How to Know Your Ishta Devta

 Ishta Devta means "Deity to be Worshiped". Ishta Devta helps us attaining Moksha and coming out of endless cycle of life and death. It is possible to know one’s Ishta Devta by studying the native’s birth chart.

There are different deities assigned to different planets or planetary combinations.

Method of knowing one’s Ishta Devta

Step 1: In the birth chart (D-1), look out for the Atmakaraka (AK). Atmakaraka is the planet that has attained maximum degrees in the birth chart.

Step 2: Make the Karkamsha chart for D-1. Look for sign occupied by the Atmakaraka planet in Navamsa (D-9). Make a chart with this sign, with planets posted as per D1. This is the Karakamsha chart.

Step 3: Note which planet(s) occupy 12th house from Karakamsha lagna. Ishta Devta is to be ascertained by this planet/ planets. In case the 12th house or sign in Karakamsha chart is empty, the lord of the 12th house is known as the Ishta Devta. Below is a list of deities that correspond to various planets and can be used in finding out the Ishta Devta.

Planet	Deity
Sun (Surya)	Shiva, Rama
Moon (Chandra)	Krishna, Gauri, Lalita, Saraswati
Mars (Mangal)	Hanuman, Rudra, Kartikeya (Subrahmanya), Narasimha
Mercury (Buddh)	Vishnu, Narayana
Jupiter (Guru)	Hayagreeva, Vishnu, Indra, Dattatreya, Any Guru
Venus (Shukra)	Lakshmi, Parvati
Saturn (Shani)	Vishnu, Brahma
Rahu	Durga, Narasimha, Kaal Bhairava
Ketu	Ganesha

As per Jaimini Sutram, following is the association between planets and corresponding deities:

• Sun (Surya) – Lord Shiva
• Moon (Chandra) – Gouri
• Venus (Shukra) – Lakshmi
• Mars (Mangal) – Skanda (Kartikeya)
• Mercury (Buddha) – Lord Vishnu
• Saturn (Shani) – Lord Vishnu
• Jupiter (Guru) – Samba Shiva
• Rahu – Tamasi or Durga
• Ketu – Lord Ganesha