Chitragupta Temple Kanchipuram

Introduction to the Chitragupta Temple

Kanchipuram is famous for many Shiva and Vishnu temples. Chitragupta Temple or Chitragupta Swamy Temple is equally popular here. It is on Nellukara Street, Periya Kanchipuram, and devotees from various parts of the state come here to seek the blessings of Chitragupta Swamy. It is the only temple dedicated to Chitragupta Swamy.

Chitragupta

Chitragupta is the son of Brahma and an assistant to the Lord of Death, Yama. Indra and Indrani supposedly raised him. Chitragupta decides whether humans will go to heaven or hell after their death based on their actions on earth.

History of the Chitragupta Temple

A Chola minister named Thulabharam Mandapam Kanakarayar, a minister in the Chenni Valavan's cabinet made a deity's idol for festivals. He placed the idol separately and it is taken for the procession. The two Panchaloha idols of Chitragupta and his wife Karnika Ambal were found while digging the ground to complete the repairs in February 1911. However, the idols were damaged, so they could not be used for worship. They are now with the presiding deity.

The Chitragupta Temple performed its last Kumbhabishekam on July 14, 1918. Some repair works were undertaken in August 1944. By then, the temple had consecrated the Navagrahas, Durga, and Vinayaka. The Karuneegar community administers and maintains it.

Legend of the Chitragupta Temple

There are several interesting legends behind the Chitragupta Temple.
According to a legend, Yama prayed to Shiva for an assistant to account for the sins and good deeds of people on earth. Learning of his difficulties, Shiva told Brahma to provide an assistant to Yama. Lord Brahma created a fire within the Sun. With the power of the Sun, the rainbow was created. It turned into a girl called Neeladevi. The Sun and Neeladevi had a male child on the full moon day in Chithirai month. He was named Chitragupta. At birth, the child had a palm leaf or book in his left hand and a writing nail (pen) in the right. As he was born of a rainbow, people offer multicolored cloth to please him.

The Architecture of the Chitragupta Temple

The Cholas built the temple in the 9th century. It features the Dravidian architectural style and has a three-tiered Rajagopuram. A single precinct surrounds the sanctum.

Chitragupta Swamy is the presiding deity here. The Moolavar is sitting, holding a writing nail (pen) in his right hand and a palm leaf (book) in his left hand. The Panchaloha idol of Utsavar Chitragupta and his consort Karnika Ambal is also inside the sanctum.

There are shrines for Ayyappan, Vinayaka, Vishnu Durga, Ramalinga, and Navagrahas in the Chitragupta Temple.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Chitragupta Temple

Chitragupta Swamy is the Athi Devtha for the planet Ketu. So, people firmly believe that worshipping the deity can help them overcome difficulties caused by Ketu. People visit the Kalahasti temple to overcome Naga Dosha. However, Naga Dosha Parihara is completed only after visiting the Chitragupta temple on the same day.

People offer seven lamps, cereals, and multicolored clothes and perform Abishekam to Chitragupta to relieve them of Ketu's adverse effects.

Festivals in the Chitragupta Temple

Chitra Purnima is the major festival at the Chitragupta Temple, held in April every year. It attracts hordes of devotees from across the city.