How do know Kuladevata

How do I know My Kuladevata

Kuladevata (or Kuldevta) refers to the family deity or ancestral god that is traditionally worshiped by a particular family or clan.  An Ishta-Devata is one’s most cherished/desired/liked/preferred Devata or God/Divine form/Deity in Hinduism. Put simply, a worshipper’s personal favorite Deity is called their Ishta-Devata. In Hinduism, practitioners may choose to worship the particular form of God that most inspires them as their focus for devotion. Ishta (इष्ट) in sanskrit means most favourable and Devta (देवता) means Deity (Specific form of divine energy). So Ishta Devta means most favourable deity.

A Hindu can (and usually does) also worship other Deities as different forms of the same all-pervading formless Supreme Brahman, the Absolute Reality, but chooses one of them as a preferred principal Deity or Ishta-Devata, and worships that one far more than all others. In fact typically we do not really “choose”; rather the Ishta-Devata chooses us, and we recognize it. 

Ista devata — Your personal favourite deity

Kula devata — Your family deity

Grama devata — The deity that majority of your town or village worships.

Here’s how you can understand your Kuladevata and worship them: 

How to Identify Your Kuladevata:

1. Genealogical Methods: In some communities, pandits (priests) or family genealogists can trace your family’s lineage and tell you which deity your family traditionally worships. They usually need information such as your family name and region to determine the Kuladevata.

2. Astrological Methods: Your horoscope can reveal your Kuladevata. The 9th House (the House of Dharma) and its lord are significant indicators. If your horoscope has been rectified (Birth Time Rectification), the 9th House and its connection to other planets can give insights into your Kuladevata. It is advised to have the horoscopes of family members rectified for a more accurate reading.

3. Prasanna Jothidam: In some cases, Prasanna Jothidam (a method of divine astrology) can help you find your Kuladevata by interpreting astrological charts or performing a specific ritual or reading.

4. General Approach: If you are unable to find out through traditional methods, it is acceptable to choose a deity that resonates with you personally, such as Lord Ganesha, or a goddess, and regard them as your Kuladevata.

How to Worship Your Kuladevata:

A Kula-Devata is one’s Clan Deity, an ancestral tutelary deity specifically inherited from one’s family, in Hinduism and Jainism. A Kula-Devata may also be worshipped with devotion, but with a more family-based than individual relationship, and more for the purpose of watching over the ancestral family and protecting them from certain kinds of misfortune. 

Your Ishta Devata is the Devata your heart longs for, whose name comes to your lips in quiet moments, the one you feel when you think of God, and when you unexpectedly see their image or hear their name your heart gives a little joyful leap and a smile comes to your face. The worship process involves several ritualistic steps:

1. Required Items for Puja:

   • 4 raw coconuts (preferably)
   • Red cloth for covering the deity’s image
   • 10 betel leaves (pan leaves), supaaris, and various other items like earthen lamp, kumkum, haldi, sindoor, mauli, and various types of sweets (kheer, halwa, poori, etc.).
   • A clean place to set up the altar, preferably in the home.
   • You may also need a Havan (sacred fire offering), flowers, and gugal (incense).

2. Rituals:

   • Set up a clean red cloth, place the image or idol of Kuladevata/Kuldevi on it.
   • Offer items like betel leaves, sweets, and fruits to the deity.
   • Chant mantras of Goddess Durga, Kali, or Lord Shiva during the ritual.
   • Light a ghee (clarified butter) lamp (Diya), and perform a Havan if possible.
   • Consult to know your Kuldevta

3. Specific Offerings:

   • Offer 5 types of sweets such as halwa, kheer, or pooris.
   • Make sure to offer these prasad (offering) only to family members within the home.

4. Spiritual Practices:

   • Chant the mantras of your Kuladevata regularly.
   • Engage in spiritual practices such as meditation, prayer, or fasting as prescribed for your Kuladevata.

Ishta Devata vs. Kuladevata:

A Kula Devata may sometimes be quite localized; for example a Kula Devata might be a specific holy stone. A traditional Sanatani family often has one specific Kula Devata temple, and rituals done at that temple benefit all those genetically connected with the one performing the ritual.

• Ishta Devata refers to the personal deity a person chooses to worship for spiritual guidance and connection, while Kuladevata is the deity that is worshiped by the family or clan as a whole.
• Your Ishta Devata can be any deity that you feel most connected to and who supports your spiritual journey. For example, for a Sagittarius, Lord Dakshinamurthy (a form of Lord Shiva) is considered a favorable deity due to the connection with Jupiter.
• For personal consultation write PC4JG and send it to :care.jyotishgher@gmail.com

In essence, while Kuladevata represents ancestral worship and is generally linked to your family’s heritage, Ishta Devata is more personal, aligning with your individual spiritual journey. Kula Devatha is a God / Goddess / Demi-God whom one\'s family worships traditionally through generations. The male children of the family will carry on the tradition and pass it on to their next generation whereas for female children\'s Kula Devatha will change after their marriage as they\'ve to follow / carry on their spouse\'s tradition.

Ishta Devatha is a God / Goddess / Demi-God whom one worship with their own will and wish. One can choose their own Ishta Devatha based on their comfortableness / compatibility / satisfaction / interest or with the guidance of their Guru / Elders. So one can select their own Ishta Devatha but not Kula Devatha.

Conclusions:-

Ask your dad/ mom, paternal uncles/ aunts who were born with your father and grew up with him, paternal grandfather/ grandmother, paternal granduncles/ grandaunts, paternal great grandfather/ grandmother. At least some of them must know which god/ goddess was worshipped in the family. Your maternal grandfather/ grandmother should know the family deity of the family into which their daughter (your mom) married.

If there have been family priests who conducted important ceremonies like marriage, naming, tonsuring, upanayana etc., they should be knowing. Kuladevata finding is complicated as you\'ve to check horoscopes of father, grandfather, cousins etc.but ishta devata can be found out easily. Checkout the aatmakarak planet in D-1 and see its position in Vimsamsa, D-20.the owner of 12th house w.r.t aatmakaraka\'s position in D-20, indicates ishta devata.You need to worship god/godess related to that planet to see materialistic success in this life and also for spiritual progress