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Indian (northern states): Hindu (Kayasth) name from one of the subgroups of the Kayasth community. According to Saxena tradition, their name is from Sanskrit sakhisena ‘friend of the army’, a title awarded to them by the kings of Srinagar.
The Kayastha trace their geneology 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: “Thou hast been created from my body (Kaya), therefore shall thy progeny be known as the Kayasthas. Thou hast been conceived in my mind (Chitra) and in secrecy (gupta), thy name shall also be Chitragupta.” Brahma then enjoined him to dispense justice and punish those who violated the dharma (duties). Thus, the Kayasthas were accorded a dual caste, Brahmin (learned)/Kshatriya (warrior).