The Divine History of Lord Chitragupta

Lord Chitragupta, also known as Chitragupta Deva, is a highly revered deity in Hindu Dharma, believed to be the divine accountant of Yama Dharma Raja, the Lord of Death. His primary duty is to meticulously record the good and bad deeds (karma) of every living being on Earth. Origin and Birth of Chitragupta Deva

According to the Garuda Purana and other ancient scriptures, Lord Chitragupta was created directly by Lord Brahma, the Creator of the Universe. He is the only deity who was created from the mind and soul (chit + gupta) of Brahma rather than from the body. Hence the name Chitragupta, which means “the hidden consciousness” or “secret intelligence.” Brahma created Chitragupta to assist Yama, who faced difficulty in maintaining detailed records of human deeds. Chitragupta was blessed with divine intelligence and spiritual powers to ensure perfect accounting of karma. He is also considered to be a symbol of fairness, justice, and dharma.

Duties and Role in the Afterlife

When a soul leaves the mortal body, it appears before Yama. It is Chitragupta who reads out the detailed life account of the soul from his sacred records, based on which Yama makes decisions about the soul's next path — heaven, rebirth, or punishment. He is believed to maintain two books: one for good deeds (Punya) and one for bad deeds (Paapa). His work reminds us that every action is recorded and nothing goes unnoticed in the eyes of divine justice.

Chitragupta in Temples and Worship

• He is often worshipped by people seeking moral purification, justice, and spiritual merit.

• Special pujas and homams are performed on Chitra Pournami, the full moon day in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May), which is dedicated to Chitragupta Deva.

• A few rare temples dedicated to Chitragupta exist in South India, notably in Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu).