Ishtadevathaa Nirnayam--Krshna, Devi, Shiva

[Guest guest]

Sampoojya Shastriji:

 

Thank you very much for the personal revelation.

 

I was puzzled by the astrological article because it suggests that having one

Ishtadevata is the ideal way, and there is something foolish about worshipping

more than one (as in the the Agnihotri story).

 

I grew up in Thuravoor in Cherthala Taluk on the other side of Ettumanoor with

its magnificent Shri Lakshmee Nrsimha Moorti Temple and my father's mother (Shri

Konooru Raman Emprantiri) used to serve in that temple as the Melsaanti

periodically and so my favorite was Vishnu in the Nrsimha form.

 

At the same time I also loved going to the local Bhagavati Temple and my mother

taught me the great Aadi Shankara hymn Nityaananda Karee Varaa Abhayakaree

Soundarya Ratnaakaree. How can one not become a goddess Bhakta after learning

that hymn by heart and being touched by Ambika's compassion?

 

Perhaps because of being born on Aardra asterism, I also adored Shiva Nataraaja

and was enchanted by his stories such as Gangaavataranam, Markandeya Rakshanam,

Kaama Dahanam, etc. and we used to go to the wonderful Vaikkom temple for the

utsava-s and the great concerts. Our ancestral family's tutelary deity also is

Shiva.

 

Through my life's journey, I have become so fond of the Shree Raamachandra and

Shree Krshna Avataara-s that now I have three Ishta Devata-s: Krshna, Devi, and

Shiva.

 

Maybe I am as foolish as the Agnihotri who was ridiculed by his brother

Perumthachan for wasting time worshipping several forms of the Divine, but the

supreme happiness I get from reciting the hymns of Krshna and Ambika and Shiva

(and Ganesha and Shree Raama and Shree Nrsimha, and Shree Raamadaasa) is so much

that I am going to remain the Ridiculous Bhakata although the learned astrologer

advises to determine the real Ishta Devata.

 

Thanks for revealing that you adore both Krshna and Shiva with equal fervor.

 

I remember the sacred Varaaha Puraana Vachanam (145.8)spoken by Bhagavaan Vishnu

to Bhoomee Devi:

 

Aham Yatra Shivastatra

 

Shivo Yatra Vasundhare

 

Tatraaham api tishtthaami

 

Aavayornaantaram kvachit.

 

(Goddess Earth, where I dwell, Shiva dwells there. And where Shiva dwells, I

dwell as well. Between us there is no difference.)

 

 

May Shree RaadhaaKrshna bless us all!

 

 

DKM Kartha

(Mohanachandran)