The Ishta Devata

An article written by Pawel Leszczak (Guru and Guide Rafal Gendarz)

There are four main goals of human existance: dharma, artha, kama and moksha. In order to achieve them, people are advised to worship various devatas. Among all the devatas one can worship, the Ishta Devata is the foremost.

Defining the Ishta Devata

he ter! "Ishta Devata" literally !eans "the !ain deity"# his Deity can bless $ne with g$$d %assage thr$ugh life# &hat is !$re' Ishta Devata is res%$nsible f$r granting !$ksha t$ the native# (ence' its w$rshi% n$t $nly ensures that $ne"s wh$le life is taken care $f' but als$ !akes it certain that $ne is !$ving t$wards liberati$n# A!$ng all the different devatas it is )ishnu' wh$ is ca%able $f best$wing !$ksha# (e al$ne carries the sudarshana chakra and uses it s%ecifically f$r that %ur%$se# If $ne is hit by this astra $f L$rd )ishnu he achieves final e!anci%ati$n as sudarshana chakra has the %$wer t$ se%arate $ne"s at!a fr$! the !ana# *$r these reas$ns the w$rshi% $f an a%%r$%riate )ishnu Avatara as $ne"s Ishta Devata is generally rec$!!ended# ($wever' it has t$ be b$rne in !ind that $ne"s Ishta Devata !ay n$t necessarily be )ishnu# he achieve!ent $f %erfecti$n is als$ %$ssible f$r th$se wh$ are w$rshi%%ing $ther Deities' like +hiva $r Durga Devi# +till' in such situati$ns' !$ksha is granted by the via !ediu! $f +ri )ishnu and (is sudarshana chakra' as it is )ishnu al$ne' wh$ takes $n the task $f giving !$ksha# he en!ity between +ri Ra!a and Ravana de%icted in the

Ra!ayana clearly illustrates this %$int# It is a well,kn$wn fact that Ravana was a great dev$tee $f L$rd +hiva# (e was blessed by the L$rd and n$ wea%$n used by +ri Ra!achandra c$uld kill hi!# his was s$' because L$rd +hiva wanted t$ grant (is dev$tee !ukti# Ravana died $nly when L$rd Ra!a threw (is chakra and in this way granted hi! liberati$n# heref$re b$th state!ents !ade in +hastras are right- that $nly )ishnu is the giver $f !$ksha and that the $ther Devatas (like L$rd +hiva $r Devi) are als$ ca%able $f blessing their dev$tees with !ukti#

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he f$r! $f Ishta Devata and its w$rshi%

L$rd )ishnu a%%ears in this w$rld thr$ugh different grahas and th$se grahas indicate the a%%r$%riate Avatara that sh$uld be w$rshi%%ed as $ne"s Ishta Devata# he list $f th$se vari$us incarnati$ns and %lanets ass$ciated with the! is given in the .rihat Parashara ($ra +hastra' cha%ter /' verses 0,1''From ur!a the avatara of "ama, from #handra that of $rishna, from %angal that of &arasimha, from 'uddha that of (ord 'uddha, from )uru that of *amana, from hukra that of +arashurama, from hani that of $urma, from "ahu that of *araha and from $etu that of %eena occurred. All other incarnations ,than these- are also through the grahas ,...-'' As far as the w$rshi% $f $ther Devatas is c$ncerned' the list $f th$se Deities and their c$rres%$nding %lanets was given by Parashara 2uni in his .rihat Parashara ($ra +hastra in the cha%ter $n 3araka!sa# It was als$ %resented by 4ai!ini 2aharishi in his 5%adesha +utras (6#/#1/17)- +urya indicates L$rd +hiva' 8handra indicates G$uri' +hukra indicates Laksh!i' 2angal indicates +kanda' .uddha and +hani b$th indicate L$rd )ishnu' Guru indicates +a!ba +hiva' Rahu indicates a!asi $r Durga and 3etu indicates L$rd Ganesha# 9very$ne is eligible f$r the w$rshi% $f $ne"s Ishta Devata and every$ne at least sh$uld kn$w their Ishta Devata# he %r$cess $f w$rshi% is si!%le and is based $n the chanting $f the dvadakshari !antra f$r the a%%r$%riate Deity# Alth$ugh this chanting al$ne is very %$werful' an ideal situati$n is

when $ne als$ %erf$r!s %anca u%achara %u:a t$ $ne"s Ishta Devata# he ter! "dvadakshari !antra" !eans "the twelve syllable !antra"# An e;a!%lary dvadakshari !antra f$r L$rd )ishnu as Ishta Devata is given by the Parashara 2uni in his )ishnu Purana# he ugra !adhusudana !antra given there by the sage is as f$ll$ws- om namo .hagavate vasudeva!a# Parashara 2uni advises %e$%le t$ chant it and says that with this !antra we ask L$rd )ishnu t$ %ick u% (is sudarshana chakra and liberate us# he !antra bh$ga $f this %articular !antra is !ukti# heref$re it sh$uld be d$ne f$r $ne"s Ishta Devata with the %ur%$se $f !aking %r$gress t$wards final e!anci%ati$n#

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he Avataras $f L$rd )ishnu

9ach )ishnu Avatar is w$rshi%%ed with a different dvadakshari !antra# (erein I have %resented each $f these incarnati$ns with a sh$rt descri%ti$n and the suggested !antra# <ne sh$uld kn$w that there are $ften !$re than $ne dvadakshari !antra f$r a %articular )ishnu Avatar# As s$!e $f the! are n$t in line with the traditi$n and %ara!%ara it is advised t$ refer t$ auth$rities while ch$$sing an a%%r$%riate $ne#

+ri Ra!achandra
L$rd Ra!a has a%%eared in the dynasty $f 2ahara:a 3hatvanga as the s$n $f 2ahara:a Dasharatha# (e br$ke the (ara,dhanu' !arried +itadevi and defeated Ravana# Later $n the L$rd beca!e the king $f Ay$dhya# (is gl$ries and %asti!es are de%icted in the fa!$us Ra!ayana# he !antra that sh$uld be chanted f$r +ri Ra!achandra Ishta Devata isOM NAMO BHAGAVATE RAMACHANDRAYA

+ri 3rishna
L$rd 3rishna a%%eared in the dynasty $f =adu as the s$n $f )asudeva and Devaki# (e has %erf$r!ed nu!er$us %asti!es during (is %resence in this w$rld# (e a%%eared $n the %lea $f L$rd .rah!a' L$rd +hiva' !$ther 9arth and the de!ig$ds in $rder t$ defeat the de!$ns and hel% !$ther 9arth and (er inhabitants# +ri 3rishna is the s%eaker $f the fa!$us .hagavad Gita# he !antra that sh$uld be chanted f$r +ri 3rishna Ishta Devata isOM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA

+ri >arasi!ha Avatara

L$rd )ishnu a%%eared in the f$r! $f +ri >arasi!ha in $rder t$ save (is dev$tee Prahlada 2ahara:a# +ri Prahlad was a great dev$tee $f L$rd )ishnu and the s$n $f a de!$n na!ed (iranyakashi%u# L$rd >arasi!ha a%%eared fr$!

the %illar in $rder t$ save hi! and kill (iranyakashi%u# he !antra that sh$uld be chanted f$r >arasi!ha Ishta Devata isOM NAMO BHAGAVATE NARASIMHAYA

+ri .uddha
L$rd .uddha a%%eared in this w$rld because %e$%le were %erf$r!ing sinful deeds $n the strength $f )edic auth$rity# hat is why (e has re:ected the )edas and %reached buddhist %hil$s$%hy' teaching %e$%le the basic dhar!ic %rinci%les# ($wever' because (e has re:ected the )edas (e is n$t acc%eted as a w$rshi%able incarnati$n# hat is why' since the .uddha graha als$ signifies )ishnu' it is rec$!!ended t$ w$rshi% L$rd )ishnu directly' instead $f L$rd .uddha# he !antra that sh$uld be chanted f$r L$rd )ishnu Ishta Devata isOM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA

+ri )a!anadeva
L$rd )a!ana a%%eared in this w$rld as the s$n $f 3ashya%a 2uni and Aditi# (e t$$k the f$r! $f a brah!achari dwarf# L$rd )a!ana a%%eared $n the sacrificial arena $f .ali 2ahara:a and asked hi! f$r a three, ste%s,l$ng area $f his land as a d$nati$n# 2ahara:a agreed and +ri )a!anadeva t$$k the entire universe with his tw$ ste%s# (e !ade the third ste% by %utting (is f$$t $n .ali

2ahara:a"s head# he !antra that sh$uld be chanted f$r +ri )a!anadeva Ishta Devata isOM NAMO BHAGAVATE TRIVIKRAMAYA

+ri Parashura!a
Rcika 2uni and +atyavati devi had a s$n na!ed 4a!adagni# he s$n $f 4a!adagni was Parashura!a# <nce 3ing 3artaviryar:una has st$len 4a!adagni his ka!adhenu# (e was theref$re killed by Parashura!a' wh$ later $n has slaughtered the dynasty $f de!$niac kshatriyas twenty $ne ti!es # It is n$t rec$!!ended by the %ara!%ara t$ use the na!e "Parashura!a" directly in the dvadakshari !antra' hence the rec$!!ended !antra isOM NAMO BHAGAVATE HRISHIKESHAYA

+ri 3ur!a Avatara

L$rd )ishnu has incarnated as a t$rt$ise in $rder t$ bec$!e a base f$r the 2andara 2$untain' which was used by the suras and the asuras f$r the churning $f the $cean $f !ilk# his t$$k %lace because b$th %arties desired the a!rita# he !antra that sh$uld be chanted f$r the 3ur!a Avatara Ishta Devata isOM NAMO BHAGAVATE AKUPARAYA

+ri )arahadeva
L$rd )ishnu has t$$k the f$r! $f a b$ar t$ save the 9arth that has dr$wned in the water $f the Garbh$daka $cean# his ha%%ened due t$ a de!$n na!ed (iranyaksha# he L$rd has n$t $nly saved the 9arth' but als$ killed the de!$n# he !antra that sh$uld be chanted f$r +ri )araha Ishta Devata isOM NAMO BHAGAVATE SHRIVARAHAYA

+ri 2atsya Avatara

At the end $f the %revi$us kal%a there was $ne de!$n wh$ desired t$ steal the )edic kn$wledge fr$! L$rd .rah!a# *$r this reas$n' at the begining $f the era $f +vaya!bhuva 2anu' L$rd )ishnu has incarnated in the f$r! $f a fish and saved the )edas# During the era $f 8akshusa 2anu the L$rd has a%%eared as a fish f$r the sec$nd ti!e# (e a%%ered t$ save the great and %i$us ruler +atyavrata# Later $n +atyavrata t$$k birth as a s$n $f the +un g$d' and beca!e a 2anu# he !antra that sh$uld be chanted f$r 2atsya Ishta Devata isOM NAMO BHAGAVATE MAHAMATSYAYA

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($w t$ find Ishta Devata in a chart

he key r$le in revealing $ne"s Ishta Devata %lays the At!a 3araka# At!a 3araka is the %lanet that has the highest l$ngitude# $ find $ne"s Ishta Devata we have t$ l$$k at the At!a 3araka in >ava!sa' since the >ava!sa sh$ws blessings $f G$d $nt$ the native and the way in which the native c$!!unicates with G$d# >ava!sa is als$ kn$wn as the dhar!a,a!sa' since it is the 7th divisi$n (ninth h$use signifies dhar!a)# heref$re we sh$uld l$$k f$r Ishta Devata in this )arga# At!a 3araka in >ava!sa is called the karaka!sa# he twelfth h$use fr$! Lagna sh$ws that what releases $ne fr$! the b$nds $f this w$rld# he twelfth h$use fr$! the karaka!sa is called the :ivan!ukta!sa# his is the h$use signifying the e!anci%ati$n $f the s$ul and we have t$ e;a!ine this h$use in $rder t$ find $ne"s Ishta Devata# If there is a graha in the :ivan!ukta!sa' it signifies the Devata# If there are !$re grahas than $ne' we ch$$se the str$ngest# If there is n$ graha in the :ivan!ukta!sa' we take its L$rd#

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9;a!%les
8hart 6

his is a chart $f a dev$tee $f 3rishna# he 3araka!sa $f this %ers$n (+hukra) is debilitated in 3anya# he twelfth fr$! the 3araka!sa (:ivan!ukta!sa) is +i!ha Rasi' with 8handra %laced in it# his suggests +ri 3rishna as Ishta Devata# his %ers$n has been w$rshi%%ing +ri 3rishna f$r !any years# +he was als$ given the dvadakshari !antra "$! na!$ bhagavate vasudevaya"#

8hart /

he At!a 3araka $f this %ers$n is +urya# It is %laced in >ava!sa Lagna# he :ivan!ukta!sa is Dhanus' with n$ grahas in it# he L$rd $f Dhanus is Guru and we find Guru in trik$na t$ b$th' 3araka!sa and Lagna!sa# As +urya suggests L$rd +hiva and Guru suggests +adaa+hiva this %ers$n has attracti$n t$ L$rd +hiva and %erf$r!s %anca u%achara %u:a t$ the +hivalinga! daily# (e als$ chants Lingashtaka! and d$es sadhanas t$ vari$us +hiva !antras#

8hart ?

his is a chart $f an astr$l$ger# (er 3araka!sa is Rahu' %laced in 2esha# In the thwelfth h$use fr$! it there is 2angal' indicating +ri >arasi!ha .hagavan as Ishta Devata# his %ers$n has tried !any !antras' but she always says that whenever she chants a >arasi!ha %rayer $r !antra she e;%eriences that kind $f %$tency she really can"t e;%erience in $ther !antras#

8hart @

(ere we can see that the At!a 3araka $f this %ers$n' 2angal' is %laced in Dhanus in the >ava!sa# his w$uld suggest +ri >arasi!ha .hagavan as her Ishta Devata' since )rischika is the :ivan!ukta!sa# ($wever' acc$rding t$ the %ara!%ara' when the :ivan!ukta!sa is l$rded by the At!a 3araka we either have t$ take the $ther l$rd $f this h$use ()rschika $r 3u!bha) $r take a graha that is in the trik$na t$ 3araka!sa# (ere 3etu' the $ther l$rd $f )rschika' is str$ng in 2eena Rasi# heref$re this suggests either +ri 2ahagana%ati $r 2atsya Avatara#

8hart 0

In this chart we can see that the 3araka!sa +hani is in Dhanus# he :ivan!ukta!sa is )rischika with 2angal and .uddha in it# .uddha suggests +ri )ishnu and 2angal' being str$nger' suggests the f$r! $f +ri )ishnu >arasi!hadeva# his is %ers$n is a %i$us bhakta $f L$rd )ishnu' and he %articularily has attracti$n f$r L$rd >arasi!ha#

8hart A

he last >ava!sa is that $f the f$under and Acharya $f I+83<>' +rila Prabhu%ad# (e was a great dev$tee $f L$rd 3rishna' and we can see 8handra (+ri 3rishna) al$ng with +urya (+ri Ra!a) in his :ivan!ukta!sa# he At!a 3araka $f +rila Prabhu%ada was Rahu' suggesting a very s%iritual %ers$n#

OM TAT SAT