Is Choosing the Right God/Deity Important?

[The_Ronin]

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Hi folks,

I'm a new entrant to this forum. I have a question regarding deity worship.

I'm a Saivite by birth and the elders in the family suggest that I should accept Lord Shiva as my ishta devata.

An astrologer friend suggested that Vishnu is the God corresponding to my star sign so I'd be better off choosing him as ishta devata.

Yet another astrologer friend suggested that based on my horoscope, I'm likely to have 'girl troubles' so I'd be better off worshiping Ambal, Devi, or any deity in the female form.

Last but not least, I'm personally fond of Vinayagar and Murugan.

So, what should I do? The rationalist in me says that it's an absurd question to begin with and that I should be able to worship whichever God I want to.

But the believer in me says that there's got to be some degree of logic/truth to what these astrologers are saying?

Can the more knowledgeable folks on this forum help me out?

I'd be much obliged.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

Hi folks,

I'm a new entrant to this forum. I have a question regarding deity worship.

I'm a Saivite by birth and the elders in the family suggest that I should accept Lord Shiva as my ishta devata.

An astrologer friend suggested that Vishnu is the God corresponding to my star sign so I'd be better off choosing him as ishta devata.

Yet another astrologer friend suggested that based on my horoscope, I'm likely to have 'girl troubles' so I'd be better off worshiping Ambal, Devi, or any deity in the female form.

Last but not least, I'm personally fond of Vinayagar and Murugan.

So, what should I do? The rationalist in me says that it's an absurd question to begin with and that I should be able to worship whichever God I want to.

But the believer in me says that there's got to be some degree of logic/truth to what these astrologers are saying?

Can the more knowledgeable folks on this forum help me out?

I'd be much obliged.

Did you tell the astrologer about your background? What is the caste of astrologer friend - Brahmin (Iyer or Iyengar) or non-Brahmin?

If you are a non-Brahmin Saivite, Lord Shiva is the presiding deity. You can even ask the Othuvars in Shiva Temples or old Saivites (Men or Women). For Smartha (Iyer) like me, it depends upon the family tradition.

Astrology has nothing to do with presiding deity.

 

[The_Ronin]

I'm a non-brahmin Saivite and Shiva is the Lord and God of our community. It's just that I'm strongly drawn towards Vinayaga and Muruga. So, I'm torn. Should I accept Shiva as my ishta devata like my father and grandfather did or should I worship the Gods with whom I feel a strong connection?

I'm a bit old fashioned in this issue so I find it really hard to tell the elders in my family that I prefer to recite Kandha Sashti Kavasam rather than Panniru Thirumuraigal. Hence the dilemma!

 

[sarang]

It is advisable to follow family traditions till one evolves by study, exposure, association and self growth.

 

[biswa]

I would say: All the above.

We dont expect Gods to be jealous about sharing devotees.

 

[sangom]

Hi folks,

I'm a new entrant to this forum. I have a question regarding deity worship.

I'm a Saivite by birth and the elders in the family suggest that I should accept Lord Shiva as my ishta devata.

An astrologer friend suggested that Vishnu is the God corresponding to my star sign so I'd be better off choosing him as ishta devata.

Yet another astrologer friend suggested that based on my horoscope, I'm likely to have 'girl troubles' so I'd be better off worshiping Ambal, Devi, or any deity in the female form.

Last but not least, I'm personally fond of Vinayagar and Murugan.

So, what should I do? The rationalist in me says that it's an absurd question to begin with and that I should be able to worship whichever God I want to.

But the believer in me says that there's got to be some degree of logic/truth to what these astrologers are saying?

Can the more knowledgeable folks on this forum help me out?

I'd be much obliged.

Shri Ronin,

Ishta Devata means the deity which you personally like. In your case it is Vinayakar and Murugan. So you can continue to worship these two deities to your heart's content. But, when we talk about ishta devata it does not mean that all the other godheads are 'anishta devatas', or that you don't like them. If an astrologer tells you to worship Ambikai, do that also, to the extent possible. Same applies to Shiva or Vishnu. Generally speaking, however, we do not give that much emphasis to the god corresponding to the star sign. That is because for some stars the devata is pitrus or Manes, Yama, Tvashtaa (whose worship is not known to many), Aryamaa, Aditi, Nirriti, etc.