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The Garud Puran offers a terrifying yet enlightening glimpse into the fate of souls after death. Among its deepest spiritual revelations lies the concept of Pret Lok and Atma—a state where the soul becomes stuck between the living world and the afterlife. The knowledge of pret lok and atma in Garud Puran warns us about the consequences of incomplete karma and rituals.
According to the Garud Puran, not every soul transitions directly to Swarg or Narak. Some remain in a ghostly, painful realm called Pret Lok, where they suffer in a bodiless state. Understanding pret lok and atma in Garud Puran helps us appreciate the importance of proper last rites, shraddha, and pitru shanti.
👤 What is Pret Lok According to Garud Puran?
Pret Lok is the subtle realm of ghosts and spirits, described vividly in the Garud Puran. It is inhabited by atmas (souls) who could not complete their karmic cycle due to:
- Sudden or violent deaths
- Death during childbirth, suicide, or accidents
- Improper cremation or missing shraddha rituals
- Intense desires, attachments, or sins
The pret lok and atma in Garud Puran represent a karmic glitch where the soul neither moves forward nor backward—trapped in suffering and seeking closure.
⚠️ Signs of a Soul in Pret Lok (As per Garud Puran)
The Garud Puran lists several signs that indicate a soul is stuck in Pret Lok:
- Dreams of dead relatives repeatedly calling or crying
- Paranormal disturbances at home (sudden illness, broken idols, lost money)
- Ancestral voices heard during rituals
- Restlessness during amavasya or pitru paksha
These are not coincidences—these are cries from souls described in the pret lok and atma in garud puran.
🔔 Rituals to Free the Atma from Pret Lok
The Garud Puran strongly emphasizes that souls in Pret Lok can be freed with the right acts of faith and discipline. Here’s what is prescribed:
1. Shraddha Vidhi
Performing shraddha with black sesame, kush, and sacred mantras releases the atma from Pret Yoni. This is one of the key rituals in pret lok and atma in Garud Puran.
2. Garud Puran Paath
Reading verses of the Garud Puran during the 13 days after death helps guide the soul and protect the family from pret dosh.
3. Pind Daan at Gaya or Prayag
Offering pind daan on sacred rivers is the most powerful method to release the soul from pret lok, as mentioned in the Garud Puran.
4. Lighting a Deepak for Atma Shanti
Every Amavasya, light a ghee lamp facing south with a silent prayer. It pleases the ancestors and helps dissolve pret shakti.
🧠 What the Soul Experiences in Pret Lok
The pret lok and atma in Garud Puran also describe the soul’s internal suffering:
- Hunger without a body
- Craving for warmth, touch, or remembrance
- Guilt and frustration
- Fear of never finding peace
Only the living descendants can help these souls by following dharmic responsibilities.
🕉️ Conclusion: What Pret Lok Teaches Us
The concept of pret lok and atma in Garud Puran is a cosmic message: complete your duties, honor your ancestors, and walk the path of truth. The restless souls of Pret Lok are not evil—they’re incomplete. Through prayers, daan, and rituals, you hold the power to grant them peace—and invite blessings into your own life.