Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

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Early medieval · Hindu · India

Chitragupta Temple, Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu · 12.8367°, 79.7047°

ChitraguptaMedieval CholaDravidian
Sacred since
800 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
9th c. (Medieval Chola)
Medieval Chola

History & significance

One of very few Indian temples where Chitragupta, the record-keeper who assists Yama, is the presiding deity; the masonry structure dates to the ninth century under the Medieval Cholas. It is a notable Kanchipuram landmark and holds particular importance for the Kayastha community.

Sthala katha — the legend

The temple's legends explain Chitragupta's origin variously, including an account in which Shiva drew his image into being and another in which the divine cow Kamadhenu bore him as a child of Indra.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Medieval Chola