Ishta-Deva or Ishta Devata (Sanskrit: इष्ट देवता, iṣṭa-deva(tā), literally “cherished divinity” from iṣṭa, “personal, liked, cherished, preferred” and devatā, “godhead, divinity, tutelary deity” or deva, “deity”), is a term used in Hinduism denoting a worshipper’s favourite deity
It is especially significant to both the Smarta and Bhakti schools, wherein practitioners choose to worship the form of God that inspires them
Within Smartism, one of five chief deities are selected
Even in denominations that focus on a singular concept of God, such as Vaishnavism, the Ishta Deva concept exists
For example, in Vaishnavism, special focus is given to a particular form of Lord Vishnu or one of his Avatars (i
e
Krishna or Rama)
Similarly within Shaktism, focus is given to a particular form of the Goddess such as Parvati or Lakshmi
The Swaminarayan sect of Vaishnavism has a similar concept, but notably holds that Vishnu and Shiva are different aspects of the same God