Who Is Bhagwan Chitragupta?
Bhagwan Chitragupta is revered as the divine record-keeper (scribe) of Yama, the god of death and dharma. His name means 'hidden picture' or 'rich in secrets' (chitra = picture, gupta = hidden), signifying that he keeps a complete, hidden record of the deeds - good and bad - of every living being.
According to tradition, when a soul departs, Chitragupta reads out the full account of its karmas, and on this basis Yama decides the soul's onward journey. He is often depicted holding a pen, ink-pot and the book of records (bahi-khata). Believed to have arisen from the body of Lord Brahma, he is honoured as the first record-keeper and the divine patron of writing, learning and justice. He is especially revered by the Kayastha community, who trace their origin to him.
Significance & the Festival
Chitragupta Puja is observed on Yama Dwitiya, the second day after Diwali - the same day as Bhai Dooj - in the Kartik month.
- Honouring the pen and ledger: On this day, devotees, especially of the Kayastha community, worship their pens, ink, books and account ledgers, keeping them aside from work as a mark of respect. It is a day to bless the tools of writing and livelihood.
- Praying for a good record: Devotees pray to Chitragupta for the wisdom to live righteously, so that their account of deeds is clean, and for prosperity, knowledge and success in learning and profession.
- A reminder of karma: The festival gently reminds everyone that our actions are recorded and matter - encouraging honesty, good conduct and dharma in daily life.
- The katha: Traditional stories tell how Brahma, after a long meditation, found a being born of his own body with a pen and ink, whom he named Chitragupta and appointed to record the deeds of all, ensuring perfect justice under Yama.
Chitragupta Puja Vidhi
A simple traditional way to perform the puja at home:
- Clean the space and bathe in the morning. Set up a clean chowki with a cloth for the puja.
- Place an image of Bhagwan Chitragupta, and keep a new pen, paper, ink and any account books before him.
- Light a diya and incense, and offer roli, akshat (rice), flowers, fruits and sweets.
- Write a prayer: It is customary to write on fresh paper an invocation - often 'Om Chitraguptaya Namah' - along with a note of one's income, expenses and a prayer for a righteous, prosperous year.
- Offer the pen and ledger at his feet, praying for wisdom, honesty and success in work and studies.
- Read or listen to the Chitragupta katha, perform aarti, and distribute prasad.
- Resolve to live truthfully and do good deeds, which is the truest worship of the keeper of records.
Observe the puja with devotion, adapting it simply to your family's tradition.
Quick Answers
Who is Chitragupta in Hinduism?+
Bhagwan Chitragupta is the divine scribe of Yama who keeps a complete, hidden record of the good and bad deeds of every living being. When a soul departs, he reads out its karmas, on which Yama decides its onward journey. He is the divine patron of writing, learning and justice.
When is Chitragupta Puja celebrated?+
Chitragupta Puja is observed on Yama Dwitiya, the second day after Diwali in the Kartik month - the same day as Bhai Dooj. It is celebrated especially by the Kayastha community, who worship their pens, ink and account books and pray for wisdom and prosperity.
What is the spiritual message of Chitragupta Puja?+
The festival reminds us that all our actions are recorded and matter, encouraging honesty, good conduct and dharma in daily life. Worshippers pray to live righteously so their account of deeds is clean, making the truest worship a resolve to be truthful and do good.
About the author
Pandit Mahesh Trivedi · Festival Traditions & Panchang
Pandit Mahesh leads the festival-date and Panchang content on Vandnaa. He cross-references multiple regional panchangs (Drik, Vaishnava, Bengali, Marathi) for every festival date published on the site.
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