The Indian mythology states that "Chitragupta" maintains the records of our karma, which shapes our future destiny. But who is Chitragupta? Is it another name of God? Or, does it refer to a superhuman, angel or is it simply an allegory? Most of us are generally curious to know our future. As rational beings we feel that it is by and large determined by our efforts but still can't create or predict it. Some of us may consider the uncertainty to be governed by some 'unknown' random law of Nature (or Murphy's Law!). Whatever be the case, the word "fate" or destiny is very much a part of our natural inquisitiveness to know: why different people have different fates, or why people born in the same family, brought up in same environment, having the same qualifications and talents end up getting drastically different destinies in their professional and social lives? To a varied extent, we do feel concerned about 'our stars', horoscope, palm-maps, 'cards', etc that are commonly regarded as 'indicators' of fate. So let us examine what this fate is? The Indian mythology states that "Chitragupta" maintains the records of our karma, which shape our future destiny. But who is Chitragupta? Is it another name of God? Or, does it refer to a superhuman, angel or is it simply an allegory? The number of human beings inhabiting this earth itself is in billions. If we take into account the other living beings of millions of non-human species, the total number would be beyond mathematical calculation. It would be an impossible task for an individual being, howsoever superbly evolved, to work day and night without rest for millions of years maintaining records of each moment of life of innumerable beings of the cosmos. Impracticability of maintenance of such a stupendous record puts a question mark on the very existence of Chitragupta. Modern science, however, substantiates the reality underlying the metaphorical descriptions given in the scriptures. Science has now established that all mental, verbal and physical activities carried out by an individual having a discriminative mind leave subtle impressions on the deeper levels of the psyche. In this way, like the compressed audio-visual recordings of events on a microchip of the computer or compact disc, all good and evil deeds are being recorded in the hidden chambers of the subconscious mind. This record, like that of an ultra compact disk, remains in storage till it is required to be processed at a desired moment through an appropriate mechanism. In Indian science of spirituality, karma stands for any physical, verbal, mental or social activity. Because of the evolved state of human-consciousness, each karma 'automatically and instantaneously' generates a subtle mental imprint. These imprints cannot be erased before the karma results in the consequent effect (karmaphal) at the appropriate time – in this life or in any future life in any form. The scriptures also describe that the Supreme Creator (Lord Brahma) inscribes the destiny on the forehead of a human being and this Divine Inscription cannot be erased by anyone. Let us examine this concept from a scientific point of view. Studies based on sophisticated mapping of brain activities by functional MRI etc, show innumerable furrows in the grey matter all over the brain. Medical science has not so far fully deciphered the biological implications of these indentations. Comparative studies of different subjects have shown that density of these crenulations in the grey matter of highly evolved persons and thinkers is much more, than in the case of common masses. It shows that these 'microscopic' lines in the grey matter of the brain are nothing but compact subtle impressions created by external activities. This finding supports the possibility of imprints of mental, vocal and physical actions. The record of activities (good and evil deeds) on the neuronal 'memory chips' proves the existence of an adept, intelligent mechanism, which Hindu Mythology refers to as Chitragupta.

- courtesy Akhand Jyoti