Ghanta means bell, Karna means ear.
He used to have bells as his Karnabhushana (ear ornaments), so that whenever someone uttered the name of Narayana, he would shake his head to ensure that this sacred name wouldn’t pass through his ears.
Strange, isn’t it?
Let’s dive into his purana.
Ghantakarna is actually a pishacha, a man-eater. He was an ardent hater of Bhagavan Vishnu, but a fierce devotee of Shiva. He wore bells as earrings so that if anyone chanted Vishnu’s name, he would shake his head violently to avoid hearing it.
Wherever he went, destruction followed. Why? This is what happens when a pishacha steps in.
Despite being an ardent devotee of Shiva, he couldn’t escape his destructive nature and caused havoc. His intense devotion led him to perform tapas on Shiva. When Swamy appeared before him, pleased by his penance, He asked Ghantakarna to request a boon.
Ghantakarna, though a manflesh-eating pishacha, asked for a boon that only born saints usually ask for — yes, he asked for liberation, mukti. He added that he had no interest in continuing the cycles of pain and pleasure, or the birth-death cycle. He sought no other boon but mukti.
Swamy hesitated. He explained that what Ghantakarna was asking was something that even sages performing tapas for thousands of years hadn’t attained. Granting mukti to a pishacha would be an injustice to all those sages. Moreover, one whose heart is filled with hatred cannot attain mukti. Swamy told him that Vishnu is greater than Him and only He can grant liberation.
Hearing this, Ghantakarna was shocked and began crying. When Swamy inquired, Ghantakarna replied that he had shown dire hatred towards Vishnu for so many years—how would Vishnu ever grant him mukti? Swamy looked at the child-like mindset of the pishacha and said, “Vishnu loves His devotees and will surely forgive you and help you get liberated.” He added that Vishnu was now born as Shri Krishna and living in Dwaraka. Swamy instructed Ghantakarna to go and meet Him for the boon. With that, Swamy blessed him and vanished.
Ghantakarna began preparing a journey to Dwaraka and eventually arrived there. When he inquired about Krishna, people told him that Krishna had gone to Kailasha to seek a boon from Shiva, as He was desiring a son. Hearing this, Ghantakarna thought, “Swamy sent me to Krishna for mukti, saying Vishnu is the greatest… and even Krishna is at the mercy of Shiva!”
But he did not allow his mind to think like humans do. He simply followed Shiva’s words, cut down that thought, and went to Kailasha to get a darshana of Krishna.
Krishna was meditating along with other sages in Badrikashrama. Other pishachas led by Ghantakarna were disturbing the sages there, among whom Krishna was one. Ghantakarna noticed a royal-looking figure and approached Krishna, saying, “The way you meditate upon Shiva impressed me. Tell me, who are you?”
Krishna asked him in return, “You first tell me who you are and why you’re disturbing people here!”
Ghantakarna told Krishna everything and sighed deeply: “I don’t know how Krishna is going to forgive me for all the hatred I’ve shown Him over the years.” Krishna replied, “Do not worry. I’ve already forgiven you.”
Ghantakarna looked at Krishna, stunned and perplexed by His words. As he gazed in wonder, Krishna granted him Vishwarupa Darshana and revealed that He was indeed the great Maha Vishnu, and had truly forgiven him.
Overjoyed, Ghantakarna brought the half-eaten flesh of a brahmana as a gift to Krishna, an expression of his love. This is the kind of love pishachas can show. Krishna gently told him that He would not touch it, and asked him not to mistake that for rejection.
When Ghantakarna hesitantly asked about his liberation, Krishna patted him on the back like a friend. At that moment, Ghantakarna shed his pishacha form, assumed a divine form with eighteen arms, and ascended to Vaikuntha.
This is how Ghantakarna, a pishacha, became a Guardian Murti for Mahavishnu.
This is one such story from the puranas.
The other story, related to mantrika vidya, is this:
Ghantakarna was born out of the ear wax of Shiva to save Bhadrakali.
The Keraliya system works with four vidyas: Darukajit, Mahishajit, Rurujit, and Dakshajit. Practitioners follow one of these vidyas based on their parampara.
This Ghantakarna falls within the Darukajit Bhadrakali Vidya, which is the parampara I belong to. I don’t know his role in the other three.
Bhadrakali came from the third eye of Shiva to kill Darukasuran, who had a boon from Brahma that no man could kill him. Eventually, she beheaded him and held his severed head. Mandodari, the wife of Darukasuran, came to know of this and performed intense tapas to seek revenge on Bhadrakali.
Shiva appeared before her, gave her his sweat, and told her that whoever it is sprinkled upon would be affected by smallpox. She then sprinkled Shiva’s sweat on Bhadrakali’s face. Bhadrakali was afflicted with smallpox and suffered greatly.
To help her, Shiva created Ghantakarna and instructed him: if he licks someone, their smallpox would be cured. He then summoned Ghantakarna to Bhadrakali.
Ghantakarna came to Bhadrakali and began licking her face to cure her. After a while, Bhadrakali refused his help, stating that since they are technically brother and sister, a brother should not be so close to his sister’s face. She insisted on remaining with smallpox for the rest of her days.
That’s why, to this day, the Darukajit Bhadrakali form has smallpox marks on her face.
This is yet another legend from the mantrika vidya tradition. And, here he is referred as Puli-Bhairava.
This is how his role as an effective, protective form of divinity was established.
Ghantakarna’s blessings can shield devotees from harm, ward off negative energies, and ensure their safety and well-being. As a fierce and formidable deity, Ghantakarna is revered for his ability to vanquish evil forces, demons, and malevolent spirits that may threaten the peace and prosperity of individuals and communities.
His presence is a source of strength and protection, inspiring faith and devotion among his followers.
Ghantakarna is assigned eighteen arms, bearing divine weapons such as:
Vajra – Thunderbolt
Asi – Sword
Danda – Staff
Chakra – Discus
Ishu – Arrow
Musala – mace-like weapon
Ankusha – Elephant goad
Mudgara – Hammer
Tarjani – Gesture of threat or warning (raised index finger)
Kheta – Shield
Shakti – Spear
Munda – Severed head
Pasha – Noose
Chapa – Bow
Ghanta – Bell
Kuthara – Axe
Shula – Trident
