The Kulshrestha (Kayastha) trace their genealogy from “Adi Purush” Shri Chitraguptaji Maharaj. It is said that after Lord Brahma had created the four Varnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras), Yama requested Lord Brahma to help him record the deeds, good and evil, of men, and administer justice.

Lord Brahma went into meditation for 11, 000 years and when he opened his eyes he saw a man holding pen and ink-pot in his hands and a sword girdled to his waist. Lord Brahma spoke: “Though hast been created from my body (Kaya), therefore shall thy progeny be known as the Kulshrestha (Kayastha). Though hast been conceived in my mind (Chitra) and in secrecy (gupta), the name shall also be Chitragupta.” Brahma then enjoined him to dispense justice and punish those who violated the dharma (duties). Thus, the Kulshrestha (Kayastha)s were accorded a dual caste, Brahmin (learned)/Kshatriya (warrior).

In the legends of Shree Chitraguptaji Maharaj, he is referred to as Kshatriya of great prowess and a king, while the rest are rajakas or little kings. In the Garud Puran, Chitragupta is hailed as the first man to give the script.

"Chitragupta namastubhyam vedaksaradatre"
(Obeisance to Chitragupta, the giver of letters)

The Rig Veda mentions an invocation to be made to Chitragupta before offering sacrifice. There is also a special invocation to Chitragupta as Dharmraj (Lord of Justice) to be made at the performance of shradh ot other rituals.

"Om tat purushaya vidmahe Chitragupta dhimahi tena lekha prachodayata."

The primary duty awarded to Shree Chitraguptjee was to create LOG of the lives of all living beings, judge their lives based on good-deeds and misdoing, and decide, upon ones death, whether they will attain NIRVANA [Completion of their LIFE CYCLE & redemption from all worldly troubles] or, receive punishment for their misdoing in another life form, till they attain NIRVANA.
The Kulshrestha Parivar believes in peace, justices, knowledge and literacy, the primary virtues depicted by the form of Shree Chitraguptjee ji bhagwan. The community, world-wide, strives to attain these virtues and promote the same, in line with the teachings of their supreme lord.

Empowered with powerful traits such as self-respect, self-esteem, intelligence, commonsense & presence of mind, aesthetic sense, benevolence, Kulshrestha’s are progressive & adaptive. Over the centuries, the community established excellence in academics, administration, legal justice, science & fine-arts.
The Kulshrestha Community is religiously inclined & very close-knit. They strive to fight social injustice in society. They instill values of religion & culture. Academics have a very important place in the life of a Kulshrestha. Sincerity & Hard Work are always respected and awarded.
Social reform through adoption of economically backward families from within the community, and hence their emancipation, is a known way of KULSHRESTHA service to their community.