Ista Devta and Monotheist-Clearification required?

[Guest guest]

Dear Mr. Imran:

 

I think a lot of people, especially PVR, already answered the

questions you raise.

 

I once again re-iterate that literal tranlation of scriptures from

ANY religion can only result in misery and can also reslut in a few

opportunistic thugs exploiting the masses with such literal

translation. Let me give examples from the 4 major religions of the

world where literal translation from holy books have created misery

and inequities and outright sins:

 

1) Lord Jesus said "spread the word of god." We all know he wanted

the people in his time to be pious and righteious. However, today we

have these missionaries who go to all the imporverished countries in

the world and convert people using finaincial rewards. In a way,

these people are destroying someone else's indegenious religion and

faith which itself is a sin.

2) The Jewish god Issaiah or David or Moses whoever the Jews worship

said about Israel that "this it the holy land, you are the chosen

people, come to Israel and prosper." We can tell that the Jewish god

was asking the Jews displaced by the Roman atrocities to come back to

Israel and live as Jews. Today, we see that 2 million people from

Russia who have no connection to Judaism came to Israel in the last

10 years, claimed to be Jew and displaced the Plastenians and

continue to do so (there are schools going on in Russia teaching the

atheist or christin Russians Hebrew so that they can claim to be Jews

and migrate to Israel).--This once more is an example of literal

translation of the scriptures that just results in inequity and

misery for a lot of innocent people.

3) Prophet Mohammed said "bathe on Fridays only," he also said "there

is no god but allah," he also said "idol worshippers should be

slain." We can tell that the Prophet was trying to conserve water in

the desert by telling people to bathe only on Fridays, but today in

water-rich countries like India and Pakistan, A LOT of muslim still

bathe once a week. Also, the Prophet was trying to unite the various

Arab and Nomadic tribes in the desert who were worshipping a variety

of religions and fighting each other based on reiligious diffrences

so the Prophet said--there is no god but Allah and idolaters should

be killed. The Arab invaders took this literally and destroyed EVERY

temple in India (except the remote ones).--Well, here is another

example of literal translation of scripture turning evil.

4) The Hindu people have a lot of faith in astrology and whenever I

go to India, I see astrologers and holy men just scaring people with

this dosha and that dosha and this evil and that evil, ultimately

cheating the believers. -- This once more is a problem of literal

translation of the Hindu astrology scriptures.

 

Mr. Imran: I feel that we should walk away from the literal

translation of Ista-Devta which says that this is the god that will

lead one to moksha. I'd rather say that the Ista-Devta is one's

personal diety whose worship and devotion (via karma) brings

happiness and righeousness to the individual.--and you can have a

personal diety or angel or prophet in any religion.

 

I'm not a guru and this is not an interpretation of any scriptures

but is just my opinion.

 

Hope this helps answer the additional questions you've raised.

 

M Desai

 

vedic astrology, Muhammad Imran <astroimran> wrote:

>

> Dear, Visti, Vas, MD and others,

> The on-going discussion about "Ishta Devata" is off course

confusing and beyond ken at least for those born in non-hindu

families, as this veiw was also alluded by one confrere. I could not

understand the concept of Ishta Devta till now, due many arises

queries in my mind. In a prior mail, Visti hold that Ishta-Devata is

the Maha Vishnu, but very few people find it clear as personal deity.

I didn't hear the concept of Ishta-Devata in this form in hinduism.

May I know who firstly highlighted this notion? I mean either this

theory is already a part of Hinduism or latter(in near past) some

Guru/Sage built this philosophy.

> As all know, deity worship is forbidden among montheist believes,

like Christianity, and Islam etc. So how their believers can get

Ishta-Devata and 'in which form'. If said deity/god is helpful in

liberation of soul then those (a great majority of world population

from its existance) who donot know their this so called god, can

easily not find emancipation. If you say by performing selfless deeds

(Karama), and doing service to humanity, then it is already the part

of more or less every religion. Could any reformer or scholar

harmonise or equate the diversed system of believes so far? If for a

time being we admit that those who worship Ishta-Devata surely get

Moksha, then is not mean our last/final Janm happens as Hindu? and

this reveales the unconcious efforts of mentioning the supremacy of

Hinduism. Whereas the reality is lied far beyond it, nearly half of

the Indian population is illiterate and live below povery line with a

very high ratio of HIV+ and other chronic disease. Sorry to say but

what sort of last birth/Moksha it is? full of pain, ignorance and

destitute. Religion gives a mysterious shelter to insecure and

fatalistic man, but it can't helpful in removing doubts of a logical

mind. I think the logic cant prove belief and belief is the name of

faith in beyond logic.

> Actually, Slavery(in multiple senses), Poverty, and Ignorance are

the real Rakhshas of this Kali-Yug, and a Ravan like behaviour is

unavoidable to get real Moksha.

> Regards,

> M.Iman

>

> monmuk111 wrote: Hi Visti:

>

> You're making this very confusing for me. I thought we are born to

> pay for prior-life sins and the soul doesn't have any CHOICE over

it--

> if you live a good life, you attain moksha and become one with god,

> if you live a bad life, god kicks you back to earth to suffer for

> your sins.

>

> Now, you say that the Soul has a choice. If Soul has a choice, than

> is Soul consious? I though Soul and consciousness are two different

> things.

>

> Let me explain what I'm trying to say with an example. I love

Scotch

> whiskey, and my soul want to ACHIEVE the enjoyment of more whiskey,

> does my soul have a CHOICE to be re-born just so that I can enjoy

> more whiskey? Thanks.

>

> MD

>

>

>

>

>

> vedic astrology, "Visti Larsen" <vishnu@l...> wrote:

> > Vyam Vyaasadevaaya Namah

> >

> >

--

> ------------

> >

> > Dear MD,

> > When you were blasted into existance, you were so, due to a

strong

> desire on your souls part. The soul wanted to achieve something,

and

> this is part of the reason for everyones rebirth(apart from the

need

> to atone sins).

> > This achievement is personal and sometimes involves very harsh

> lessons where we have to learn some truths, which will help us

> advance and move towards God.

> >

> > The worshp of the Istha Devata helps us atone for these things

> easier, and gives us all the answers to our rebirth. Naturally ones

> actions will be colored by this worship, and hence you are in a way

> right about our actions being more important.. Yet i find

> realisation/enlightenment more important.

> >

> > Actually the Istha Devata is Maha Vishnu, but only rarely are

> people able to see/understand this clearly.. Personal deity? Yes

> indeed. This worship leads to Moksha eventually, by helping us

> understand the lessons we are put through in life.

> >

> > Best wishes, Visti.

> > -

> > monmuk111

> > vedic astrology

> > Friday, September 13, 2002 11:45 PM

> > [vedic astrology] Re: Ista Devta and Atheist - Gurus

> please do respond

> >

> >

> > Vas:

> >

> > After reading your mail, this I feel is your central question--

> "why

> > emphasis on Ista-Devta to achieve Moksha and is worship of Ista-

> Devta

> > the shortest way to moksha?"

> >

> > My answer to you is not an interpretation of Hindu scripture,

but

> my

> > personal opinion.

> >

> > Firstly, I feel that Ista-Devta is just your PERSONAL GOD.

> Worship of

> > Ista-Devta neither shortens nor extends the "time needed" for

> moksha.

> > I feel that if I were to worship my Ista-Devata, I'd

expereience

> most

> > joy, peace and serenity.

> >

> > Secondly, I feel there is no "emphasis" on Ista-Devta. I'm a

> Hindu

> > and I heard the concept of Ista-Devta just a few days back on

> this

> > board. When I go to my parents' home in India, I see all kinds

of

> > gods being worshipped, not just the Ista-Devta.

> >

> > Thridly, the act of worship is a misnomer--standing in front of

> god,

> > putting two hands together and praying is not worship. Your

true

> > worship is your karma (your deeds). You could be a multi-

> millioner

> > and you could be donating millions for building of temples, but

> if

> > your Karma (deeds) are horrible, you're definitely going to be

re-

> > born.

> >

> > I feel when Visti and Hari and Sanjay are calculating the Ista-

> Devta,

> > they're calculating someone's personal god/diety and nothing

> more,

> > nothing less.

> >

> > I'm too young to fully understand all these concepts, I'm

hoping

> a

> > learned guru participates in this discussion.

> >

> > MD

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

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