The Importance of Chitragupta Puja

What is the reason behind Celebrating Chitragupta Puja?

मसीभाजन संयुक्तश्चरसि त्वम् ! महीतले |

लेखनी कटिनीहस्त चित्रगुप्त नमोस्तुते ||

चित्रगुप्त ! मस्तुभ्यं लेखकाक्षरदायकं |

कायस्थजातिमासाद्य चित्रगुप्त ! नामोअस्तुते ||

On the land of the dead, Lord Yama struggled a lot to determine the afterlife fate of living souls as to - whether to transfer the soul to Heaven or to Hell. As per the Legend, many times, Lord Yama made mistakes in the soul transferring process and finally gave up on the guilt of committing repeated mistakes which was gradually taking a shape of a Crime. Upon this, Lord Brahma created Chitragupta Ji Maharaj from his Kaya (body). Chitragupta Ji was bestowed with the power of keeping the records of every life on Earth. He strategised the Post Life flow of Souls' whereabouts and helped Lord Yama. So, on this day after literally, all festivals are over irrespective of the religion, caste and Creed, this is the last Puja we observe every year where our four virtues are put to test in front of Lord Chitragupta and they are Justice, Peace, Literacy and Knowledge. It means the mentioned parameters evaluate our performances all through the year and are examined by Chitragupta Ji. Therefore, we pray to Him to help us come out of all wrongs and also to help us correct our wrongs in the following years. 

Knowing that Chitragupta Ji is the worshipper of Pen and Ink, we offer various Stationary items well arranged in a plate-like: Pen, Pencil, Pencil box, Ink pots, Knives, Scissors, Staplers, pins, folders etc, for the puja. 

On our regular day, if you will notice, we generally do rough work with a pencil so as to erase it for various reasons in terms of it actually been a rough work, or something confidential or a mistake rectification before making a final write-up with a Pen. Therefore, a Pencil allows us to make mistakes which we are bound to make every day. At the same time, the eraser helps us come out of the mistakes confidently. Pen signifies the confidence in ourselves which encourages us to make a final call for the given task. The stapler and pin to staple the documents of our deeds and scissors and knives to cut throw the wrong we did in the present day as a learning. You can very well relate it to the childhood days where; in Elementary schools we are put to write with pencils and from the Higher Secondary onward we are allowed to use the Pen.

Each arranged plate is further sprinkled with "Aipan" consisting of Rice flour, Roli and Turmeric. The Puja is concluded with the offered beautiful delicacies and Charnamrit with Tulsi leaves.

The present believers address Chitragupta Ji as a teacher, a preacher, even HR head :) or whatever you think will best fit to define your faith in Chitragupta Ji Maharaj.

The festival is observed in the month of Kartik (Hindu Calendar) Shukla Paksha on Dwitiya Tithi post-Deepawali. It is mostly observed by a particular Varn of the society - Kayastha Jaati and the same has further 12 subdivisions to help the big Kayastha family understand and follow the tradition forever. 

Cheers

Snigdha