Ishta-deva or ishta devata (Sanskrit: इष्ट देव(ता), iṣṭa-deva(tā), literally "cherished divinity" from iṣṭa, "personal, liked, cherished, preferred" and devatā, "godhead, divinity, tutelary deity" or deva, "deity"), is a term used in Hinduism denoting a worshipper's favourite deity.[1][2]
Hanuman, a popular ishta devata.
For Ishta-Deva in the Vajrayana Buddhist context, see Yidam.
For ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism, see Kuladevata.
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 ishta-deva concept exists. For example, in Vaishnavism, special focus is given to a particular form of 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]
The "worship of the five forms" (pañcāyatana pūjā) system, which was popularized by philosopher Adi Shankara among orthodox Brahmins of the 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.
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 Advaita schools it is believed that the humanmind 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 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.
^V. S. Apte, A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 250.
^Jha, J.C. (1976). "The Hindu Festival of Divali in the Caribbean". Caribbean Quarterly. 22 (1): 57. doi:10.1080/00086495.1976.11829270.
^ . Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Grimes, John A. Ganapati: Song of the Self. (State University of New York Press: Albany, 1995) p. 162.
^Dating for the pañcāyatana pūjā and its connection with Smārta Brahmins is from p. 163, Courtright, Paul B. Gaṇeśa: Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings. (Oxford University Press: New York, 1985). ISBN0-19-505742-2
External links
The Significance of the Hindu Doctrine of Ishtadeva by Anantand Rambachan
January 26, 2023
iṣṭa, devatā, hinduism, ishta, deva, ishta, devata, sanskrit, इष, iṣṭa, deva, literally, cherished, divinity, from, iṣṭa, personal, liked, cherished, preferred, devatā, godhead, divinity, tutelary, deity, deva, deity, term, used, hinduism, denoting, worshipper. Ishta deva or ishta devata Sanskrit इष ट द व त iṣṭa deva ta literally cherished divinity from iṣṭa personal liked cherished preferred and devata godhead divinity tutelary deity or deva deity is a term used in Hinduism denoting a worshipper s favourite deity 1 2 Hanuman a popular ishta devata For Ishta Deva in the Vajrayana Buddhist context see Yidam For ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism see Kuladevata 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 ishta deva concept exists For example in Vaishnavism special focus is given to a particular form of 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 Contents 1 Smarta worship 2 Worship forms 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksSmarta worship EditThe worship of the five forms pancayatana puja system which was popularized by philosopher Adi Shankara among orthodox Brahmins of the Smarta tradition invokes the five deities Ganesha Vishnu Shiva Shakti and Surya 4 5 This system was instituted by Saṅkaracarya primarily to unite the principal deities of the five major sects Gaṇapatya Saiva Vaiṣṇava Shakta and Saura on an equal status The monistic philosophy preached by Saṅkaracarya 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 EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 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 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 Edit Hinduism portalBhakti Bhakti Yoga Henotheism Henotheistic aspects of Hinduism Icon Kuldevta Patron saint Smartism Vedanta YidamReferences Edit V S Apte A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary p 250 Jha J C 1976 The Hindu Festival of Divali in the Caribbean Caribbean Quarterly 22 1 57 doi 10 1080 00086495 1976 11829270 https web archive org web 20120317164651 http www swaminarayansatsang com library scriptures scriptureexplanation asp IDProduct 726 amp idcategory 2 Archived from the original on 17 March 2012 Retrieved 25 September 2011 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Grimes John A Ganapati Song of the Self State University of New York Press Albany 1995 p 162 Dating for the pancayatana puja and its connection with Smarta Brahmins is from p 163 Courtright Paul B Gaṇesa Lord of Obstacles Lord of Beginnings Oxford University Press New York 1985 ISBN 0 19 505742 2External links EditThe Significance of the Hindu Doctrine of Ishtadeva by Anantand Rambachan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Iṣṭa devata Hinduism amp oldid 1131636943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
