Om Gurave Namah

Lesson on Ista Devata

by Sanjay Rath (September 2001)
I have been getting a lot of mail regarding troubles and difficulties from students and others. It is necessary to tell you all that the
root cause of our sorrow and happiness is the Ista devata which is seen from the Atmakaraka. Parasara says that the Atmakaraka is
like a king in the horoscope and if the AK is benevolent, then all troubles vanish. How can we make the AK benevolent and how do
we determine when He is happy? For this the first step is to determine the Atmakaraka and the Ista devata.
Chara Atma Karaka
Among the EIGHT Chara Karaka, the planet with the highest degree is the Atmakaraka. The sign/navamsa occupied by the
Atmakaraka gives us a clue as to the desire of the Atma and the nature of the Atmakaraka gives us vital information about the
nature of the Atma, its spiritual development etc.
1. If a malefic planet is the Atmakaraka, it indicates a high level of spiritual development whereas a benefic planet as the
Atmakaraka indicates a relatively lower level. Example: Rahu was the Atmakaraka for Srila Prabhupada and Ramakrishna
Paramhamsa.
2. The Atmakaraka, invariably indicates suffering during its Vimsottari Dasa, especially if a malefic. during the Narayana
Dasa of the sign occupied by the Atmakaraka or those aspecting it, great achievements are made. If the native is
spiritually inclined then the Dasa of the Atmakaraka can be beneficial.
3. A retrograde Atmakaraka indicates a deep rooted desire as being the cause of the birth.
4. Planets as Atmakaraka:
1. Sun as AK indicates the native has to learn to overcome his ego and should become humble.
2. Moon as AK indicates that the native should be very caring and compassionate.
3. Mars as AK indicates that the native should refrain from all forms of violence and stick to the path of Ahimsa.
4. Mercury as AK indicates that the native should control his speech and be truthful at all times.
5. Jupiter as AK indicates that the native should always respect the Guru, husband and care for children.
6. Venus as AK indicates that the native must have a very clean character and refrain from illegitimate sex/lust.
7. Saturn as AK indicates that the native should not give sorrow to others and will have to share the sorrow of
many others.
8. Rahu as AK indicates that the native maybe cheated often and will still have to be free from guile and clean
hearted.
5. Maharishi Jaimini has indicated the results of various navamsa for the placement of AK. Read this carefully and make a
list for ready reference.
6. Results of AK in different houses from Navamsa Lagna: (Hint: Count the number of signs from AK to Navamsa Lagna, the
number shall indicate the results of the house that shall predominate. check the strength of Karaka of such house; do this
exercise both in Rasi and Navamsa Chart; Rasi chart results like that of Sri Krishna & other great persons while navamsa
for all others.)
1. If AK is in Navamsa Lagna, the native belongs to a royal family/ is of noble birth and lineage. If Navamsa Lagna
Lord conjoins AK, then the native, although of humble origin shall rise to a high rank equal to a king. If the AK
aspects Navamsa Lagna, then Royal association shall be present from birth. The natural Karaka of 1st house
(Sun) should be strong to indicate the extent of Rajayoga.
2. If AK is in 2nd house, the native shall be very spiritual and a great saint. If Saturn is strong, the renunciation
shall be complete whereas if Venus is strong the native shall perform severe austerities.
3. If AK is in 3rd house, the native shall be rich and successful in many undertakings. He shall be a friend of many
powerful people.
4. If AK is in 4th house the native shall be a Karma Yogi. if the moon and Jupiter are strong, he shall have fame
whereas if the Sun is strong Rajayoga and a strong Saturn indicates a hard working person.
5. If AK is in 5th house the native is Dharma Parayana i.e. obeys the laws of his Dharma diligently and is
straightforward. if the sun is strong, he shall have many good yogas. Blessings of his father shall always protect
him.
6. If AK is in 6th house, the native is diseased and troubled. Propitiate as per Saturn or Lord Satya Narayana, fast
on full moon days and speak the truth OM TAT SAT.
7. If AK is in seventh house, the native is blessed with a clean heart and many joys. If Venus is strong, marriage
shall be a great blessing.
8. If AK is in 8th house, the native has many troubles and weaknesses. He is defeated in war. Propitiate as per
Saturn or Lord Satya Narayana, fast on full moon days and speak the truth OM TAT SAT.
9. If AK is in 9th house, the native is a very pious person and is wealthy and fortunate.
10. If AK is in 10th house, the native is blessed with a clean heart and good home. He shall be a a pillar for his
family and mother. the moon in strength shall be an added blessing for this.
11. If AK is in 11th house, the native shall be brave, successful in war and capable of executing any task. if Mars is
strong there shall be Rajayoga.
12. If AK is in 12th house the native is very rich and blessed by Lakshmi.


Ista Devata


The Ista Devata is seen from the 12th house from the Karakamsa (i.e. the sign occupied by AK in Navamsa Chart).
1. If the 12th house is occupied by a planet, then this indicates the Ista devata; If more than one occupy, then the strongest
shall indicate the Ista devata and if none occupy this sign, then the Lord of the sign shall indicate the Ista Devata.
2. Planets & Indications
1. If the Sun is Ista Shiva, Agni the fire God etc are indicated.
2. If the Moon is Ista, Gouri, Jala Devi etc are indicated
3. If Mars is Ista, Kartikeya is indicated
4. If Mercury is Ista and is in first drekkana in Rasi, Sri Rama is indicated whereas in the second and third
drekkana Sri Krishna is indicated.
5. If Jupiter is Ista then Sadashiva or Guru's are indicated
6. If Saturn is Ista then Narayana is indicated
7. If Venus is Ista then Annapoorna, Lakshmi, Radha etc are indicated.
8. If Rahu is Ista then Durga is indicated
9. If Ketu is Ista then Ganapati is indicated.
10. The native will also like to worship the avatar as per the teachings of Ista Devata by Parasara i.e. Sun-Rama,
Moon, Krishna etc. This is also seen in the Vimsamsa.
3. The Karaka indicated by the Ista devata planet shall indicate the relation/person who shall lead the native to the Ista
Devata.
4. The AK/Ista devata holds the key to a chart and it is important to have excellent relations with such people who are
indicated by the Ista devata planet.


Illustrations
CASE #1: Male Natal Chart
Date: June 14, 1960
Time: 15:11:00
Time Zone: 5:30:00 (East of GMT)
Longitude: 76 E 39' 00"
Latitude: 10 N 47' 00"
Altitude: 0.00 meters
Lunar Year: Sharvari
Lunar Month: Jyeshtha
Tithi: Krishna Shashthi (37.60% left)
Weekday: Tuesday
Nakshatra: Satabhisham (93.70% left)
Yoga: Vishkambha
Karana: Vanija
Hora Lord: Venus
Sunrise: 6:01:07 Sunset: 18:46:03 Janma Ghatis: 22.9116
Body Longitude Nakshatra Pada Rasi Navamsa ChKarak
Lagna 11 Li 01' 54.98" Swathi 2 Li Cp -
Sun 0 Ge 01' 06.92" Mrigasira 3 Ge Li DK
Moon 7 Aq 30' 23.19" Satabhisham 1 Aq Sg MK
Mars 2 Ar 19' 06.00" Aswini 1 Ar Ar GK
Mercury 24 Ge 09' 38.95" Punarvasu 2 Ge Ta AmK
Jupiter (R) 6 Sg 09' 12.63" Moola 2 Sg Ta PiK
Venus 27 Ta 45' 29.96" Mrigasira 2 Ta Vi AK
Saturn (R) 23 Sg 25' 54.22" Poo.Shaa. 4 Sg Sc BK
Rahu 26 Le 39' 44.67" Poo.Pha. 4 Le Sc PK
Ketu 26 Aq 39' 44.67" Poo.Bhaa. 2 Aq Ta -
Bhava Lagna 17 Li 07' 25.54" Swathi 4 Li Pi -
Hora Lagna 4 Pi 35' 36.87" U.Bhaa. 1 Pi Le -
Ghati Lagna 27 Ar 00' 10.87" Krittika 1 Ar Sg -
Vighati Lagna 19 Cp 03' 00.87" Sravanam 3 Cp Ge -
Pranapada Lagna 19 Ta 24' 53.59" Rohini 3 Ta Ge -
+-----------------------------------------------+
|HL |Mar GL |Ven |Sun Mer |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|Moo Ket | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------| Rasi |-----------|
| | |Rah Glk |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|JupR SatR | |Asc |Mnd |
|AL | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+



Comments: Venus is the Atmakaraka and also the Lagna Lord and is placed in the eighth house in its own sign. This shows
troubles and strife in life and that the native may have to live away from home. Depending on the strength of Saturn, the Yogas will
fructify as Saturn is the Karaka of the sixth house (count from AK to Lagna).



+-----------------------------------------------+
| |Mar Mnd |Mer JupR | |
| | |Ket | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------| Navamsa |-----------|
|Asc | |HL |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|Moo GL |SatR Rah |Sun |Ven AL |
|Glk | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+
Comments: The Atmakaraka Venus is debilitated in Navamsa resulting in Rajabhanga Neecha yoga. this indicates considerable
suffering and troubles in life and many situations where the native will have to reap the fruits of some bad karma related to Venus.
The AK is in the ninth house from Navamsa Lagna and this indicates blessings from Jupiter (Count from AK to Navamsa Lagna).
today happens to be a Thursday as I analyze this chart and look for a solution for the native. The 12th sign from Karakamsa (Virgo)
is Leo that is unoccupied and its Lord the Sun is also debilitated in Libra Navamsa. this is a terrible situation where the AK and Ista
are both debilitated and the suffering is going to be considerable. The Sun indicates Shiva as his Ista devata or Sri Rama. From the
Navamsa Lagna the sun (Ista Devata) rules the 8th house indicating that the native has a debt to pay to Shiva for which the native
shall himself be in debt until this debt is paid. Note that the Sun is Darakaraka - hence the spouse shall lead him to the Ista devata
and it is very important to keep the wife happy all the time. Note also that the sun is placed with the ninth Lord in ninth house in Rasi
chart indicating that a Guru shall also show him the way.

Upadesa: In view of the above, the native should donate 5% (Sun =6 years /120 years =5%) of his earnings to any temple of Lord
Shiva or to his Guru (as Shiva is the ultimate Guru) religiously. Gradually his debt shall go and he shall be free from the blemish. he
should also worship Lord Shiva with the Mritunjaya Mantra (ruled by Venus). Since the Sun is also the Badhak Lord placed in 9th
house, see the upadesa for this in Vedic remedies in astrology.

Remedy When?: The remedy normally comes from Guru or a Jyotish or such people who can see during the periods of the Lagna
Lord or the Atmakaraka as it is the prime duty of the Atmakaraka to guide the native spiritually and to help in clearing past Karma.
the native was under Saturn Dasa Venus Antardasa Jupiter Pratyantar when he wrote to the author. Note that the Dasa Lord is
linked to the placement of the AK in the Rasi chart in the eighth house; the Antardasa is of the AK itself and the Pratyantar is linked
to the planet which is signification of the fifth house (count from karakamsa to navamsa lagna).



Vimsottari Dasa (started from Moon):
Rah Rah 1959-04-26 Jup 1962-01-08 Sat 1964-06-01
Mer 1967-04-08 Ket 1969-10-29 Ven 1970-11-16
Sun 1973-11-16 Moo 1974-10-11 Mar 1976-04-07
Jup Jup 1977-04-25 Sat 1979-06-15 Mer 1981-12-27
Ket 1984-04-01 Ven 1985-03-08 Sun 1987-11-10
Moo 1988-08-28 Mar 1989-12-27 Rah 1990-12-04
Sat Sat 1993-04-26 Mer 1996-04-28 Ket 1999-01-08
Ven 2000-02-16 Sun 2003-04-17 Moo 2004-03-29
Mar 2005-11-01 Rah 2006-12-10 Jup 2009-10-17
Case #2 Male Native
Date: March 28, 1962
Time: 6:29:00
Time Zone: 5:50:00 (East of GMT)
Longitude: 85 E 17' 00"
Latitude: 22 N 06' 00"
Altitude: 0.00 meters
Lunar Year: Plava
Lunar Month: Phalguna
Tithi: Krishna Sapthami (66.93% left)
Weekday: Wednesday
Nakshatra: Jyeshtha (3.69% left)
Yoga: Vyatipata
Karana: Vishti
Hora Lord: Mercury
Sunrise: 6:07:19
Sunset: 18:22:27
Janma Ghatis: 0.9038
Body Longitude Nakshatra Pada Rasi Navamsa ChKarak
Lagna 19 Pi 50' 00.44" Revathi 1 Pi Sg -
Sun 13 Pi 32' 21.83" U.Bhaa. 4 Pi Sc PK
Moon 29 Sc 30' 29.40" Jyeshtha 4 Sc Pi AK
Mars 18 Aq 59' 31.68" Satabhisham 4 Aq Pi MK
Mercury 26 Aq 01' 48.27" Poo.Bhaa. 2 Aq Ta BK
Jupiter 7 Aq 08' 12.85" Satabhisham 1 Aq Sg DK
Venus 28 Pi 06' 44.49" Revathi 4 Pi Pi AmK
Saturn 15 Cp 44' 06.80" Sravanam 2 Cp Ta PiK
Rahu 22 Cn 07' 53.09" Aasresha 2 Cn Cp GK
Ketu 22 Cp 07' 53.09" Sravanam 4 Cp Cn -
+-----------------------------------------------+
|Moo Mar | |Mer Sat | |
|Ven | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|HL | |Ket GL |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------| Navamsa |-----------|
|Rah Mnd | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|Asc Jup |Sun |Glk |AL |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+
Comments: The Atmakaraka Moon is placed in Pisces. The native is very compassionate and caring. The 12th house from
karakamsa is Aquarius and its Lord Saturn conjoins Mercury (Saturn with Mercury is stronger than Rahu who is alone). There are no
planets in Aquarius. Thus, Saturn & Mercury will indicate the Ista Devata. Here Mercury is stronger and will show Krishna (Mercury
is in 3rd Drekkana). Since Mercury is also the Bhratri karaka it also indicates the Guru and this is again Krishna. The person leading
him to the Ista Devata shall be his younger brother as Mercury is Bhratri karaka (i.e. younger brother significator). this will happen
during the current Mercury Bhukti in Moon dasa.
Vimsottari Dasa (started from Moon):
Sun Sun 1989-11-15 Moo 1990-03-02 Mar 1990-09-04
Rah 1991-01-08 Jup 1991-12-03 Sat 1992-09-22
Mer 1993-09-03 Ket 1994-07-09 Ven 1994-11-15
Moo Moo 1995-11-16 Mar 1996-09-15 Rah 1997-04-13
Jup 1998-10-16 Sat 2000-02-12 Mer 2001-09-16
Ket 2003-02-12 Ven 2003-09-16 Sun 2005-05-14
Questions & dates for answer:
1. Determine the Ista Devata in the following charts:
1. Male born 7 Aug, 1963 at 9:15' PM IST at Sambalpur India. What remedy would you recommend for the native
to reduce the suffering and obstacles in life? [28 Sept 2001]
2. Sri Aurobindo Ghose 15 Aug, 1872 at about 1 ghati (i.e. 24 minutes) before sunrise at Calcutta, India. Explain
the reason behind his great work Savitri (Savitur) and the interpretation of the Rig Veda.[29 Sept 2001]
3. Nathuram Vinayak Godse 19 May 1910 at 8-29 AM ; 73E52' 18N31' India. He was supposed to be a god
fearing person, yet he committed homicide! What are the factors by which this happened?[30 Sept 2001]
4. Mahatma Gandhi 2 Oct 1869; 7-45 AM; 21N37', 69E49' India. He chanted the name of Sri Ram to lead india to
independance and followed the path of Ahimsa strictly. Bring this out in his chart and show how he had
developed the power to direct such a great number of people.[1 Oct 2001]
2. Study the chart of Jesus Christ and show why he worshipped the Holy Ghost or the Father of all creation. does this have
any link to the Christians worshipping on Sundays?[2-4 Oct 2001]
3. Study the chart of prophet Muhammad and show why the muslims worship on Fridays. [5-8 Oct 2001]
4. Examine the chart of at least one President of the United States to bring out the relationship between the Atmakaraka and
Rajyoga.[9-11 Oct 2001]
5. Study the chart of atleast one member of any royal family to bring out the Rajyoga due to birth. [12-15 Oct 2001]
6. Examine your own horoscope and determine your Ista devata [16-20 Oct 2001]