THE LIVING ARCHIVE
About Chitragupta
The Saroddhara is a later digest associated with the Garuda Purana, not the complete Purana in every recension. Its account gives Chitragupta a particular place within a city of justice. It does not establish a single universal genealogy for him or supply every later community tradition about his origin.
His residence is described as twenty-five yojanas across, with high iron ramparts, decorated streets, gardens, music and celestial inhabitants. A yojana is a traditional distance unit. The dimensions belong to the text’s sacred geography and are kept in that form rather than converted into a modern surveyed city.
More About Chitragupta
Chitragupta is the recorder of human deeds in the court of Yama. Chapter XIV of the Garuda Purana Saroddhara describes his dwelling, assembly and examination of conduct. The Saroddhara is a later digest and its presentation must be distinguished from the complete Garuda Purana and other recensions.
His association with record keeping and justice gives him a distinctive religious role. Later community traditions develop genealogies and devotional practices around him; those are not treated here as one universally shared early account.
This profile occupies an editorial roster position made available by moving an object into the treasure and weapon archive. The rank is a site classification, not a scriptural comparison of divine status.
AT A GLANCE
Identity & Context
- Identity
- Celestial Being
- Tradition
- Hindu religious traditions
THE STORY
Life & Stories
ROLE & ESSENCE
Attributes & Significance
Chitragupta makes accountability individual. The court concerns what a person has actually done, while the surrounding assembly provides the authority and setting for examination. His distinctive function is recording and distinguishing conduct, not replacing Yama as the ruler of the realm.
Religious Role
Recorder of deeds in Yama’s court.
Realm
Family / Origin
Accounts differ in later traditions; no single genealogy is asserted here.
Iconography
Writing and record keeping are common associations.
Tradition Notes
Distinguish the Saroddhara digest from the full Garuda Purana.
Archive Classification Notes
Original archive annotations are retained here. The current playable classification is shown in the side panel.
- Tradition Dependence
- High — compare the identified textual or regional account.
TRADITION & MEANING
Traditions & Interpretations
Later genealogies and community devotion give Chitragupta additional relationships. The digest passage used here concentrates on his office and court rather than one shared birth narrative.
The pleasant reception of meritorious people is important to the setting. An accurate account of deeds can lead to honour as well as suffering, so record keeping serves the whole judgement rather than only its feared outcome.
From the Sacred Texts
Explore the sacred texts behind these stories in the Suvarnaveda library.
FOLLOW THE THREADS
Connected Cards
5 connected profiles. Every path leads to an original record.
The Sacred Library1
Realms & Cosmic Worlds2
Characters & Cosmic Entities2
Chitragupta records deeds within the king of justice’s city and assembly.
Narada appears among the sages attending Yama’s assembly.