JunkoQxl0473817 at 15:14, 8 May 2026

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{{Short description|A worshipper's favourite deity, in Hinduism}}
{{Italic title}}
{{For-multi|Ishtadeva in the Vajrayana Buddhist context|Yidam|ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism|Kuladevata}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}}
{{Hinduism}}
'''''Ishtadevata''''' or '''''Ishtadeva''''' ([[Sanskrit]]: इष्ट देव(ता), {{IAST|iṣṭa-deva(tā)}}, literally "cherished [[Deva (Hinduism)|divinity]]" from ''iṣṭa'', "personal, liked, cherished, preferred" and ''[[devatā]]'', "godhead, divinity, [[tutelary deity]]" or ''[[deva (Hinduism)|deva]]'', "deity"), is a term used in [[Hinduism]] denoting a worshipper's favourite deity.<ref>V. S. Apte, ''A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary'', p. 250.</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title= The Hindu Festival of Divali in the Caribbean |doi=10.1080/00086495.1976.11829270|journal= Caribbean Quarterly|volume=22|year=1976|issue=1|page=57|last1=Jha|first1=J.C.}}</ref>

It is especially significant to both the [[Smarta]] and [[Bhakti]] schools, wherein practitioners choose to worship the form of God that inspires them. Within [[Smartism]], one of five chief deities is selected. Even in denominations that focus on a singular concept of God, such as [[Vaishnavism]], the ishtadevata concept exists. For example, in [[Vaishnavism]], special focus is given to a particular form of [[Lord Vishnu|Vishnu]] or one of his [[avatar]]as (i.e. [[Krishna]] or [[Rama]]). Similarly within [[Shaktism]], focus is given to a particular form of the Goddess such as [[Parvati]] or [[Lakshmi]]. The [[Swaminarayan]] sect of Vaishnavism has a similar concept, but notably holds that Vishnu and [[Shiva]] are different aspects of the same God.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/scriptures/scriptureexplanation.asp?IDProduct%3D726%26idcategory%3D2 |access-date=25 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317164651/http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/scriptures/scriptureexplanation.asp?IDProduct=726&idcategory=2 |archivedate=17 March 2012 |title=Swaminarayan Satsang - Scriptures - Shikshapatri English - Shlok 47 }}</ref>

==Smarta worship==
The "worship of the five forms" ({{IAST|[[pañcāyatana pūjā]]}}) system, which was popularized by [[Adi Shankara]] among orthodox Brahmins of the [[Smartism|Smārta]] tradition, invokes the five deities [[Ganesha]], [[Vishnu]], [[Shiva]], [[Shakti]], and [[Surya|Sūrya]].<ref>Grimes, John A. Ganapati: Song of the Self. (State University of New York Press: Albany, 1995) p. 162.</ref><ref>Dating for the pañcāyatana pūjā and its connection with Smārta Brahmins is from p. 163, Courtright, Paul B. {{IAST|Gaṇeśa}}: Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings. (Oxford University Press: New York, 1985). {{ISBN|0-19-505742-2}}</ref> This system was instituted by Adi Shankara primarily to unite the principal deities of the five major sects ({{IAST|Gāṇapatya, Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Shakta and Saura}}) on an equal status. The [[Monism|monistic]] philosophy preached by Adi Shankara made it possible to choose one of these as a preferred principal deity and at the same time worship the other four deities as different forms of the same all-pervading [[Brahman]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Krishna: a sourcebook |date=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-514892-3 |editor-last=Bryant |editor-first=Edwin F. |location=Oxford New York |pages=313}}</ref>

==Worship forms==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2015}}
Typically a practitioner worships their ishtadevata through the form of a [[murti]]. This worship may involve offering items to their chosen divinity such as [[incense]] or flowers, reciting [[mantra]]s, [[bhajan|singing their names]] and offering [[prayer]]s.

Remembering the deity and internally building a relationship with (or through) them is considered essential to the practise. Within the [[Advaita]] schools it is believed that the [[human]] [[mind]] needs a concrete form to understand the divine that ultimately can never be defined. Just as one can understand the abstract concept of a [[color]] only after one has seen a concrete form, one can only realize the deity through a form of [[murti]]. In contrast, the [[Dvaita]] schools believe the Supreme Being to possess a divine form, and offer worship to their ishtadevata as either a representation or direct expansion of the Supreme Person. For example, [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] schools offer worship exclusively to murtis of Vishnu, or his associated avatars such as [[Krishna]] or [[Rama]].

[[Shaivism|Shaivites]] worship Shiva, either figuratively, or through his [[Lingam]] murti. As Shaivism contains both monistic and dualistic traditions either (or both) of the above approaches may be applicable.

In [[Hindu texts]], four different methods of [[Hindu astrology|astrological]] determination of an Ishtadevata are prescribed. Two methods are found in the [[Shruti]] texts and two methods are found in the [[Smriti]] texts.

According to [[Shruti]], the appropriate deity is determined directly by the [[Nakshatras|Nakshatra]],<ref>Yajur Veda Taittiriya Samhita IV.4.10.1 3;
Yajur Veda Kathaka Samhita XXXIX.13;
Yajur Veda Maitrayani Samhita II.13.20;
Atharva Veda XIX.7.2 5;
Taittiriya Brahmana I.5.3.1.4 5;
Shatapatha Brahmana II.1.2.1 11</ref><ref>[https://stotrarathna.blogspot.com/2020/02/prayers-based-on-birth-nakshatra.html?m=0 Prayers based on Birth Nakshatra]. Translated by
P. R. Ramachander
</ref><ref>[https://www.tamilsurangam.in/astrology/astrology_articles/stars_gods.html ஜோதிடக் கட்டுரைகள் - 27 நட்சத்திரக்காரர்களிற்கும் உரிய தெய்வங்கள்]</ref> as well as by [[Navagraha|Graha]] that rules the [[Nakshatra]].<ref>Navagraha Sukta of Taittiriya Samhita of Krishna Yajur Veda;
Nakshatra Sukta of Taittiriya Brahmana of Krishna Yajur Veda
</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/the-book-of-nakshatras/mode/1up The Book of Nakshatras. A comprehensive treatise on 27 constellations.] As per Prash Trivedi. Illustrations by Veno</ref><ref>[https://www.sreyasjyothishakendram.com/%E0%B4%9C%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AE-%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B7%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%B5%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%82-%E0%B4%87%E0%B4%B7%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F-%E0%B4%A6%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B5/ ജന്മ നക്ഷത്രവും ഇഷ്ട ദേവതയും]</ref>

According to [[Smriti]], the suitable deity is determined by the fifth "Bhava" in the [[Varga (astrology)|"Rasi"]] chart,<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/document/272924930/Jyotish-jyotisharnava-navanitam Jyotisharnava Navanitam 2.127-132];
[https://jyotishbooks.wordpress.com/2018/03/23/sarvarth-chintamani-of-vekatesh-sharma-classic-by-j-n-bhasin/ Sarvartha Chintamani 13.994-1002]</ref> and also by the twelfth "Bhava" from "Karakamsa" in the [[Varga (astrology)|"Navamsa"]] chart.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.486584/mode/1up Jaimini Sutras 1.2.72-81];
[https://archive.org/details/brihatparasarahorasastrawithenglishtranslationgirishchandsharmavolume1_547_G/mode/1up not all editions of Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 35.63-74]</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Hinduism}}
*[[Bhakti]]
*[[Bhakti Yoga]]
*[[Henotheism]]
*[[Henotheistic aspects of Hinduism]]
*[[Icon]]
*[[Kuladevata]]
*[[Patron saint]]
*[[Smartism]]
*[[Vedanta]]
*[[Yidam]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ista-Devata}}
[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Hindu deities]]
[[Category:Tutelary deities]]

Ishtadevata - Revision history

JunkoQxl0473817 at 15:14, 8 May 2026