and Conception28 v179Remedies for Teeth, Ears, and Eyes11 v180Further Formulas of Attraction12 v181Remedies for the Eyes, Throat, Voice, and Skin11 v182Vitality, Fire-Resistance, and Poison-Antidote Formulas28 v183Remedies for Grahani, Fever, and Skin Diseases19 v184Medical Science: Piles, Alchemy, and Miscellaneous Remedies37 v185Mantra-Tantra Applications in Medicine37 v186Remedies for Urinary Disorders, Goitre, Fistula, and Piles15 v187Formulas for Longevity (Ayushkara Yoga)14 v188Treatment of Wounds, Spirit-Affliction, and Fevers12 v189Remedies and Protective Amulets Against Poison, Fever, and Spirits16 v190Remedies for Goitre, Skin Disease, and the Body's Radiance32 v191Antidotes for Poison from Bites and Stings24 v192Great Formulas: Vata-Oil, Brahmi Ghrita, and Eye and Ear Remedies48 v193Concluding Formulas: Intellect, Fever, and the Lord as Remedy17 v194The Vaishnava Kavacha (Vishnu's Protective Armor)29 v195The Wish-Granting Hymn of Chitraketu6 v196The Vishnu-Dharma Knowledge and Its Directional Protections16 v197The Garuda Mantra: Ritual Placement and Visualization55 v198The Tripura Mantra and the Jvalamukhi Worship-Order10 v199The Chudamani: An Omen-Chart of Eight Signs35 v200The Science of the Breath (Vayu-Jaya)9 v201The Ayurveda of Horses and Elephants (Hayayurveda and Gajayurveda)39 v202Various Medicinal Preparations28 v203Further Remedies for Horses and Cattle8 v204A Glossary of Medicinal Plants, Minerals, and Measures86 v205Grammar (Vyakarana): The Case System and Verb Conjugation26 v206Grammar: Examples of Sandhi, Compounds, and Declension27 v207Chandah-shastra: The Terminology of Prosody5 v208Chandah-shastra: The Arya Family of Meters18 v209Chandah-shastra: The Catalogue of Fixed Syllabic Meters41 v210Chandah-shastra: The Ardhasama (Half-Regular) Meters7 v211Chandah-shastra: The Vishama (Irregular) Meters10 v212Chandah-shastra: The Prastara — the Combinatorics of Meter5 v213Achara: The Daily Conduct and Dharma of the Twice-Born159 v214The Rule of Ritual Bathing (Snana-vidhi)41 v215Tarpana: Libations to the Gods, Sages, and Ancestors8 v216Vaishvadeva: The Rule of the Fire-Offering2 v217The Rule of Sandhya (Twilight Worship)13 v218The Rite of Parvana-Shraddha (The Ancestor-Offering)34 v219The Nitya, Vriddhi, and Ekoddishta Shraddhas8 v220Sapindikarana: The Rite of Union with the Ancestors10 v221The Essence of Dharma24 v222Prayashchitta: The Rules of Expiation66 v223The Dharma of the Four Yugas37 v224The Naimittika and Prakritika Dissolutions of the World12 v225Karma-Vipaka: The Wheel of Rebirth and the Fruits of Deeds37 v226Ashtanga-Yoga: The Eight-Limbed Path to Liberation40 v227The Glory of Devotion to Vishnu38 v228The Glory of Vishnu's Name20 v229The Worship of Vishnu9 v230The Glory of Remembering Vishnu54 v231Narasimha-Stotra: Shiva's Hymn to Narasimha25 v232Kulamrita-Stotra: Shiva's Teaching to Narada24 v233Mrityu-Ashtakam: Markandeya's Hymn Against Death11 v234Achyuta-Stotra: Brahma's Hymn to Vishnu66 v235Brahma-Vijnana: The Knowledge of Brahman55 v236Atma-Jnana: The Knowledge of the Self41 v237Bhagavad-Gita-Sara: The Essence of the Gita12 v238The Eight Limbs of Yoga: Yama and Niyama12 v239Brahma-Gita: The Song of Brahman36 v240The Glory of the Garuda Purana43 v
Why it matters today
The embedded Ayurveda treatise closing this khanda is one of the more substantial pieces of classical medical literature preserved inside any Purana, and its inclusion alongside cosmology, ethics, and ritual reflects a worldview in which bodily health, right conduct, and cosmic order were treated as continuous concerns rather than separate domains of knowledge.