Who is your Ia-deva(t)?

[Jainarayan]

I've found that every Indian Hindu I've met has been surprised and delighted to meet a white convert. I think they are flattered. As we know, I disappear from temple attendance for weeks and months at a time, especially when I had surgery and p.t. I said to one lady that I know it looked like I was a flash in the pan. She said "oh stop! we know better".

 

[Poeticus]

It's encouraging to hear all the awesome experiences many of you have had.

 

[Vinayaka]

It's encouraging to hear all the awesome experiences many of you have had.

Thank you. And I am encouraged every day to be around Indian Hindus as well. The other day there was this little girl, no more than two, and after each aarti when the older women prostrated, she did too. It's so cute. Learn by copying ... or remember it from last lifetime. Which ever is true, it's cute.

On occasion, in my temple or at others, I am the guy newcomers approach to get answers. In Omaha I got that, one lady came up and asked, "Where is the office?" and I had to say, "Sorry, I'm new here too."

What Jai said is even more true in India itself. In fact it;s almost embarassing. Anybody who can speak English wants to chat it up, especially in places like Palani and Tiruchendur where almost for sure you're the only white people for miles. There, in a crowd of a few thousand people, we really stick out.

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram prabhu ji's :namaste

Most people at a temple recognise the familiarity I have with the protocol, etc. right away, and this includes several major South Indian style temples. But it's been almost 40 years now, so I've had some practice. But I act like an Indian when I see a new white face at our temple. I'm immediately pondering, "I wonder what that person is doing here." Very often it is somebody 'interested in Hinduism' but not Hindu.

Ha Ha this made me smile , I found my self doing the same thing , and yes they are usualy just inerested , when I am at the temple appart from not speaking anything but english , I forget that I am white . I feel more comfortable amongst indians than I do amongst my own countrymen , I have very little in common with the westerners even westerners with some kind of faith their values are just so so different .....

... opps this thread has gone a little off topic .....

Who is your Iṣṭa-deva(t&#257?......


interesting , ...I never realy think of it like that ...many people here are using that expression , but in truth I have many deva , devata , that I am indebted to . how can I ever forget their kindness and influence on me

first came buddha deva :namaste

then though buddha deva came two practices which I took on
chenreizig and manjushri the embodiments of compassion and wisdom :namaste

yes , yes , ....I know this is hindu DIR , .... but these are our dharmic cousins

 

[ratikala]

then I got strongly attracted to ....shree ji :namaste

then through finding myself chanting sri krsna sharanam mama , he took me to the local radha krsna temple where I ended up serving radha krsna and gopal ji . :namaste

and these are just a few , ....
I love them all , and am indebted to all for everything they have taught me :namaste

so ishta deva ? I dont know

 

[Vinayaka]

I feel more comfortable amongst indians than I do amongst my own countrymen , I have very little in common with the westerners even westerners with some kind of faith their values are just so so different .....

That's absolutely true here, but mostly because of circumstance. If I wanted to go to a Hindu temple, and be Hindu, there certainly weren't many other white Hindus to hang out with.

 

[ratikala]

That's absolutely true here, but mostly because of circumstance. If I wanted to go to a Hindu temple, and be Hindu, there certainly weren't many other white Hindus to hang out with.

here none , and many of the ones I have met in this country have a very different attitude to divinity ..... and life !!!

 

[Maija]

Awww. So cuteee!!!



That makes sense. If I recall correctly, it was the Christian missionaries of Colonial India that started such propaganda. Too bad some Hindus believe in it still; worse is that non-Hindus still propagate it.



Hey, I think that is a good mechanism. It's like a sixth sense that routs out proselytizers. Out with thee! Out with thee!

EDIT: Dear OP, sorry for hijacking your thread, we will bring it back on topic around page 6.

not at all, i love it! i feel a wonderful and positive energy is here esp since i left.

many times when i dont respond, its not that im not reading. i love all the pages of responses i havent even seen!

 

[Kalidas]

Namashkar Friends,

Here's a fun, sweet thread, I want to get to know more about you guys..

Just curious, five questions:

1) Who is your Ishta-devata? Or the God that you pray most to?

2) What makes this deva most sacred to you?

3) What is your favorite mantra regarding this deva?

4) What is your favorite religious holiday? If none...share a quote or both

5) Born or raised Hindu? What inspired you or brought you to the path?

1. Shri Kali Maa eek:what a shocker! lol)

2. She has always been a deity I found exciting even WAY before I was a Hindu just researching random religions she has always caught my eye. I won't lie I was introduced to her as a Pagan deity (this was before I knew anything about Hinduism I think I knew Shiva and what I at the time called "The Elephant head dude"), my wife is a Pagan along with many friends and apparently Kali Maa is popular among women pagans.

Now she has taken all a whole new meaning to me. She has pretty much taken on the complete embodiment of "God" in one manifesting form. A bit monotheistic I know (forgive me MV )

3. I don't know a lot and the one I do know actually is not my "favorite." Oddly my favorite is the one(mantra, poem, song, prayer?) I wrote personally for her. Not because I'm a prideful person that thinks I am this super awesome poet that is akin to Shakespear. But I do like writing I tend to get good grades on essays and other similar writing assignments and consider it I guess a talent I have (these forums are a bad representation of how I write "artistically"). So it was like offering up my devotion to her int he form of offering my gifts. To me it represents my very devotion.

4. I have yet to celebrate any Hindu Holiday and will not mention my favorite Holiday because I have a feeling an argument will arise form it.

5. Neither, I am a white convert (like 90% of the people on this forum ). At 18 years of age I decided that Christianity just made NO sense to me what so ever. So for 4 years I did a good amount of religious searching. I looked into atheism (the idea of No-God never stuck though), agnosticism, Paganism, Muslim(not much though I didn't want to go from one inadequate Abrahmic faith to another), Buddhism, Shintoism, Nihlism (super duper uber atheism?), taoism, etc etc etc. Well a now friend I had just met when I asked what religion he was (he was watching an atheist documentary) he said Hindu. I had never talked to a Hindu let alone a White Hindu! So we talked all night about his beliefs and it all just kind of clicked. All my personal beliefs fit so nicely in Hinduism. So here I am!

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram maija ji:namaste

Originally Posted by Maija
Namashkar Friends,

Here's a fun, sweet thread, I want to get to know more about you guys..

Just curious, five questions:

just five questions , ... some questions

1) Who is your Ishta-devata? Or the God that you pray most to?

allready I couldnt answer that on different days I love them all , but radha krsna because I serve them are special , ....Oh but they are all special once you understand them :namaste
there are also so many other forms of krsna all are special .

4) What is your favorite religious holiday? If none...share a quote or both

all of them I cant choose , any excuse to reflect , to glorify , to serve ....:namaste

5) Born or raised Hindu? What inspired you or brought you to the path?

the deities just pull you in , when they want your service you have no choice , well at least I didnt ...dosent matter where you were born , if you have a conection with a diety that deity will find you and draw you closser to them :namaste

 

[Kalidas]

It's encouraging to hear all the awesome experiences many of you have had.

Thanks for the frubal and that nice message. I love you too brother! It's times like these that I realize just how awesome being a Hindu is .

 

[Maija]

then I got strongly attracted to ....shree ji :namaste

then through finding myself chanting sri krsna sharanam mama , he took me to the local radha krsna temple where I ended up serving radha krsna and gopal ji . :namaste

and these are just a few , ....
I love them all , and am indebted to all for everything they have taught me :namaste

so ishta deva ? I dont know

i have those last 2 cards, your story and images are as beautiful as you are, sister-ji!

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste ratikala, seems Krishna is your Ishta Lord!
Om Namah Shivaya

 

[Maija]

Om Krishnaya Namah!
jai sri Krishna!

 

[Viraja]

1) Who is your Ishta-devata? Or the God that you pray most to?

I love Sri Rama and he is my ishta. But I have to tell that I did not begin my daily prayers with Rama. I started praying very first when I was 20 and I started with Sri Venkatachalapathi (Balaji). And in my 30's I was attracted to Sri Lakshmi Narasimha (I even now have an attraction to him). Right now, for several years together, I've been the most attracted to Sri Ram and I feel 'at home' now.

2) What makes this deva most sacred to you?

Sri Ram is most selfless. When his father asks him to leave the kingdom for the forest, he takes the ruling without even a grump. He brings a stone to life (Ahalya) and has great skills being a warrior. At 12 yrs, he kills Subahu and his mother Tataka which shows Rama's prowess. Inspite of being the son of a great King, Rama possesses the great virtue of being pleasing to everyone, as shown in his friendship with Guha, Sugreeva and Vibheeshana. He has kindness, truthfulness, beauty, good-character and gentleness as his virtues and thus I love him.

3) What is your favorite mantra regarding this deva?

The Rama-raksha mantra 'Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama' which I recite everyday.

4) What is your favorite religious holiday? If none...share a quote or both

During my younger years, I used to love Sri Krishna like I love Rama these days. I used to fantasize myself being a simple gopa, listening to the divine music of Sri Krishna at the banks of great river Yamuna in the middle of the night on a moon-lit Pournami night. In my 30's, I used to have great admiration for how Sri Madhwas celebrate Janmashtami, that is having the idol of Sri Krishna placed in a small mandap with fruits hanging down the ornate mandap, and with Krishna's footprints all the way leading from the front door to the mandap, and with grand sweets and savouries prepared for the occassion placed in front of him, with bells ringing and devotional music/bhajan flowing through at midnight on Janmashtami! I used to try to do these as much as possible by me. Due to the grandiosity and great festivity that brings immense joy to the heart, I love Janmashtami first.

5) Born or raised Hindu? What inspired you or brought you to the path?

I am born in an Indian Hindu family. When in my early 20's, I faced quite some hardships, I turned devotional since then. I've had quite some remarkable spiritual dreams, the true wealth that I consider them to be.

 

[Andal]

Namaste!

I have really enjoyed reading everyone's responses. We are such a diverse group which is so wonderful. Here are my answers


1) Who is your Ishta-devata? Or the God that you pray most to?
Sri Vishnu
I see Krishna, Rama, Balaji, etc as Vishnu so Sriman Narayana is my ishta-devata but sometimes I may feel attracted by the attributes of Krishna or Balaji- just depends what's happening in my life.

2) What makes this deva most sacred to you?
He chose me.

3) What is your favorite mantra regarding this deva?
Aum Namo Narayanaya
Aum Venkateshvaraya Namaha
and the Maha Mantra

4) What is your favorite religious holiday? If none...share a quote or both
My favorite is Sri Krishna Janmashtami. I love it because it always has such a mystical feeling to it. Even when I have been in very difficult situations, Janmashtami always lifted me up. I like the fasting for the day and the big celebration at midnight.

5) Born or raised Hindu? What inspired you or brought you to the path?
Sriman Narayan very literally made it apparent that this was the path for me. It hasn't always been easy but has been so worth it!

Aum Hari Aum!

 

[Maija]

Namaste, Maija:



Goddess Shrī Kālī, Goddess Shrī Saraswati, Goddess Shrī Durga, Goddess Shrī Laxmi, Goddess Shrī Ushā [Vedic], Lord Shrī Vishnu (Lord Shrī Rāma - Lord Shrī Krishna - Lord Shrī Narsimha - Lord Shrī Kālki), Lord Shrī Sadā-Shiva, Lord Shrī Mitra, Lord Shrī Varuna, Lord Shrī Indra [Vedic], Lord Shrī Agni, Lords Shrī Marutā(h), Lords Shrī Ashvinau, Lord Shrī Hanumān, Lord Shrī Sūrya [Savitur & Vivasvant], Lord Shrī Bhaga, Lord Shrī Soma, Lord Shrī Vāyu, Lord Shrī Rudra [Vedic], and the list goes on...



I worship them, I prostrate to them, I offer them salutations, I offer them laudations, I offer them bhakti, I offer them pūjā, I offer them fire oblations, I offer them veneration, I offer them obeisances, I offer them my soul to guide, I offer them my life to spread Dharma far and wide - that no human falls short of hearing the divine revelations of the Holy Shrī Shruti Vedas and urge them to remember of old those life-struggles that the Hindu Seers experienced which have been immortalized through the Holy Shrī Smriti-s....I worship them, these Holy Shrī Gods/Goddesses to the effect of gaining nothing in return; of uttering their Shrī names eases my soul; of uttering the holy verses of those hymns which bring tears to my eyes; of offering oblations giving soulful thanks for giving me birth in a Sanātana Dharmic family; of vesting me with the chain-mail of Dharma upon my birth.

Let the church say, Amen!
Just kidding

The reason for creating this thread was entirely this. Getting close and personal, this honestly brought tears to my eyes.

"What harm can the withholders [Ishtāshva, Ishtaraśmir, those who hate the fire prayers] and any other do to those [me] who enjoy the protection (of Lord Shri Mitra and Lord Shri Varuna)!?!" (R.V.1.122.13)



Shivrātri. Hands down. Shivrātri is off the chain fun. Bhang. Bhang. Bhang. And, chanting "Har Har Mahadev" throughout the evening into late night.

This would get my husband to come to the temple with me. When is the next Shivratri?

I was born to Hindu parents. But, I was initiated when I was around 5 or 6 years old. Contrary to popular belief, Hindus in India are not born as Hindus. They are usually initiated through the Chudakarana rite.

I probably should not out myself like this, but Carlton is pretty much the "boy" version of me. A huge cheeseball, I'm only slightly better at dancing and now that I am no social drinker, we can scratch that to just being even..:run:

 

[Maija]

Namaste!

I have really enjoyed reading everyone's responses. We are such a diverse group which is so wonderful. Here are my answers


1) Who is your Ishta-devata? Or the God that you pray most to?
Sri Vishnu
I see Krishna, Rama, Balaji, etc as Vishnu so Sriman Narayana is my ishta-devata but sometimes I may feel attracted by the attributes of Krishna or Balaji- just depends what's happening in my life.

2) What makes this deva most sacred to you?
He chose me.


3) What is your favorite mantra regarding this deva?
Aum Namo Narayanaya
Aum Venkateshvaraya Namaha
and the Maha Mantra

4) What is your favorite religious holiday? If none...share a quote or both
My favorite is Sri Krishna Janmashtami. I love it because it always has such a mystical feeling to it. Even when I have been in very difficult situations, Janmashtami always lifted me up. I like the fasting for the day and the big celebration at midnight.

5) Born or raised Hindu? What inspired you or brought you to the path?
Sriman Narayan very literally made it apparent that this was the path for me. It hasn't always been easy but has been so worth it!

Aum Hari Aum!

I am trying to see if I can organize something for Janmashtami, our local ashram doesn't celebrate the big holidays traditionally. I feel odd being so new to this, the one to initiate something so sacred but...not odd enough for it to stop me..

I may be creating a new thread asking advice for how to celebrate Sri Krishna Janmashtami in a way that is in line with tradition.

I also felt like I didn't chose this path the way I have chosen others, I prayed for years to be shown a way, be given direction and finally it came.

 

[Poeticus]

I probably should not out myself like this, but Carlton is pretty much the "boy" version of me. A huge cheeseball, I'm only slightly better at dancing and now that I am no social drinker, we can scratch that to just being even..:run:

Hehe. I can believe that you are a better dancer. You even took those dancing classes. And, you can consume alcohol, there isn't any Shruti injunction against it. Moderation would be key. There was a widely popular wine that was consumed in Ancient India, I believe it was called Kapishayana. I am not sure.

And, I believe Shivratri-2014 is on the 28th of February.

 

[Maija]

(Kathak is different dance classes just are. I can do what I'm told to do...but, well me trying to be cool..hum. I took a hip hop dance class and it was preetty sad, I did look like Carlton at that point. LOL But never during kathak classes, Guruji would have set me straight pretty quickly!)

As for the alcohol, I used to drink before I got pregnant, but after refraining and being in religions that disallowed it for so long..Well, my daughters now almost 3 and it's just something I've gotten used to not doing.

I'm not a fan of the taste anymore or the feeling under the effect of anything so it's pretty much a non-issue . Caffeine, however is my drug of choice although I know that there are many Vaishnavas who avoid this...

:sorry1:

I need to learn more about this...I went to a class today taught by two very sweet Bengali sisters and their uncle, I should have asked about caffeine. I'm in the wrong line of work to forgo caffeine, sales and marketing.

:sarcastic

All in time.