Chitragupta Pooja 2025: Time, Pooja Vidhi, & Benefits

There are millions of deities in the Hindu religion, but not all of them are as well-known as the Trimurti, comprising Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, or the Tridevi, comprising Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati, who are also the consorts of the Trimurti.

Chitragupta is a minor deity in the Hindu pantheon, but he does have an important role to play in the cosmic order. He is the keeper of the Akashic records and the assistant of Yama, the God of death.

The Akashic records comprise a record of the deeds, good and bad, of human beings on earth. Chitragupta has the task of maintaining the records in a book called Agrasandhani. Every time a person dies on earth and their soul reaches Yama loka (the abode of Yama), Chitragupta reads out the deeds committed by the person during their lifetime. This helps Yama to decide whether the soul will go to Swarga/heaven or Naraka/hell.

Now, this means that Chitragupta is definitely a deity to be appeased and petitioned by mortals who may not have led an exemplary life. In other words, if you have committed sins, Chitragupta will see to it that you will face the music when you go to your Maker. His is the eye in the sky that you can never escape.

Birth of Chitragupta

According to legend, Yama was struggling to cope with his duties and struck work. The earth soon began to groan from the burden of people who stopped dying. So, Brahma decided to create an assistant for Yama. After many years of meditation, Chitragupta was born from Brahma’s body. He had an inkpot and pen with him when he was born. Brahma told him that he would be called Kayastha as he was born from his kaya or body. Brahma appointed him as Yama’s book-keeper.

Chitragupta has two wives – Iravati, who is the daughter of Yama, and Nandini, the daughter of Surya. He has 8 sons by the former and 4 sons by the latter. The 12 sons form the Chitragupta or Kayastha Vansh.

Many Hindus, especially from the Kayastha community, perform Chitragupta Pooja on the day of Chitra Purnima, which commemorates his birthday. The Pooja is performed on the 2nd day of Shukla Paksha (waxing lunar phase) in the month of Karthik. The Kayasthas believe that they are the ancestors of Chitragupta. Shobha Yatras, charitable events, and literary programs are held on this day. An idol of Chitragupta is often kept for public worship and immersed in a waterbody later.

Pooja Vidhi for Chitragupta Pooja

Chitragupta Pooja is performed on the second day of Kartik month during Shukla Paksha. It is also known as Yama Dwitiya.

• Take a bath early in the morning.
•  Clean the Pooja area well.
• Place an idol or picture of Chitragupta on the altar in the Pooja area, after washing the idol with water and rose water.
• Sit facing the east.
• Light a ghee lamp and a few incense sticks in front of the idol.
• Make Panchamirtha using curd, ghee, milk, sugar, and honey.
• Offer flowers, fruits, and sweets on a plate.
• Make Guraadi by mixing jaggery and ginger.
• Make a Swastika symbol on the floor using sandalwood paste, turmeric, vermilion, and abir (red color).
• Place a Kalash containing water on the symbol and sprinkle some rice grains over it.
• Add some tulsi leaves to the water in the kalash.
• Apply a tilak on the idol using sandalwood paste, roli, and vermilion.
• Take a diary and write in it during the Pooja.
• Read from the Chitragupta Katha holy book.
• Perform Aarti with camphor. Sprinkle some rice on the idol and offer flowers after reading the Katha.
• Take a blank sheet of paper and draw a Swastika using roli and ghee.
• With a new pen, write the names of 5 gods and goddesses.
• Chant the Chitragupta Mantra ‘Om Shri Chitragupta Namah’ and invoke his blessings for knowledge and wisdom.
• When the Pooja ends, distribute Prasad.

Benefits of Worshipping Lord Chitragupta

Worshipping Chitragupta can bring blessings like knowledge, wisdom, and an analytical mind. Chitragupta Pooja is usually celebrated after Diwali and Bhai Dooj. It is an important festival for the Kayastha community.

• The Pooja can eliminate illiteracy and poverty.
• It brings peace and prosperity.
• Those who seek justice will receive it.
• It brings success to those in the accounting field.
• People facing problems in life will get proper direction.

Chitragupta Pooja 2025 is on October 23.

Tags