Iṣṭa-devatā (Hinduism)

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Ishta Devata
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Hanuman, a popular ishta devata

For Ishta-Deva in the Vajrayana Buddhist context, see Yidam.
For ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism, see Kuladevata.
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Ishta-deva or ishta devata (

devatā, "godhead, divinity, tutelary deity" or deva, "deity"), is a term used in Hinduism denoting a worshipper's favourite deity.[1][2]

It is especially significant to both the

Vishnu or one of his avataras (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.[3]

Smarta worship

The "worship of the five forms" (

Smārta tradition, invokes the five deities Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti, and Sūrya.[4][5] This system was instituted by Śaṅkarācārya primarily to unite the principal deities of the five major sects (Gāṇapatya, Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Shakta and Saura) on an equal status. The monistic philosophy preached by Śaṅkarācārya 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
.

Worship forms

Murti of Ishta Dev of Sindhi people Jhulelal

Typically a practitioner worships their Ishta-Deva through the form of a murti. This worship may involve offering items to their chosen divinity such as incense or flowers, reciting mantras, singing their names and offering prayers.

Remembering the deity and internally building a relationship with (or through) them is considered essential to the practise. Within the

Dvaita schools believe the Supreme Being to possess a divine form, and offer worship to their Ishta-Deva as either a representation or direct expansion of the Supreme Person. For example, Vaishnava schools offer worship exclusively to murtis of Vishnu, or his associated avatars such as Krishna or Rama
.

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.

See also

References

  1. ^ V. S. Apte, A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 250.
  2. doi:10.1080/00086495.1976.11829270
    .
  3. ^ "Swaminarayan Satsang - Scriptures - Shikshapatri English - Shlok 47". Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  4. ^ Grimes, John A. Ganapati: Song of the Self. (State University of New York Press: Albany, 1995) p. 162.
  5. ISBN 0-19-505742-2

External links
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