Chitragupta the Recorder
by Stephanie Gifford
My name is Chitragupta and I record the deeds of the living in the Book
of Life. The Book of Life actually has turned into a filing
cabinet because no book is big enough to hold all that info.
Anyways, I have been working with Yama for a very, very, very long
time. Let me explain what it is that I do for Yama.
Thousands of years ago the first man died. His name was
Yama. As his body and soul were separated, the question of where
the human soul goes after death became a dilemma for the gods.
Seeing that this dilemma would become a real crisis once many others
followed
the path of death, Lord Brahma had the heavenly architect, Vishwakarma,
create Sanjeevani, the kingdom of the south where all souls would
travel and be judged after death. The gods granted Yama
immortality and deified him as he became the Lord of Sanjeevani and the
supreme judge of the souls of all beings.
Yama's palace is large and contains several rooms. One room consists of four pits where the wicked are punished for their deeds. Three other rooms are for the honest soul to pass through without having to see the punishment of the wicked. The cosmic architect created a large lake of boiling water for the soul to swim across. The pure soul feels no pain from the boiling water but the wicked soul feels every bit of agony. The rest of the palace however resembles a royal court and is warm and honorable.
As the souls stood before Yama it was not long before he became overwhelmed. Wicked deeds were forgotten and those that should have been punished got off with little or no sentence. Yama made a plea for help to Brahma and I was created. Lord Brahma meditated and out of his mind I was begotten. Some people are born with silver spoons in their mouths, but I was born with a quill and pot of ink. I am what you might call an obsessive-compulsive when it comes to taking notes. I record every minute detail, every deed done by every living being. Some might think this to be a very dull job but let me elaborate. I have the insight into why everything happens. I know who killed JKF, I know where Jimmy Hoffa is buried, and I know who built the pyramids! My job is anything but boring. I get a real chuckle recording funny events and sometimes cry recording weddings and births. What really bothers me though is to record wicked deeds. The horrible things that people do to one another are truly sad. I hate to record murder, lying, and stealing. It's even worse when I have to record the deeds of a serial killer. Ugh!! The thought gives me goose bumps. Needless to say I spend most of my time at a writing desk with a quill in hand. Of course I have magical ways to aid me in my endeavors. But I'm not going to tell all my secrets.
When it is time for the soul's sentencing, I make my way down to Yama's throne room. A filing cabinet accompanies me into the chamber. I keep a filing cabinet for each being and inside are folders for every year of life. At the sentencing I read the files, so the sentencing process can take a really long time. It just depends on how long the life is and the deeds of the soul. Of course the wicked soul takes the longest. Usually wicked deeds take longer to explain than do good deeds because the wicked soul tends to object in order to explain or get off the hook. With my records Yama can make the decision as to whether the soul belongs in heaven or hell. "So don't shoot the recorder" as the old saying goes. I'm just doing my job.
Author's note: In order for the reader to understand the future stories contained in this storybook I felt the need to acquaint the reader with Chitragupta. He will become the main character as he presents the "filing cabinet" at the sentencing of souls. I also wanted to explain the working relationship between Yama and Chitragupta and how the sentencing of a soul works. I also needed to expand upon how Yama became the judge of souls in order for all to make sense as it unfolds. Within this story retelling are two stories. One is the story of Yama becoming a god and the creation of Chitragupta. I chose not to elaborate on these two events in order to focus on the important roles these two gods have on mankind.
Image information: Writing desk by G. F. Rodwell (1877). Image link.
Bibliography Information:
Chiptragupta at Wikipedia Weblink.
Indian Divinty: Yama Weblink.
Yama's palace is large and contains several rooms. One room consists of four pits where the wicked are punished for their deeds. Three other rooms are for the honest soul to pass through without having to see the punishment of the wicked. The cosmic architect created a large lake of boiling water for the soul to swim across. The pure soul feels no pain from the boiling water but the wicked soul feels every bit of agony. The rest of the palace however resembles a royal court and is warm and honorable.
As the souls stood before Yama it was not long before he became overwhelmed. Wicked deeds were forgotten and those that should have been punished got off with little or no sentence. Yama made a plea for help to Brahma and I was created. Lord Brahma meditated and out of his mind I was begotten. Some people are born with silver spoons in their mouths, but I was born with a quill and pot of ink. I am what you might call an obsessive-compulsive when it comes to taking notes. I record every minute detail, every deed done by every living being. Some might think this to be a very dull job but let me elaborate. I have the insight into why everything happens. I know who killed JKF, I know where Jimmy Hoffa is buried, and I know who built the pyramids! My job is anything but boring. I get a real chuckle recording funny events and sometimes cry recording weddings and births. What really bothers me though is to record wicked deeds. The horrible things that people do to one another are truly sad. I hate to record murder, lying, and stealing. It's even worse when I have to record the deeds of a serial killer. Ugh!! The thought gives me goose bumps. Needless to say I spend most of my time at a writing desk with a quill in hand. Of course I have magical ways to aid me in my endeavors. But I'm not going to tell all my secrets.
When it is time for the soul's sentencing, I make my way down to Yama's throne room. A filing cabinet accompanies me into the chamber. I keep a filing cabinet for each being and inside are folders for every year of life. At the sentencing I read the files, so the sentencing process can take a really long time. It just depends on how long the life is and the deeds of the soul. Of course the wicked soul takes the longest. Usually wicked deeds take longer to explain than do good deeds because the wicked soul tends to object in order to explain or get off the hook. With my records Yama can make the decision as to whether the soul belongs in heaven or hell. "So don't shoot the recorder" as the old saying goes. I'm just doing my job.
Author's note: In order for the reader to understand the future stories contained in this storybook I felt the need to acquaint the reader with Chitragupta. He will become the main character as he presents the "filing cabinet" at the sentencing of souls. I also wanted to explain the working relationship between Yama and Chitragupta and how the sentencing of a soul works. I also needed to expand upon how Yama became the judge of souls in order for all to make sense as it unfolds. Within this story retelling are two stories. One is the story of Yama becoming a god and the creation of Chitragupta. I chose not to elaborate on these two events in order to focus on the important roles these two gods have on mankind.
Image information: Writing desk by G. F. Rodwell (1877). Image link.
Bibliography Information:
Chiptragupta at Wikipedia Weblink.
Indian Divinty: Yama Weblink.