Ghaṇṭākarṇa Moksha

On his way north to Mount Kailāsa, Bhagavān Kṛshṇa stops at Badarikāśrama. A group of piśācas (fierce beings of a lower birth) have gathered there. One of them is Ghaṇṭākarṇa, who wears bells in his ears and has the name of Bhagavān Vishṇu written on his body. He sings a stotra to Bhagavān Kṛshṇa and enters samādhi. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa then shows him his divine form and frees him from his piśāca birth.

Kṛshṇa’s journey to Badarī

Bhagavān Kṛshṇa decided to go to Kailāsa for a time of deep tapas (austerity). His queen Rukmiṇī wished for a son of great virtue. He gave the protection of Dvārakā to Balarāma and Sātyaki, mounted Garuḍa and set out to the north.

The journey took him through the holy Himālaya region to Badarikāśrama. This is the ancient āśrama of Nara and Nārāyaṇa, on the banks of the Alakanandā. There Bhagavān Vishṇu himself, in his form as Nara-Nārāyaṇa, had performed tapas for the good of all the worlds. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapters 74 and 75)

The ṛshis’ welcome and the piśācas

At Badarikāśrama the ṛshis who had gathered there welcomed Bhagavān Kṛshṇa with joy. They offered him water, flowers and prayers. His arrival filled the āśrama with a rare light and peace. A group of piśācas had also gathered at this tīrtha (holy place), nearby. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapters 76 and 77)

Ghaṇṭākarṇa, the bell-eared piśāca

Among the piśācas was Ghaṇṭākarṇa. His name tells how he looked: he wears bells (ghaṇṭā) in his ears. His piśāca form was fierce. Yet he was marked in one way. The names and syllables of Bhagavān Vishṇu were written on his body. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapter 78)

The stotra and samādhi

When Bhagavān Kṛshṇa came near, Ghaṇṭākarṇa was moved. He recited a Sanskrit stotra (hymn of praise) to Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. The stotra praised Bhagavān Kṛshṇa as the highest reality, the source and goal of all beings, and the one who frees all who take refuge in him, whatever form they now have. As Ghaṇṭākarṇa recited it, he entered samādhi, the deep stillness of complete absorption in the one he was meditating on. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapter 78)

Darśana and liberation

Bhagavān Kṛshṇa was moved by the piśāca‘s sincere devotion. He gave him darśana, a direct sight of his divine form in all its glory. Ghaṇṭākarṇa saw Bhagavān Kṛshṇa face to face. After this darśana, Bhagavān Kṛshṇa gave him mukti (liberation) from the piśāca birth and from the cycle of saṃsāra altogether. The bell-eared piśāca was fully set free. (Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapter 78)

Sources

• Hari Vamśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapters 74 to 78