Ishta-Deva

Ishta-Deva, or Ishta Devata is a term from Hinduism that means chosen deity. This chosen deity can be a murti/representation of e.g. Krishna, Ganesha or Shiva. It can also be a living guru or saint. Usually a person worships this Ishta-Deva, prays to it or dedicates his actions to it.

The theory behind it is, that the human mind needs a concrete form to understand the divine. Just as one can understand the abstract concept of e.g. a chair only after one has seen the concrete form first.

According to some translations of the Bhagavad Gita the devotee will receive deliverance from ignorance and divine wisdom from the Divine and come to perfection by practicing bhakti yoga regardless of the form he worships. Quite a lot of sects of Hinduism don't hold this belief. E.g. Arya Samaj worships only the formless God, Brahman. ISKCON/Hare Krishna's believe that only worship of Krishna will lead to perfection i.e. Krishna is their preferred Ishta-Deva.

See also icon, idolatry