definitions - Ishta Deva, Sankalpa

[Guest guest]

Steve has explained the concepts very well.

 

If I may add on to what he has said

 

Ishta - means - liked, loved, beloved, preferred, desired yata yata

yata

 

Deva - God, symbol of Divinity, form of deity

 

Therefore , one's ishta deva is one's preferred form

of deity.

 

Examples of some famous devotees and their Ishta devas are - Meera

and her ishta deva Krishna, Prahlad and Ishta Deva Vishnu ,

Ramakrishna and his Ishta Deva Kali.

 

===

Sankalpa as explained by Steve is a vow to undertake to do a certain

spiritual activity for a certain length of time.

 

Its dual meaning is a Statement of Purpose - a statement that you

chant before beginning your spiritual activity. It includes your

location, time and the name of the person doing the prayer and the

purpose for which it is done. You can see this in any of the

Beginner Puja Books available at

http://www.shreemaa.org/bookstore.htm

 

For example in the Beginner Durga Puja book the sankalpa - statement

of purpose - is on page 8- and begins with Vishnu Om Tat Sat.

 

Hope this helps !

JAI MAA

Latha