Q. What is an Istha deva? What are the importance for a Sanatani to recognize whom their Istha devata is? Ans. An Istha deva is the Awataar of the Paramaatma a Hindu wishes to follow to attain liberation. It is important for a Hindu to find out whom their Istha devata is, EVERY HUMAN IS BORN WITH AN ISTHADEVATA, the person just has got to find out which Divine form of the Paramaatma is their Isthadev. The Istha devata of many devotees are all not the same, to some it is Shri Krishna to another it might be Lord Shiva, others might love Lord Vishnu, some devotee’s Isthadev are Mata Durga, but tt the end of the day we all are worshipping the Paramaatma, and once a devotee knows whom is their Isthadev, they can then look at the scripture they spoke in to see how He guides his devotees to Moksha praapti (Salvation), for example: If Shri Krishna is ones Istha devata, they should check the SHRIMAD BHAGWAD GEETA to read what he says to Arjuna, If Lord Shiva is ones Istha devata, they should check the SHIVA MAHAPURAAN to see what Shivji tells to Parwati Mata for the wellbeing for us humans, If Shri Ram is ones Istha dev, they should read the RAMAYANA to see what Gosai Swami Tulasi Das says to attain liberation, If ones Istha deva is Hanumanji they should also read the RAMAYANA to know the proper procedures to worship Hanumanji, If ones Isthadevata is a form of The Divine Mother Durga they should read, SHIV MAHAPURAN, DEVI BHAGAWAT etc to gain information about how to attain Maa Durga. This is why it is important to know who you are worshipping, and which Divine form of the Paramaatma's way they wish to gain to get to the Lord, at the end, all devotees of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Shri Krishna, Shri Ram, Hanumanji, Devi Maya, Shree Ganesh etc will attain the Paramaatma, but they still need to know which path they are taking to attain him. The ways one knows whom their Isthadev is: When they hear the name of their Isthadev, tears come to their eyes, the hairs on their arms will stand, they shall continuously want to hear the stories of their Isthadev. These are some signs that this form may be you Isthadevata. Every human being is born with and Isthadevata, but it is their duty to find their Isthadev, if one is starting to find their Isthadevata, it will not happen over night, it will not be like "I have started looking for my Isthadev" and the next day "I have found my Istha devata". It will take hard work, they should, sing kirtan of the Lord, listen to the different stories of each form of the Paramaatma, and then they should go back and see which form put tears of happiness into their eyes. It is important that one find their Istha devata, otherwise they will roam around like a fool, not knowing what to do, they will always have problems and at death they will realize that they have made a huge mistake by not trying to find him, not worshipping him, therefore it is important to find you Isthadev. When one finds their Isthadev, they should not impose on other people with another different Isthadevata. For example if ones Isthadev is Shri Krishna and theirs is Lord Shiva, they should respect that they worship Shri Krishna instead of insulting them, in-fact after one has found their Isthadevata, they should promote every-single aspect of SHREE Sanatan Dharma. सत्य सनातन धर्म की जय! ॐ इस्थादेवताये नमः!
The degree of importance attached to ishta devata varies on sect. In Smartism, it's very important. But Shaivas and Vaishnavas, for example, born into and raised in those sects (which are actually separate religions, if the variance is a consideration) may not see it that way. Ishta devata implies a choice, whereas many devotees feel God (in whatever form He/she is) chose them, not the other way around. Regardless, it's important to know who God is.
Everyone must do the worship of one’s Ishta Devata and at least should know their Ishta Devata. Ishta Devata is the personal Deity who will guide the soul to its real home–Moksha.
Ishta Devata is the individual Deity who will manage the spirit to its genuine home–Moksha. The key part in uncovering one's Ishta Devata plays the Atma Karaka. Atma Karaka is the planet that has the most elevated longitude in one's horoscope.
