Ishta Devata

According to Vedic tradition: Ego (Rishi) arises from the mind. The ego desires that which it perceives
is lacking (not known). This initiates the process of knowing (Devata) which arises in the intellect. The
known (Chandas) is then inventoried in the mind as memory, and it's from these stored memories that
the desires of the ego rise again and again.
Rishi, Devata and Chandas: Rishi (I am, ego) is the knower and is ruled by Sun. Devata (intellect) is
the process of knowing and is ruled by Mercury. Chandas (mind) is the known and is ruled by Moon.
Rishi is the knower or ego of the jiva. Each one of us senses this knower aspect of ourselves. It is that
aspect that we identify as our Self. Rishi is a viewpoint of the universe that is uniquely personal, like a
window through which an individual perceives the world.
Devata is the intellect or faculty of discrimination which connects the knower with the known, and
completes the circuit that gives rise to knowledge.
Chandas: In the self-referral process of knowing, rishi becomes devata and devata becomes chandas
and chandas is the new knowledge, which is the new rishi. The new rishi is different from the original
rishi because of the assimilation of the knowledge.
In each horoscope there is a planet known asa Atma (divine soul trapped into the 8 types of bondage)
and Karaka-(movable significator) which has to do with the functioning of the 8 chakra including the
role of Somanath. Such graha (planet) is termed ATMAKARAKA . Atmakaraka is the most important
planet in a chart. It is the King of the chart, and happy King shows happy kingdom and vice versa.
Lagna is intelligence, while Chandra shows the mind. They are of secondary importance in
comparison to Atmakaraka.
Atmakaraka therefore shows the karma which caused our birth. This graha brought us into this plane,
and forced Atma to take a certain mind and body.
It brought us to this planet to teach us certain lessons. This graha shows the lightning and storms of
Indra Devata
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.
The term 'Ishta Devata' literally means 'the main deity'. This Deity can bless one with good passage
through life. What is more, Ishta Devata is responsible for granting moksha to the native. Hence, its
worship not only ensures that one's whole life is taken care of, but also makes it certain that one is
moving towards liberation.
Among all the different devatas it is Vishnu, who is capable of bestowing moksha. He alone carries
the sudarshana chakra and uses it specifically for that purpose. If one is hit by this astra of Lord
Vishnu he achieves final emancipation as sudarshana chakra has the power to separate one's atma
from the mana. For these reasons the worship of an appropriate Vishnu Avatara as one's Ishta
Devata is generally recommended.
However, it has to be borne in mind that one's Ishta Devata may not necessarily be Vishnu. The
achievement of perfection is also possible for those who are worshipping other Deities, like Shiva or
Durga Devi. Still, in such situations, moksha is granted by the via medium of Sri Vishnu and His
sudarshana chakra, as it is Vishnu alone, who takes on the task of giving moksha.
The enmity between Sri Rama and Ravana depicted in the Ramayana clearly illustrates this point. It is
a well-known fact that Ravana was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He was blessed by the Lord and no
weapon used by Sri Ramachandra could kill him. This was so, because Lord Shiva wanted to grant
His devotee mukti. Ravana died only when Lord Rama threw His chakra and in this way granted him
liberation.
Therefore both statements made in Shastras are right: that only Vishnu is the giver of moksha and
that the other Devatas (like Lord Shiva or Devi) are also capable of blessing their devotees with mukti.
Every human being takes birth due to their karma from the previous births. After death, the body,
mind and the soul separate, and body gets merged into the pancha tatva while mind and the soul
follow the path of the ayanas, toward the planes deserved by accomplished karma. So the cycle goes
on, and it will never stop unless one is given a moksha. Many people have wrong concept of moksha,
mistaking the term for spirituality, which can be defined in so many ways. I am not going to discuss
moksha right here, but will just add that it is often conceived as final emancipation of the soul. There
are different types of moksha, and different paths to it. In jyotisha there are a few planets which play
an important role, among which Atmakaraka (the planet in the highest degree, excluding rahu whose
counting is done in reverse) and Ishta Devata are the most important.
Atmakaraka carries the sins of the past birth and is akin to a inner light which prevents the outer light
due to its papa or sin. Atmakaraka is like a Sun whose rays are so dazzling that we fail to see the light
which is behind, the light of God. Ishta Devata represents the God in his numerous forms. Therefore,

due to the interaction and experience of the world (through mana and indriya), atma falls into 8 types
of bondage or bandana. In this phase, Atman is captured with the Sin and becomes Atma. Therefore,
position of Atmakaraka in the chart indicates a place where we will suffer due to Ashta Bandana, and
where we beleive that our Light is Stronger than the light of God. Therefore, it is almost impossible to
state that any position in the chart of atmakaraka is good for moksha, due to its bandana, because
that is the place where we BEHAVE like a God. So if atmakaraka is in 10th house, a person behaves
like a God in that area and thus suffers. Position of Atmakarak is therefore dependent on any factor,
but even the concept that its position in trines automatically gives spirituality is not correct. The
spirituality given is more on the level of dharma (not moksha) and normally, if Ak is in 5th house a
person may misues the authority, while in 9th house a person will behave like a God or Guru. Such
positions are often reflections of their own ahamkar (ego), unless Ishtadevata and other factors
intervenes. If bhavesha, Karaka, and Ishta Devata is not favourable, a person suffering will often turn
into a hatred towards the world and anarchy. SO be carefull, think twice and deeply in case of
analyzing Atmakaraka influence. People are often misguided by position of AK in navamsa lagna
thinking it will automatically give them spirituality. Then why would Parashara and Jaimini state that in
2nd house it will lead towards moksha? If you wish to understand Atmakaraka, please meditate on
your Ishta Devata with open heart and dedication.
Since the soul comes and leaves with dharma, Navamsa chart becomes crucial in understanding
spirituality. 12th house indicates the exit from this world, so 12th house from Atmakaraka will show
the mask God is wearing in the form of Ishta Devata. Ishta Devata can only come from Vishnu Rupa
which is confirmed by Vishnu Gayatri in Rig Veda. Vishnu is Sarva Vyapakeshvara Devata and thus
he is present everywhere in everyform, yet never represented by any form. Normally, Graha in 12th
from Atmakaraka navamsa known as Karakamsa will indicate Ishta Devata. If there are no planets
take the lord. This form of Vishnu will take and lure your soul towards final emancipation. There are
other opinions on deciding Ishta Devata which I will leave for now on.
Now, the main task is to analyze this rupa of God, and this graha in the chart. There is a difference
whether this planet is malefic, benefic male or female etc. Classical jyotish text known as Chandra
Kala Nadi calls this place Jivanmuktamsa, or the place where Jiva attains liberation. Since there are
four types of moksha among which one is Jivan mukti, this has a specific meaning in a higher spiritual
teachings. Ishta devata planet will behave as a God hand also in a more mundane levels, where we
can see its favourable or unfavourable infleunce in certain areas of life. So, whether a person will go
towards moksha or not is judged from this planet. Therefore it is very important to understand position
of Ishta Devata in all 12 houses of the chart.