LORD VISHNU AS ISHTA DEVATA

Contents

• Why do we Worship Ishta Devata?
• Lord Vishnu as Ishta Devata
• Lord Vishnu as a Medium of Salvation
• How to Find Ishta Devata in a Birth Chart?
• Chanting Dvedakshari Mantra
• Various Vishnu Avatars and their Appropriate Mantras
• References

Why do we Worship Ishta Devata?

In order to achieve the four main goals of existence – i.e. dharma (religion), artha (economy), kama (desires) and moksha (liberation) – every Hindu is advised to worship Ishta Devata. The term Ishta Devata literally means ‘the main deity’ – the one who leads us towards moksha (salvation).

The main benefit behind propitiating Ishta Devata is not only that the deity protects his devotee from hindrances and untoward incidents in everyday life, but also leads him towards liberation from the excruciating cycle of life and death.   

Lord Vishnu as Ishta Devata

Lord Vishnu – one amongst the Hindu Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh) – carries Sudarshan Chakra (spinning disk) as his astra (weapon). This weapon alone has the power to liberate people gyrated in the cycle of life and death. It is said that if one gets hit by the Sudarshan Chakra, then and there he achieves salvation. Hence, the worship of an appropriate Vishnu avatar has been recommended to every Hindu.

Lord Vishnu appears in different grahas (planets) in his various avatars. As per one’s suitable graha (planet) the appropriate avatar should be worshiped as Ishta Devata.

Various Lord Vishnu incarnations and associated planets as mentioned in the text Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra chapter 2, verses 5-7 are as follows -

Lord Vishnu as a Medium of Salvation

As stated in many scriptures, many a time it may so happen that one is an ardent devotee of deities like Lord Shiva or goddess Durga, and in such a situation moksha (salvation) is achieved with Lord Vishnu playing as a medium in the process using his indomitable Sudarshan Chakra.

For instance, in the great epic Ramayana, the invincible Ravana gets killed by Lord Rama (Vishnu avatar). Ravana was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He was blessed by Shiva and no man or weapon in this world could destroy him. Shiva granted him this boon with a purpose that he wanted his devotee to attain liberation. Ultimately, Ravana attained it when he got killed by the Sudarshan Chakra thrown upon him by Lord Rama.

Just like Lord Vishnu resides in different planets in his various incarnations, other deities with their corresponding planets as mentioned by Sage Parashara in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, chapter Karakamsa are as follows. The same list is also present in Upadesha Sutras (1.2.72–79) compiled by Sage Jaimini.  

How to Find Ishta Devata in a Birth Chart?

To know one’s Ishta Devata we have to look at one’s Atma Karaka in Navamsa Vargha in his birth chart. To understand the concept better –

Atma Karaka à  it is a planet with the highest longitude.

Navamsa à It is the 9^th house or division in the chart that signifies dharma. It defines God’s blessings onto the native and the way he communicates with God. Navamsa is also popularly called dharma-amsa. 

Jivanmuktam à The twelth house form the Lagna karakamsa is known as Jivanmuktam that releases one from the bondage of life and death. This house helps one find out his Ishta Devata. In case of multiple planets, the one that puts the strongest emphasis is chosen. In case of absence of the planet in Jivanmuktam, its Lord is considered as Ishta Devata.

Following example will make the concept clearer –

The chart portrays Shri Krishna as Ishta Devata. Shukra or Venus Karakamsa is in Kanya or Virgo. Simha (Leo) Rasi housing Chandra (Moon) is twelfth from Karakamsa and hence called jivanmuktamsa.

Chanting Dwadasakshari Mantra

Dwadasakshari Mantra is an integral part of worshiping Ishta Devata. Along with chanting of this mantra, it is expected from a devotee to perform Pancha Upachara Puja to bear more accurate results.

The meaning – ‘Dwadasakshari Mantra’ literally means ‘the twelve syllable mantra’. In Vishnu Purana, Sage Parashara has given an exemplary Dwadasakshari Mantra defining Lord Vishnu as Ishta Devata. The Ugra Madhusudana Mantra as mentioned by Sage Parashara in the text is as follows –  

Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya

This is one of the most famous and widely used mantra chanted by Hindus, especially the Vaishnavites. This is a mukti or liberation mantra and is revered as a spiritual formula that helps the devotee attaining freedom. Chanting this holy mantra, a devotee thus requests Lord Vishnu to pick up his Sudarshan Chakra and liberate him. Be it any Lord Vishnu avatar, the mantra bhoga of this mantra is liberation and hence should be chanted by everyone aiming towards spiritual progress and final liberation.

Various Vishnu Avatars and their Appropriate Mantras

Ideally, there are different Dwadasakshari Mantras for propitiating various Lord Vishnu avatars and these are discussed in the following paragraphs. Each avatar has been defined with a short description and its appropriate Dwadasakshari Mantra. It is always better for a devotee to consider his guru before practicing the Dwadasakshari Mantra.