Sri Chitragupta Swamy Temple, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd September 2018.

During my last visit to Kanchipuram on Chitra Pournami (full moon day), I found that the traffic in front of the temple was diverted and devotees standing in a long “Q” for the darshan of Chitragupta Swamy. Decided to visit this temple on some other day. On Sunday, the 23^rd of September 2018, I visited this temple and had the darshan. This is a unique and only temple dedicated to Chitragupta Swamy, the accountant of Yama, to note down our karmas, which decides to put us either in hell or heaven. 

Main Deity: Sri Chitragupta Swamy

Consort    : Sri Karnikambal

Some of the important details are...

The temple faces south with a 3-tier Rajagopuram built in recent years. In the sanctum, Chitra Gupta is holding a scribble needle and a palm leaf. There are sannidhis for Iyappan, Vishnu Durgai and Navagrahas. On the back side, a mandapa with a stucco image of Chitragupta and a place to light earthen lamps.  A small temple with a sanctum only.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was said that at the beginning of the 20^th century, during excavation, two idols of Sri Chitragupta and his consort were unearthed along with inscribed old temple stones. It was believed that this temple was constructed during the 9th-century medieval Chozha period. Now the temple bears a new look with tile floors. Only a fragment stone of dancing girls with a drum beater as a relief laid on the back side of the sanctum looks old.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, there are different stories about Chitragupta. When Yama, the god who takes back the life of the living beings as per their Karma, requested Shiva, an assistant, to keep the records of living beings' Karmas. In the first story, Lord Shiva had drawn a Chitra of Chitragupta, who was given life by Parvati. In the second story, Chitragupta came from Kamadhenu, and in the third story, he was born to Sun and his consort Neeladevi and became the brother of Yama, by Brahma.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

HR&CE officer 9789422852 and Gurukkal 9786404072 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on Nellukara Street opposite to Kanchipuram Bus Terminus.

About 3 km from the Kanchipuram railway station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---