Adi Chitragupt Mandir

Getting there

• By air

  Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport (PAT) is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Patna Junction (PNBE) is the nearest railway station.

• By road

  Auto-rickshaws, taxis and city buses run from central Patna to the temple.

Rules to know

• Dress modestly, keep silence and follow temple traditions.
• Mobiles, cameras and other electronic gadgets are allowed.

Why devotees come here

Adi Chitragupt Mandir is a historic temple in Patna, Bihar, dedicated to Chitragupta, the divine scribe. It is revered by the Kayastha community and stands near Naujar Ghat on the Ganga.

Chitragupta is believed to keep the record of every person's deeds. Popular belief says he holds the keys to the afterlife, granting or denying passage to the heavens according to those deeds. The temple is also known as the Kayastha Dham. The Kayastha community regards him as its patriarchal deity.

According to popular belief, collective worship of Chitragupta began at this site more than 2500 years ago, started by Mudrarakshasa, a statesman of the Nanda dynasty. Centuries later, Raja Todarmal, finance minister to the Mughal emperor Akbar, saw the temple decline and vowed to bring back its earlier grandeur.

The main idol is a 16th-century black basalt stone. In 1766 AD, Maharaj Bhupnarayan Singh added carved stones to the temple. Its grandeur is worth seeing, and the architecture is excellent.

Festivals

• Every yearYamdwitiya

  Devotees from the Kayastha community come to seek the blessings of Chitragupta.

Tips for your visit

• Naujar Ghat on the Ganga is close by, a useful landmark when you ask for directions.
• Yamdwitiya is the festival when Kayastha devotees come every year, so check its date before you plan a trip.

Questions people ask