The full moon day on tamil calendar month “Chitra” is observed as Chitra Pournami. It is a special occasion for Chitragupta who is the assistant of Lord Yama, the God of Death. This auspicious day is also dedicated to Lord Indra, the God of Devas. Chithra pournami is famous for Meenakshi amman and Kallazhagar also. It is mentioned in our religious books that those who observe fast on this day would be relieved of death fear(Yama Bayam Neengum)
Chitragupta was born to Parvathi Devi through painting(Chithira Puthiran) and later he entered into Gomatha Kamadenu and born on Chitra Pournami and got the name Chitragupta
Chitragupta
It is believed that Chitragupta examines the good and bad deeds(Karma) of every person. When a person dies, his soul first reaches Lord Yama, where Chitraguptatallies the deeds and report it to Yama. Special worship is done in Honour of Lord Chitragupta – the Divine Accountant – who keeps an account of our karmas and appeals for forgiveness for our shortcomings are raised on this day. On this auspicious day, special poojas will be performed in temples and people take bath in holy rivers/temple ponds and pray to wash their sins. There is a Chitragupta Temple at Kancheepuram and it is the only temple inSouth India for Chitragupta
Story behind Lord Indra
Once there was a heated argument between Lord Indra and his guru Brahaspati and Lord Indra failed to respect his Guru and started committing sins. He advised Indra for a pilgrimage to the earth to lessen the burden of sins. During the pilgrimage, Indra realized that he had been redeemed from the sins. He found a Shiva lingam under a Kadamba tree and believed that Lord Shiva had helped him in relieving his sins.
Following this, he started worshipping him. He worshipped Lord Shiva with a golden lotus which he found from a nearby pond. This was believed to have happened on a Chitra Pournami day at Madurai in South India. Devendra pooja or Indra Pooja is held during Chitra Pournami festival in Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, commemorating the event.
How should we celebrate this auspicious day?
Chitra Pournami is especially for females though even males can do the pooja. After taking holy bath in the morning, women should clean the entrance of house and put maakolam depicting chitragupta with paper and pen or we can put padi kolam(Ezhakolam) with the south side open as a mark of entrance to Lord Chitragupta.
In the pooja room, we need to make these items available before we start with the pooja. Paper, pencil, navadhanyam, rice, dhal. We can prepare Sakaraipongal as neivedhyam or we can also prepare moong dal Payasam using buffalo milk instead of cow’s milk as Chitragupta was born out of kamadenu. Lets pray to Chitragupta to consider our good deeds and to ignore our bad deeds. Chitragupta Pooja books are available in the book shops and we can chant the slokas given in there.
How should we celebrate this auspicious day?
Chitra Pournami is especially for females though even males can do the pooja. After taking holy bath in the morning, women should clean the entrance of house and put maakolam depicting chitragupta with paper and pen or we can put padi kolam(Ezhakolam) with the south side open as a mark of entrance to Lord Chitragupta.
In the pooja room, we need to make these items available before we start with the pooja. Paper, pencil, navadhanyam, rice, dhal. We can prepare Sakaraipongal as neivedhyam or we can also prepare moong dal Payasam using buffalo milk instead of cow’s milk as Chitragupta was born out of kamadenu. Lets pray to Chitragupta to consider our good deeds and to ignore our bad deeds. Chitragupta Pooja books are available in the book shops and we can chant the slokas given in there
Fasting Rules
We should avoid taking milk and milk-products on that day since he came out from Kamadhenu. (It is preferrable to take buffalo milk if available). Then after finishing usual pooja and naivedhya, we have to donate rice, vegetables, dhal and dakshina in a “MURAM” to Brahmins. It is a customary to eat curd rice without salt on this day and to fast without eating anything else. In any case avoiding salt in food items throughout the day is recommended on this day, if possible.
Mantra to worship Chitragupta
Mashibhajansanyuktaschrasi Twang! Maheetale|
Lekhani-Katinihasta Chitragupta Namostute ||
Chitragupta Namstubhyam Lekhakaksharadayakam |
Kayasthajatimasadya Chitragupta! Namostute ||
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