CHITRA PURNIMA

CHITRA PURNIMA

The twelve month of the hindu year, based on the lunar calendar, are named after that star during whose ascendency te full moon of that month occurs. The full moon day of chaitra month, that is, the purnima during the ascetndency of the chaitra star is particularly sacred to the chitra guptas, the recording angels of the hindu pantheon. A special worship is offered to these celestial representatives of the god of death, and an offering of spiced rice is prepared and later disturbed as pras or holy sacrament. A fire worship is done at the close of the ritualistic worship. By the performance of this religious observance annually, these angles of the other world are greatly pleased and judge man’s actions with more sympathy.

The psychological effect of this worship, done on the very first full moon day of every year (chaitra is the first of the twelve months), is to vividly remind us of the higher power that maintains a constant watch over every aet of ours on this earth-plane. This memory serves as an invisible check on one’s conduct. The conception of the chitra guptas as located within each shoulder is a powerful inducement to keep oneself engaged in constantly doing good actions only.

The term chitra gupta means “hidden picture”. A true picture of all our good and evil actions is preserved in the ethereal records. The hindu personifies it for the sake of worship.

The hindu scriptures prescribe elaborate worship of the chitra guptas on this day. The deity is invoked in an image or a kalasa (vessel filled with water) and then worshipped with all the rituals and formalities of the worship offered to god’s image. Meditateon chitra gupta’s , reciting the following verse:

“Chitra guptam mahaa praajnam lekhaneepatra dhaarinam;

Chitra-ratnaambara-dhaararn madhyastham sarvadehinaam;”

Then offer ritualistic worship withincenes, camphor, flowers, etc. feed some Brahmins, the poor and the needy. Give bountifully in charity and receive the lord’s blessings.