Chitragupta Temple, Kanchipuram

The holy temple city of Kancheepuram is famous not only for a number of Shiva temples and the Vaishnava Temple, but also because of the presence of a unique and a separate temple dedicated to Lord Chitragupta. Chitragupta is considered the chief accountant and the minister of Lord Yama, or the God of Death. There is no other separate shrine or temple that has been built devoted to Chitragupta, other than the Chitragupta temple in Kancheepuram.

According to the Puranas, Lord Yama requested Lord Siva to get Him an intelligent chief minister and chief accountant for looking after the good and bad deeds committed by the human beings. Lord Siva in turn told Brahma, and Chitragupta was born to the Sun God and Neeladevi.

He is considered the younger brother of Lord Yama. Chitragupta keeps record of all the good and evil deeds of humans and accordingly decides to send them to heaven or hell.

Chitragupta is the Athi Devathai for Kethu which is one of the Navagrahas. So, anyone who worships Chitragupta at the temple would be endowed with good health, prosperity and spiritual knowledge. The evil effects of Ketu would also be mitigated.

There are a large number of worshippers and devotees who come to the temple to perform pujas, especially during the Pournami or full moon every month. The Chitra Pournami is celebrated on a grand scale annually.

The presiding deity at the Chitragupta temple, Kancheepuram is in a sitting posture holding a pen in the right hand. The left hand holds a palm leaf, both symbols of his work. There is also the Utsava Panchaloka idol of Chitragupta whioch is seen along with his consort Karnikambal.

source: http://www.parihara.com/chitragupta-kanchi.html

The Temples of Chitragupta

Puranic Origin: As long as the creatures or the living beings do not secure liberation or Mukti which is a state of eternal bliss, they are bound to get involved in the continuous cycle of births and deaths. The feeling of pain and pleasure, grief and joy that are experienced in this world are the result of actions in former life. The virtuous deeds lead to pleasure and the sinful acts to grief. Thus the fate of individual is determined by his or her own actions in former life. The old saying 'As you sow, so you reap" enunciates the same idea. The deity appointed by the Lord to maintain accounts of virtues and vices of all living-beings so as to reward or punish them suitably in their ensuing births is known as Lord Chitragupta. He assists Lord Yama Dharmaraja in enforcing Dharma and granting the jeevas the fruits of their actions by taking into account the bad and good aspects of their deeds, the 'Papa' and the 'Punya'. Once when Lord Siva was in the company of his consort uma Devi in Kailasa, it strurk him that the people on the earth would abstain from vices and indulge in virtuous deeds only if they came to know that there was some one competent to keep a close watch over their deeds and maintain a proper account of them. At once he ordered for a gold plate to be brought and drew a picture on it. Impressed by the beauty of that picture, Goddess Parvati requested him to vivify it. Immediately the picture was transformed into a deity by the sheer volition of Siva and Sakti. The deity was entrusted with the duty of maintaining accounts of the sins and virtues of all living-beings. He came to be called 'Chitragupta'. The word 'Chitra' means a picture and the word 'Gupta' an accountant - the figure that became an accountant. Kanchipuram is also called Satyavrata Kshetra as the residents strictly observe the vow of speaking the truth. Hence Chitragupta chose Kanchipuram, sanctified by the enternal presence of Vishnu, Siva and Kamakshi, to worship these deities to be able or discharge the assigned duty faithfully. Description of the Temple: A Chola King named Senni, who ruled over Kanchi constructed a temple for him in Kanchipuram. This temple is very near the Kanchipuram bus stand. The deity is seen with a plam-leaf ledger and a writing nail as if to show that he is aware of our actions and prompt in maintaining the accounts of our deeds. It is remarkable that a temple for Chitragupta is found only in Kanchipuram and no where else. He is the Deity controlling Kethu graha, one among the nine planets. Worshiping Sri Chitragupta on a full-moon day is considered very beneficial. Devotees who corne to worship Sri Chitragupta realise that the actions of all living beings are watched by the Almighty and that one should strive to get qualified for jeevanmukthi only by treading the path of Dharma and devotion to the Lord with a firm belief that liberation of the soul can be achieved only by the grace of God.

Chitirai Pournami: Chitra Poornima

Chitra Pournami, or Chitirai Purnima, is a unique Tamil festival observed on the full moon day (Poornima) in the month of Chitirai (April – May). The day is dedicated to Chitragupta, the official keeper of deeds in the abode of Yama. It is believed that bathing in holy rivers and temple ponds on the day will wash away the sins committed.In 2009, the date of Chitirai Pournami is May 9. (It must be note that in 2009 that Pournami Tithi begins on May 8 in some regions and ends on May 9). Pournami is marked on May 9 in such calendars.

In Hinduism, Chitragupta, the first assistant of Lord Yama, is the one who keeps record of the good and bad deeds of human beings on earth. After death, when one reaches the abode of yama, it is he who tallies the good and bad deeds and declares it to Yama. Therefore, the day is dedicated to Chitragupta and devotees pray to him to forgive their sins.

Another important legend associated with Chitra Poornima, involves Lord Indra, the king of Gods, and his Guru Brihaspati. Once Indra and Brihaspati had an altercation, and the Guru stopped advising his pupil. Without the sound counsel of his Guru, Indra committed numerous sins. Finally, when Brihaspati relented and took up his duty. He then advised Indra to undertake a pilgrimage to the earth to alleviate the burden of sins committed by him in his absence.

One day during his pilgrimage, Indra had a sudden realization that he has been redeemed from his sins. He looked around and noticed a Shivling under a Kadamba tree. He was sure that it was Lord Shiva who had helped him in alleviating his sins. He decided to worship the Lingam and to his surprise he found golden lotus in a nearby pond. He prayed to Shiva by offering the golden lotus. This happened on a Chitra Pournami day and the place was Madurai in Tamil Nadu. In remembrance of this event, in the Madurai Meenakshi temple, a Devendra Puja is observed on Chitra Poornima.

Elaborate pujas are done on Chitirai Pournami in temples and a special rice offering is made to Chitragupta.
source: http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/04/chitirai-pournami-chitra-poornima-2008.html