Chitra is also called the star of opportunity.
The prayers should be focused on attaining freedom from ambiguity, judgements, and discriminatory nature, because this is the perfect day to come out of your illusions and maya. This is the right day to chip away bad thoughts and karma and accumulate good ones by doing good deeds to deserving people. Legend of Chitra Poornima
Chitragupta is the assistant of Lord Yama, the God of Death. It is believed that when a person dies his soul first goes to Lord Yama, where Chitragupta reads out the good and bad deeds of the person. There is only one temple in South India for Chitragupta at Kancheepuram. Chitra Pournami is a very auspicious day here which is considered to be the birthday of Chitragupta. Another important legend associated with Chitra Poornima, involves Lord Indra, the king of Gods, and his Guru Brihaspati. Once Indra and Brihaspati had an altercation, and the Guru stopped advising his pupil. Without the sound counsel of his Guru, Indra committed numerous sins. Finally, when Brihaspati relented and took up his duty. He then advised Indra to undertake a pilgrimage to the earth to alleviate the burden of sins committed by him in his absence.
One day during his pilgrimage, Indra had a sudden realization that he has been redeemed from his sins. He looked around and noticed a Shivling under a Kadamba tree. He was sure that it was Lord Shiva who had helped him in alleviating his sins. He decided to worship the Lingam and to his surprise he found golden lotus in a nearby pond. He prayed to Shiva by offering the golden lotus. This happened on a Chitra Pournami day and the place was Madurai in Tamil Nadu. In remembrance of this event, in the Madurai Meenakshi temple, a Devendra Puja is observed on Chitra Poornima.
According to Vedic tradition, Brihaspati is the guru, or preceptor, of Lord Indra, the King of the Gods. Once, Indra disobeyed his Guru, and so Brihaspati, in order to teach a lesson to Indra, temporarily gave his advisor role to Indra. During the Guru's absence, Indra did many evil deeds. When Brihaspati resumed his duty, Indra wanted to know what he should do to expiate the wrongs he did in his Guru's absence. Brihaspati told Indra to go on a pilgrimage.While Indra was on the pilgrimage, one day he suddenly felt that the load of sins had been taken off his shoulders at a place near Madurai in South India. After investigation, Indra discovered a Shiva linga there. Indra attributed the miracle to this linga and immediately constructed a temple on the site. When Indra proceeded to worship the linga, Lord Shiva magically created golden lotuses in a nearby pond. Indra was greatly pleased and blessed. The day on which Indra worshipped Shiva was Chitra Poornima.
It is known that any sin can be nullified by doing good to the victim and through sincere prayers and powerful remedies. Participating in the Chitra Poornima rituals will help you wash out your sins and reserve a special place for you in heaven.Chitragupta not only makes an account of the bad deeds, but any attempt at remedying those sins is also taken into consideration. He helps us reap good rewards and avoid punishment after death. Your sin can be forgiven if you repent sincerely, vowing not to repeat the errors, and pray to Chitragupta with faith and devotion.
Temple' Clebrating chitra PornamiMangaladevi Temple
