In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores the traditional ways of identifying your Ishta Devata and developing a relationship with that deity.

The best way to identify your Ishta Devata is to have your own personal Guru inform you of who your Ishta Devata is. This is the ideal method because, with the blessings of that Guru, you will already be some distance along the path of establishing a healthy relationship with your Ishta Devata.

If you do not have a personal Guru, or if your Guru has not indicated the nature and name of your Ishta Devata, then you have to use other methods. The other methods are generally indirect, meaning they can provide hints, but you will have to follow up on those indications yourself.

Sometimes, with the help of a Jyotishi who is very skilled, an astrologer may be able to tell you the name of the Ishta Devata you should worship, or at least give you an indication of the direction in which you should look. Sometimes, if you are fortunate, you may receive an indication through a dream or some other kind of omen.

If you have a Kula Deva or Kula Devi, a deity who has been worshipped in your family for generations, then that is certainly the place to begin. You can approach that deity and request that if he or she is not your Ishta Devata, then they guide you toward discovering who your Ishta Devata is.

If you do not have a Kula Deva or Kula Devi and none of these other methods are working, you can begin with a deity such as Ganapati, who is easy to please. In the case of Ganapati, offerings of sweets are a good beginning. Ganapati is especially popular because he removes obstacles when he is properly approached.

You can begin with a simple Ganapati mantra and a simple Ganapati puja, performed with the clear intention of discovering your Ishta Devata. This should be a kamya practice, meaning that it is performed with a specific purpose. When you make your sankalpa, your intention, you should clearly state that you are performing this practice for the purpose of determining your Ishta Devata.

You might say: “O Ganapati, you are wonderful. You are the embodiment of the Earth element. You remove obstacles for people. I currently have an obstacle, which is that I do not know my Ishta Devata. Please help me understand. If you are my Ishta, please indicate this to me, and I will continue worshipping you. If you are not my Ishta, please give me some sign or guidance that will help me move in the right direction.”

You can structure the prayer in whatever way feels appropriate. Ganapati is very cooperative.

You may not feel drawn toward Ganapati, and in that case you can do the same with Durga or another form of the Devi. You can approach the Divine Mother by saying, “Mother, I am your child. Please help me.” Mothers naturally want to assist their children.

You can also try this with Shiva. Shiva is known as Bholanath, the innocent and simple one. You can approach Shiva with sincerity and ask, “Are you my Ishta? If not, please guide me toward my Ishta.”

In fact, you can try this with any deity. Simply say: “If you are my Ishta Devata, please let me know and I will continue worshipping you. If you are not my Ishta, thank you for helping me, and please guide me in the right direction.”