Singanallur Chitragupta Yamadharmaraja Temple

Singanallur Chitragupta Yamadharmaja temple is on the Vellalore Road near Singanallur, an outskirt of Coimbatore City in Tamilnadu.The temple is believed to be 310 years old and the most striking feature of the mandapam is the circular platform in the center, where 101 offerings (padayals) are made to Lord Yamadharmaraja and Chitragupta on Chitra Pournami day.

Inside, Yama is seated on a large black buffalo, holding a spear (Ankusam) and a whip or rope (Pasam) in his hands, facing South. Chitragupta stands on his right, holding palm leaves that are said to contain the records of all beings.

Yama, the god of death, is the son of Surya, the sun god, and Saranya. He is the twin brother of Yami, who later became the river Yamuna.
Yama was the first mortal to die, which is why he became the god of death. His noose follows everyone, and the distance between the noose and a person determines how much life they have left. Yama, along with his accountant Chitragupta, keeps track of everyone’s actions. Those who do good deeds go to heaven, those who do bad deeds go to hell, and those who do both return to earth for another life.

Chitragupta is a Hindu deity who acts as the recorder of the dead. His role is to keep records of people’s actions in a register called the Agrasandhani. When a person dies and arrives in Yamaloka, Chitragupta reads out their deeds, helping Yama, the god of death, decide if they go to Swarga (heaven) or Naraka (hell) based on their actions on earth. Known as the Hindu God of Data, Chitragupta is the seventeenth mind-born son (manasaputra) of Brahma. He is believed to have been created from Brahma’s soul and mind (chit), which gives him the right to write the Vedas like a Brahmin and also the duty of a Kshatriya.

Temple History

Before this temple was built, the village often faced flooding from the nearby forest stream. According to the Sthala Puranam (local legend), around 300 years ago, Yama appeared in the dream of a man from the Thevar community. Yama gave him specific instructions to build a temple to prevent the floods. When the man woke up, he began searching for the right place to build it. Near Vellalore, he found a spot that matched Yama’s description. This land belonged to a Brahmin who was overseeing its farming. The Brahmin agreed, and the temple was built. Today, the descendants of this devotee, seven families from his clan, are responsible for performing poojas (worship rituals) in the temple.

When we enter the temple, we first receive the darshan (sight) of Shri Raja Ganapathi, who is accompanied by two snake idols. Then, we enter the inner mandapam (hall), where only men are allowed to go further. In this inner mandapam, there is a circular platform where offerings (Padayals) are made to Yama and Chitragupta on Chitra Pournami day. The circular shape is unique in this temple—both the inner platform, the outer wall, and the dome are circular.

Devotees are advised not to wear black clothing and not to bring garlands with yellow flowers. It is also recommended that devotees do not clasp their hands behind their backs, as this is considered disrespectful. Coconuts are offered whole, without breaking. There are also shrines for Veeramachi Amman, Pudavaikari Amman, and the Saptha Kannikas (Seven Goddesses).