Chitragupta is a Hindu God assigned with the task of keeping
complete records of actions of human beings on the earth, and upon their
death, deciding as regards sending them to the heaven or the hell,
depending on their actions on the earth. Chitragupta Maharaj is the
patron deity of Kayasthas, a Hindu varna of India that doesn't fall
within the famous four vedic varnas.
According to the Vedic scriptures, the souls of men after death
receive rewards and punishments according to their sins and virtues, and
hence it is believed that good and bad deeds of men are not destroyed.
The souls of men after death go to Yamapuri which is presided over by
the deities called Yamas who keep records of men’s actions and
accordingly give them their dues. The principal Yama is called Yamaraja
or Dharamaraja, that is, the ruler of Yamapuri or the King of Laws.
The Yama Samhita which is an extract from the 9th Chapter of Ahilya
Kamdhenu, a work of Hindu Law, says that Dharamaraja complained to Lord
Brahma about his difficulties in performing his most responsible duties
of keeping records of the deeds of men and doing justice to them. Lord
Brahma went into meditation. Shree Chitragupta sprang from his body and
stood before him bearing an inkpot and a pen. The God Brahma (Creator)
said: "Because you are sprung from my body (kaya), therefore you shall
be called Kayastha and as you existed in my body unseen I give you the
name of Chitragupta." He then assumed charge of Yamapuri. Dharma Sharma
married his daughter Irawati to Chitragupta and Manuji, son of Surya
(the Sun) married his daughter Sudakhina to him." Chitragupta had eight
sons from the former and. four from the latter and these twelve sons
became the progenitors of the twelve sub−divisions of the
Chitraguptavansi Kayasthas, namely, Mathur, Gaur, Nigam, Ashthana,
Kulshretha, Suryadwaja, Bhatnagar, Srivastava,Ambastha, Saxena, Karana
and Vaalmik.
Padma Purana after stating the legend says: "Shree Chitragupta was placed near Dharamaraj to register the good and evil actions of all sentient beings,that he was possessed of supernatural wisdom and became the partaker of sacrifices offered to the gods and fire. It is for this reason that the twice−born always give him oblations from their food. As he sprang from the body of Lord Brahma he was called Kayastha of numerous gotras on the face of the earth." Bhavishya Purana states that God, the Creator, gave the name and duties of Chitragupta as follows: Because you have sprung from my body, therefore, you shall be called Kayastha and shall be famous in the world by the name of Chitragupta. Oh my son, let your residence be always in the region of the God of justice for the purpose of determining the merits and demerits of men.
Vignana Tantra says the same thing. The same is the enjoinment of Lord Brahma to Shree Chitragupta according to Brihat Brahma Khanda. He was named Kayastha having sprung from the body (kaya) of Lord Brahma. He was directed to perform all sanskars and to have writing as his profession.
Garuda Purana describes the imperial throne of Shree Chitragupta in Yamapuri holding his Court and dispensing justice according to the deeds of men and maintaining their record, in the following words: (There Dharmaraja, Chitragupta, Sravana and others see all sins and virtues which remain concealed in the bodies of men). The Mahabharata (Anusasan Parva, Chap. 130) recites the teaching of Shree Chitragupta requiring men to do virtuous and charitable acts and performing Yagya, saying that men are rewarded or punished according to their good or bad deeds.
Bhagvaan Chitragupt Legends Lord Chitragupta came into being after Lord Brahma, the Creator, having established the four varnas — Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra — ordained Dharamraj (also called Yamraj, the god of death) to keep record of the deeds — good and evil — of all life-forms born and yet to be born on earth, in the heavens above and in the lands below. Dharamraj, however, complained, "O Lord, how can I alone keep record of the deeds of the beings born into 84 lakh yonis (life-forms) in the three worlds?" Lord Brahma went into meditation for 11, 000 years and when he opened his eyes he saw a man holding pen and ink-pot in his hands and a sword girdled to his waist. Lord Brahma spoke: “Thou hast been created from my body (Kaya), therefore shall thy progeny be known as the Kayasthas. Thou hast been conceived in my mind (Chitra) and in secrecy (gupta), thy name shall also be Chitragupta.” Brahma then enjoined him to dispense justice and punish those who violated the dharma (duties). Lord Chitragupta is considered omnipresent and omniscient, believed to keep meticulous, complete and accurate records of the actions of all human beings from their birth till death. Shree Chitraguptjee creates log of the lives of all living beings, judges their lives based on good-deeds and misdoing, and decides, upon ones death, whether they will attain Nirvana, i.e., the completion of their life cycle & redemption from all worldly troubles or, receive punishment for their misdoing in another life form. We also know this in theosophical parlance as the "Akashic Records". In the Garud Puran, Chitragupta is hailed as the first man to give the script. "Chitragupta namastubhyam vedaksaradatre"
In the legends of Chitragupta as well as in the Vedas, he is referred to as the greatest king, while the rest are "Rajakas," or little kings. The Rig Veda mentions an invocation to be made to Chitragupta before offering sacrifice. There is also a special invocation to Chitragupta as Dharmraj (Lord of Justice) to be made at the performance of shradh or other rituals. "Om tat purushaya vidmahe Chitragupta dhimahi tena lekha prachodayata." The priests also pay reverence to Shri Chitragupta: "Yamam Dharmarajya Chitraguptaya vain namah."' Lord Chitragupta is the Athi Devathai for Kethu, one of the Navagrahas, and those who worship Chitragupta, would be bestowed with prosperity. Also the evil effects of Kethu during its transit period would be mitigated.The birthday of Shree Chitraguptaji is celebrated on Yamadwitiya and Chitraguptajayanti Puja is performed on this day.
Padma Purana after stating the legend says: "Shree Chitragupta was placed near Dharamaraj to register the good and evil actions of all sentient beings,that he was possessed of supernatural wisdom and became the partaker of sacrifices offered to the gods and fire. It is for this reason that the twice−born always give him oblations from their food. As he sprang from the body of Lord Brahma he was called Kayastha of numerous gotras on the face of the earth." Bhavishya Purana states that God, the Creator, gave the name and duties of Chitragupta as follows: Because you have sprung from my body, therefore, you shall be called Kayastha and shall be famous in the world by the name of Chitragupta. Oh my son, let your residence be always in the region of the God of justice for the purpose of determining the merits and demerits of men.
Vignana Tantra says the same thing. The same is the enjoinment of Lord Brahma to Shree Chitragupta according to Brihat Brahma Khanda. He was named Kayastha having sprung from the body (kaya) of Lord Brahma. He was directed to perform all sanskars and to have writing as his profession.
Garuda Purana describes the imperial throne of Shree Chitragupta in Yamapuri holding his Court and dispensing justice according to the deeds of men and maintaining their record, in the following words: (There Dharmaraja, Chitragupta, Sravana and others see all sins and virtues which remain concealed in the bodies of men). The Mahabharata (Anusasan Parva, Chap. 130) recites the teaching of Shree Chitragupta requiring men to do virtuous and charitable acts and performing Yagya, saying that men are rewarded or punished according to their good or bad deeds.
Bhagvaan Chitragupt Legends Lord Chitragupta came into being after Lord Brahma, the Creator, having established the four varnas — Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra — ordained Dharamraj (also called Yamraj, the god of death) to keep record of the deeds — good and evil — of all life-forms born and yet to be born on earth, in the heavens above and in the lands below. Dharamraj, however, complained, "O Lord, how can I alone keep record of the deeds of the beings born into 84 lakh yonis (life-forms) in the three worlds?" Lord Brahma went into meditation for 11, 000 years and when he opened his eyes he saw a man holding pen and ink-pot in his hands and a sword girdled to his waist. Lord Brahma spoke: “Thou hast been created from my body (Kaya), therefore shall thy progeny be known as the Kayasthas. Thou hast been conceived in my mind (Chitra) and in secrecy (gupta), thy name shall also be Chitragupta.” Brahma then enjoined him to dispense justice and punish those who violated the dharma (duties). Lord Chitragupta is considered omnipresent and omniscient, believed to keep meticulous, complete and accurate records of the actions of all human beings from their birth till death. Shree Chitraguptjee creates log of the lives of all living beings, judges their lives based on good-deeds and misdoing, and decides, upon ones death, whether they will attain Nirvana, i.e., the completion of their life cycle & redemption from all worldly troubles or, receive punishment for their misdoing in another life form. We also know this in theosophical parlance as the "Akashic Records". In the Garud Puran, Chitragupta is hailed as the first man to give the script. "Chitragupta namastubhyam vedaksaradatre"
In the legends of Chitragupta as well as in the Vedas, he is referred to as the greatest king, while the rest are "Rajakas," or little kings. The Rig Veda mentions an invocation to be made to Chitragupta before offering sacrifice. There is also a special invocation to Chitragupta as Dharmraj (Lord of Justice) to be made at the performance of shradh or other rituals. "Om tat purushaya vidmahe Chitragupta dhimahi tena lekha prachodayata." The priests also pay reverence to Shri Chitragupta: "Yamam Dharmarajya Chitraguptaya vain namah."' Lord Chitragupta is the Athi Devathai for Kethu, one of the Navagrahas, and those who worship Chitragupta, would be bestowed with prosperity. Also the evil effects of Kethu during its transit period would be mitigated.The birthday of Shree Chitraguptaji is celebrated on Yamadwitiya and Chitraguptajayanti Puja is performed on this day.
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