Ghaṇṭākarṇa
Ghaṇṭākarṇa was a piśāca (a class of unclean spirit) who received moksha (liberation) from Bhagavān Kṛshṇa at Badarikāśrama. This happened while Bhagavān Kṛshṇa was travelling north toward Kailāsa.
His name means “Bell-eared”. He wore bells (ghaṇṭā) in his ears. The names of Bhagavān Vishṇu were written on his piśāca body. When the presence of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa came to Badarikāśrama, deep devotion rose in Ghaṇṭākarṇa. He made and recited a Sanskrit stotra (hymn of praise) to Bhagavān Kṛshṇa, entered samādhi through his recitation, and received the darśana (sight) of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa and then liberation.
Who he was
Ghaṇṭākarṇa belonged to the piśāca class of beings. He stood out because the names of Bhagavān Vishṇu were written across his body. The Bhavishya Parva does not say how this writing came to be there. Bells in his ears gave him his name.
Liberation at Badarikāśrama
Bhagavān Kṛshṇa stopped at Badarikāśrama on his way north toward Kailāsa, where he would do tapas (austerity) for twelve years. A group of piśācas were at that holy place. It is the place where Nara-Nārāyaṇa have done tapas without end from the earliest time.
The presence of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa at this holy tīrtha woke deep and long-kept bhakti (devotion) in Ghaṇṭākarṇa. He made a Sanskrit stotra praising Bhagavān Kṛshṇa as the highest refuge of all beings, whatever their birth and however dark their state.
While Ghaṇṭākarṇa recited the stotra, he entered samādhi, a state of absorption in Bhagavān Kṛshṇa in which he no longer knew his piśāca state. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa gave him darśana of his divine form and then liberation. The Bhavishya Parva shows in this that even a piśāca at Badarikāśrama, moved by devotion, receives the highest gift.
Sources
- Harivaṃśa Purāṇa, Bhavishya Parva, Chapter 78