Chitragupta came into being after Brahma, the creator, ordained Yama to keep a record of the deeds — good and evil — of all life-forms born, and yet to be born on earth, in the heavens above, and in the lands below. Yama, however, complained, "O Lord, how can I alone keep a record of the deeds of the beings born into all of the three worlds?"
Brahma went into meditation for 11,000 years, and when he opened his eyes, he saw a man holding a pen and an ink-pot in his hands.
Brahma spoke, "Thou hast been conceived in my mind, in my image, Chitra, and in secrecy, Gupta... Thus thy name shall also be Chitragupta."