Why Is Chitra Pournami Celebrated?

Why Is Chitra Pournami Celebrated?

Chitra Pournami is a festival that has great significance for Hindus. The Pournami or full moon in Chithirai month (April 15 – May 15) is usually celebrated as Chitra Pournami. This month is believed to be very auspicious. This year – 2020 – the festival is on May 7. The day is important because it is the birth anniversary of Chitragupta. Chitragupta is Yama’s(the God of death in Hindu cosmogony) assistant and official bookkeeper, who keeps an account of the good and bad deeds committed by people living on earth.

Supposedly, Chitragupta was born as a painting (‘chithiram’) to Goddess Parvati. But later, he entered the womb of Kamadhenu, the divine cow, who gave birth to him on the day of Chitra Pournami. Hence, he came to be called Chitragupta. In Hinduism, it is believed that when a person dies, his soul reaches Lord Yama, after which Chitragupta tallies the person’s deeds and submits a report to Lord Yama. Yama then decides what the person’s fate should be. If he has done good deeds, the person goes to heaven, and if he has done bad deeds, he goes to hell.

Significance of Chitra Pournami

Chitra Pournami is a day that reminds us of the necessity to be careful about our actions. We should not be under the delusion that we can do whatever we want because there will be no consequences. All religions and cultures believe in the concept of karma. So it is very important to lead a virtuous life, for, after death, we will have to face the consequences of the actions we committed when we were alive. Hence, it is important to do good deeds and avoid doing evil things that harm others. On Chitra Pournami, our sins will be cleansed. It is a day for expiation when the impact of our bad deeds will be mitigated.

Legend behind Chitra Pournami

A legend related to Chitra Pournami says that Indra, the king of the Devas, did not respect his Guru, Brihaspati, and did many bad things in his absence. Brihaspati came to know of Indra’s deeds when he returned to Devaloka. He advised Indra to go on a pilgrimage to get rid of his sins. Indra agreed and went to earth to carry out his Guru’s instructions. Seeing a Shiva Lingam under a kadamba tree, he plucked a golden lotus from a pond nearby and began to worship Shiva. Pleased, Shiva blessed him, and he was freed of his sins on Chitra Pournami day.

What to do on Chitra Pournami?

• Pray to Chitragupta and observe fast.
• Offer food to the poor. Annadhana, on this day, gives many blessings.
• Visit the Chitragupta temple at Kanchipuram to get his blessings.
• Worship Lord Shiva for prosperity

Chitra Full Moon in Libra, Chitra Pournami, Chitra Poornima, Chitra Purnima

You Need to Know About the Full Moon in Libra
This April 16th

 

Chitra Poornima is the name of Full Moon this Tamil month of Chitra.This occurs when our Sun is in its Exalted state of Aries (close to the Earth), and Moon is full and aligned with the bright star called Chitra in the constellation of Libra

Remember, Libra is the sign that seeks balance. With the Full Moon here, your mind begins to weigh and balance its own thought forms. And with the Sun energizing your soul from its full strength position in Aries, you are further empowered to make wiser “karmic” choices during this time.

The Indian Archetype called Chitra Gupta is celebrated on this day in India. He is known to keep track of your karmic balance and help you to see your errors and correct your ways on this day.

Take just a minute to understand two concepts of Karma and Dharma. You will then know how to best use this important Full Moon day.

Karma

Karma is the concept of ‘action’ or ‘deed’ which results in a cycle of cause and effect.

There is a big reserve of karma that each soul has, like a bank account, that needs to be cleared out in order for the soul to be released from the endless cycle of birth and rebirth.

No more karma=no more suffering. Liberation.

4 Main Types of Karma

1. Sanchita karma is like the Saving Account at your karma bank. All possible karmas for your soul are stored here. It is the main pool from all past lives from the very beginning of your soul.

 

1. Prarabdha karma is the selection of karma you have to live through in this life- accrued from other lives- chosen by you to experience this life time

 

1. Kriyanmana karma is youradditional actions and karma accrued since your birth. This refers to quickly burning karma items whose cause and effect are realized in this one birth. For example, you eat too much chocolate and as a result you a sugar rush, acne and more weight. The effect is felt in this birth only.

 

1. Aagami karma is similar to Kriyanmana karma in that you create it in this life. However the effects of your action does not have time to manifest in this lifetime and it goes back into the 1st “Sanchita” pool or comes around in the “Prarabhda” into your current life- cycling until you repay.

Dharma

Dharma is ‘right action’ like ethical conduct, noble actions, civil and criminal law, and performance of Vedic rites and rituals, chanting of mantras, etc.

The Archetype Chitra Gupta

Chitra Gupta is the Celestial Bookkeeper whose primary duty is to keep a record, a Karma Account, of all souls’ doings and misdoings from time immemorial.

He is Also Karmic Judge

Chitra Gupta has a temple in Tamil Nadu where He is depicted sitting holding a pen in His right hand. In the left hand He holds a palm leaf or the Karma Accounts. Chitra Poornima is considered Chitra Gupta’s birthday.

On this day you can appeal to Him to rewrite your personal current account and lose the misdoings, or ‘bad’ karma, mark up the ‘good’ karma and to bless you to be able to maintain that good karma. That is an important point to this. Good karma attracts more good karma.