Tag Deity

Ishvarapranidhana Yoga Sutra 23 Patanjali

While calling for devotion to God as a Prerequisite for realizing Godhood or attain Reality, Hinduism also states that the Reality if name less Formless.

For details please read my post God Has Name s and Forms, Yes and No"

The Reality is described as Sat, being, Chit, Consciousness and Ananda, Bliss.

The Upanishads call the worship of deities as inferior.

In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna states that, I appear to one in what ever Form he worships Me , I grant him his wishes in the Form He worships"

Then why the concept of God at all if it is not necessary

One does not become a Ph.d straightaway, has o go through schooling step by step.

But, once you reach Higher Level of Learning, the earlier levels seem redundant.

But it must not be forgotten that without that one would not reached the present level.

In the same way the concept of God is necessary for Spiritual development.

Family Deity Personal Deity

Vedas do not advocate Temple Worship or Collective/Public Worship.

It does not mention Temples at all.

Yet Hinduism has many Gods and Temples.

For an explanation please read my post God has Name and Form, Yes and No, as entering this topic will take us away from the present post.

Every family, by custom, has a Family Deity குல தெய்வம்

Any auspicious function should be preceded by a Pooja first to this Deity.

It is mandatory to visit the Temple of the Deity, at least once a year.

Customs vary with regard to the Poojas being performed for the Deity.

Some times it happens(which should not), the children are not informed of the Family Deity by the Elders.

As a Result. the generation remains ignorant of the Deity.

In such cases, one can ask Family elders who are still alive.

If this attempt fails, check the names of your ancestors on your Father's( for men only) side., for minimum three generations.

The family custom is to name the first child of the Family after the Family Deity.

If the Family Deity is a Female, and the eldest of the Family is a Male, check if a female name is given for a male , as in Kamakshi (and for Female the reverse).

And that will be your Family Deity.

The most common name will be your Family Deity.

Otherwise continue The present Deity( of which you are unsure) and if a Saivaite have Subramanya as an additional Family Deity and if a Vaishnavaite, have Lord Balaji of Tirupati.