Chitragupt Samaj - Dawat Puja

Hindu mythology believes that the entire world was created by Lord Bramha, the Creator. Lord Bramha first created 16 sons from various parts of his own body. Shree Chitraguptjee, his 17th creation, is believed to be the creation from Lord Bramha's belly. Thus, Shree Chitraguptjee is the divine incarnation in human form. Called Kayastha since he is the only one created in entirety [Kaya] from the Lord Bramha's body.

The Duty Of Chitragupt Ji Maharaj
Hindu dharam is based on a multiple phase life cycle involving re-birth. It is believed that those who do not attain a balance between their good-deeds and misdoing, have to attain re-birth in any living form , to complete the life cycle.

The primary duty awarded to Shree Chitraguptjee is to create log of the lives of all living beings, judge their lives based on good-deeds and misdoing, and decide, upon ones death, whether they will attain Nirvana, ie, the completion of their life cycle & redemption from all worldly troubles or, receive punishment for their misdoing in another life form.

Twelve Sons of Chitragupta Ji Maharaj:
Surajdwajh, Gorh, Nigam, Kulsreshtha, Mathur, Bhatnagar, Saxena, Asthana, Srivastava, Ambastha, Balmeek and Karn.

Puja Items
Sandalwood paste, til, camphor/kapoor, paan, sugar, paper, pen, ink, ganga water, unbroken rice, Cotton, Honey, Yellow Mustard, Plate Made Of Leaves, puja platform, dhoop, youghurt, sweets, puja cloths, milk, seasonal friuts, panchpatra, gulal (colour powder), brass katora, tulsi leaves, roli, keasar, betul nut, match box, frankincense and deep.

Puja Process
First clean the puja room and then bathe Chitragupt Ji's idol or photo first with water, then with panchamitra or rose water, followed by water once more. Now put deepak (lamp) of ghee in front of the Chitragupt Ji. Make a panchamrita with 5 ingredients of milk, curd, ghee (clarified butter), sugar & honey. Place few mithais, snacks & fruits as a prashad. Make guraadi (Gur + Adi = Molasses + Ginger). Make offerings of flowers, abir (red colour), sindoor (vermillion) and haldi (turmeric). Light the agarbatti (incense sticks) and lamps filled with ghee. Read the holy book of Chitragupta puja.

After the completion of katha, perform aarti. Now take plain new paper &make swastik with roli-ghee, then write the name of five god & goddess with a new pen. Then write a "MANTRA (Given Below)" & write your name, address (permanent & present), date (hindi date) your income & expenditure. Then fold the the paper & put before Chitragupt Ji.

Chitragupt Puja and Dawat Puja
Chitragupt Puja is performed by Kayastha Parivar that believes in world peace, justice, knowledge and literacy, the four primary virtues depicted in  the form of Shree Chitraguptjee. The puja is also known as Dawat (Inkpot) Puja, in which the books and pen are worshipped, symbolizing the importance of study in the life of a Kayastha. During the Chitragupt Puja, earning members of the also give account of their earning, writing to Chitragupt Maharaj the additional amount of money that is required to run the household, next year.


Goverdahan Puja
Goverdahan puja is also known as Godhan puja is observed on the fifth day after Diwali, Goverdahan puja is an occasion to worship Lord Krishna. According to Vishnu-Puran, the people of Gokul commemorated a festival in honor of Lord Indra and worshiped him after the end of monsoon season every year. In his young years, Lord Krishna once prohibited the people from offering prayers to Lord Indra. Angered Lord Indra sent a torrent to sink Gokul. Lord Krishna lifted the mountain and held it as an umbrella for the people and saved them.