*ACCOUNTING'S ANCIENT ORIGINS*
My encounter with the Portrait of Luca Pacioli sparked my interest to delve
more deeply into the origins of accounting, more specifically the
double-entry doctrine. Double-entry bookkeeping was practiced as early as
the 1400s by the merchants of Venice, which was a major trade center and
business capital due to its strategic location in Europe. The city, like
New York City today, was the financial center of the world at that time.
It was in Venice that Pacioli published his "Summa," the first printed book
on the basics of double-entry bookkeeping. The system included the
memorandum (a rough draft), journal, and ledger, precursors to the
modern-day accounting cycle. Pacioli used the term "deve avere" (must have)
when referring to asset accounts, and "deve dare" (must give) when
referring to liability accounts.
Debits and credits always have to be in equilibrium. Pacioli is said to
have stated in his work: "Don't go to sleep at night until debits equal
credits." Thus, the ethic of hard work (and long hours) was ingrained in
the profession early on, with the underlying goal of balancing the books
promptly to ensure accuracy and integrity. The merchants held and traded
gold, gems, and exotic spices, and Pacioli discussed the importance of
maintaining an inventory listing as the starting point to wealth creation.
KR: Double entry book keeping is an eye-screen with false eyelashes.
Jotting down the debits and credits only addressed as a single entry avoids
the ledgerisation. It is the village grandma’s wall markings. So, to whom
and from whom if written verbally it is single entry; if 2 folders are
offered it is double entry.
It is almost every one of us who wishes to land up in the grand
comforts of heaven after a tiring life on earth. And it is only after the
tallying of all our sins and good deeds, does give his final recommendation
to Yama, the god of death, about our fate for eternity. Three possibilities
exist- you get to enjoy heaven, rot in hell or maybe take another trip to
earth. This record keeper, Chitragupta, the first of all of Yama’s
attendants, the chief recorder of actions and the maintainer of the
mystical Akashic records (a compilation of everyone’s fates and actions).
And we celebrate him and worship him year after year, in the month of
Chithirai, when the moon is at its fullest, under the nakshatra of Chitra,
during the holy festival of Chitra Pournami.
When Brahma created the three worlds and handed over the legions of
the dead to Yama Dharma Raja, he also gave Yama the tedious task of
punishing (DEBITS) or rewarding (CREDITS) the souls of people, based on
their actions in life. {Debiting the beneficiary and crediting the relevant
departments} Yama, as every beginner, took up the task with much
enthusiasm, little realising the humungousness of the job. [Did single
entry, as owner?] Times passed, and mistakes began to happen. He took the
lives of young ones and allowed the oldies to live on, (because of
unaccounted beneficiary) he banished the innocent to hell and welcomed the
rogues into heaven, and very soon, started receiving hate mails. Having no
other go, he did what every confused employee does, report to the Boss.
He rushed to Satyaloka and stood before Brahma, and poured out his
tale of tragedy. Brahma sat deep in thought, and looked at him. “I have but
one thing to say, let's go to Shiva. He must have a way out.” And together,
they left for Kailasha, the abode of the Mother and Father of all creation.
Brahma and Yama bowed low before Shiva-Parvathi and explained the reason
for their visit. Brahma lost no time in blaming Yama for his mistakes.
“Parameshwara, Yama has been having troubles in keeping the Akashic records.
He has been confused with time and has meted out the wrong judgement to the
wrong person. The whole of creation now lives in the peril of wrong
judgement at the end of their respective times. You only have to show us a
way out of this Prabho”, he prayed.
Shiva gave a glance at the mother, who with the slightest of nods, took
up a golden slate and with a chalk drew a handsome man, richly adorned with
jewels and gems. Shiva leaned closer to Parvathi and bent down towards the
slate. Gently, he blew away the chalk dust to clear up the picture. Lo and
behold, before them stood a man, the very replica of the picture on the
slate. He held a stylus in one hand and a thick bundle of palm leaves in
the other. (Model of an accountant?) Shiva had indeed blown the “Air of
Life”, Praana Vaayu, into the picture and given him life.
Shiva nodded at his own creation, and said, “Son, since you were born
out of a picture drawn by Shakthi and breathed to life by me, you will
henceforth be called Chitragupta (Chitra-Picture, Gupta- Accountant). Go
along with Yama and help him maintain the records of all human activities.
At the end of one’s life, it is based on your advice that Yama will offer
him the fruit of his actions. You will be respected as an equal to Yama
himself. Be loyal, just and be a shining example to all of mankind as the
perfect being. My blessings be with you.”
Chitragupta bowed low to his parents and with all humility answered,
“Your wish will be my command.” With that he left for Yamaloka. Chitragupta
was the best thing that happened to Yamaloka. He was very rigorous and
maintained a strict record of the doings of every human and god. Nothing
escaped his sharp eye. In the process of maintaining these complicated
records Chitragupta gave mankind one of the best gifts ever, the gift of a
scripted language. Chitragupta is thought to be the person who introduced
the very first scripts. Once Indra and Indrani, desirous of a progeny, took
a long penance unto Shiva. Maheshwara, happy with their prayers then
ordered Chitragupta himself to be born to Indrani. Chitragupta, however,
immediately looked at his bunch of palm leaves and told Eeshwara, “My lord,
Indrani is not destined to have a child. It would be totally improper for
me, the keeper of all records and the assistant to Yama, to go against fate
and change her destiny. I am sorry to say this but Indrani having a child
can just not happen.”
Shiva marvelled at the level of Chitragupta’s knowledge, (>CPA or FCA
or ACA) but he still wanted Indra’s wish to be fulfilled. An idea formed in
his mind and he sent for the divine cow, Kamadhenu. Kamadhenu arrived,
shining with divine splendour, the ground where her hooves felt radiating
light. She came and bowed before Shiva and Chitragupta and stood waiting
for her commands. Shiva smiled at her, “Chitragupta, there has been no
purer life than Kamadhenu. Will you be born to her?”, he questioned
Chitragupta. Chitragupta beamed back, “It would be an honour for me to have
her as my mother, my lord.” Shiva then turned back to Kamadhenu and told
her, “Gomaatha, go to Indra’s palace and be Indrani’s pet. Chitragupta will
be born to you on an auspicious day. Indra’s palace too will soon echo with
the cries of a baby.”
Kamadhenu obediently took shelter in Indra’s palace. Indrani was
delighted to have the divine cow and treated her with much respect and
love. Days passed, and then Kamadhenu became pregnant with the power of
Chitragupta. Indrani was absolutely ecstatic and did all that she could to
make the cow as comfortable as possible. Then, on one fine day in the month
of Chithirai, when Chandra was gleaming at his fullest extent, and the star
of Chitra was on the rise, Kamadhenu gave birth to a beautiful young boy.
Chitragupta was born in the palace of Indra, to relieve him of his sadness
of being childless. Joy flowed through the palace like an infectious
disease. Indrani lifted up the child and with tears streaming down her
cheeks, named him Chitragupta all over again.
It is this birth of Chitragupta that is widely celebrated in Tamil
Nadu on Chitra Pournami. The Chitra Pournami Vratha is believed to relieve
every one of their sins and problems, just like Chitragupta had alleviated
the sadness of Indra and Indrani. People perform two poojas on this day.
One happens to be the usual Pournami pooja, that is observed on every full
moon day. And the other is the Chitragupta Pooja, done once a year in the
sacred month of Chithrai. The Pournami pooja is held at night after
moonrise whereas the Chitrgupta pooja is observed in the morning, amidst
much ritualistic actions and vedic chanting.
The glory of Chitragupta pooja is extolled in Garuda Purana
(Remember Anniyan), where much detail is given to the job of Chitragupta
and his possible judgments to the souls. The Purana also states the nature
of the pooja that is to be offered to delight Chitragupta and to enjoy his
grace. The vratha starts in the morning with sunrise and includes the
ritual bath of cleansing oneself both physically and mentally. People
should abstain from eating anything until the pooja is done. Once the bath
is done, one should approach the household shrine and with a pure heart
meditate on the form of Chitragupta. The pooja essentially consists of
reading the Chitragupta Katha and other mantras. People invoke him to
reside in the kolam that they have drawn and then ritually invite him to
enter the kalasha. They then ask him to forgive any sins that they could
have done and bless them with a good year ahead. Charity and good deeds
form an important part of the vratha. Throughout the day one should follow
the tenets of honesty, loyalty, morality and justice. Observing a full
upavasa is also recommended.
The temple of Chitragupta in Kanchi sees huge crowds on that day. It
is one of the very few temples dedicated to Chitragupta in India and the
only one in Tamil Nadu. This temple was built by a king named Senni, one of
the rulers of Kanchi. Kanchi is often highly extolled as “Satyavratha
Kshetra”, where the people strictly observe the vow of speaking nothing but
the truth. What better place for the upholder of truth to establish his
presence? Here Chitragupta gives darshan with his wife Karnaambikai. Also
known as Karnaki, she bore him eight sons who are considered to be the
forefathers of the Karuneegar community of Karnataka. In the sanctum,
Chitragupta is in a standing posture with his book and a writing nail, a
sign of ever watchfulness over everyone. On the day of Chitra Pournami, a
grand wedding is held at the temple between Chitragupta and Karnaki.
Thousands flock to attend the wedding and take part in the special poojas
held at the temple. A visit to this ancient temple is considered to wash
away all your sins.
Accountant concept is so old, older than the yugas. KR IRS 12 11 23
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rangarajan T.N.C. <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2023 at 07:18
Subject: portrait of an accountant
To:
Meeting Luca at the Louvre
<https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/newsletters/academic-update/meeting-luca-at-the-louvre.html>
Meeting Luca at the Louvre
On a summer trip to Paris, a college lecturer was waiting in line to see
the Mona Lisa when a painting in the di...
<https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/newsletters/academic-update/meeting-luca-at-the-louvre.html>
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