Within the Smārta tradition, the choice of an iṣṭa-devatā unfolds within the understanding that all deities are manifestations of the one Brahman, and that the selection is therefore a matter of spiritual temperament rather than theological exclusivity. Many are first oriented by family tradition: a deity worshiped across generations naturally becomes central through shared rituals, stories, and inherited practices. This family deity often provides the initial form in which the non-dual reality is approached, especially when combined with the pañcāyatana framework in which several deities are honored together. In such worship, one deity is typically given central placement and slightly greater emphasis, effectively functioning as the presiding form of devotion.

Alongside lineage, personal inclination plays a decisive role. A seeker may feel a deep, unforced attraction to a particular form—Śiva, Viṣṇu, Devī, Sūrya, Gaṇeśa, or another manifestation—because of the qualities that deity embodies or the inner response evoked during prayer, japa, or study. Scriptural narratives and hymns can intensify this affinity, as the stories and attributes of a deity resonate with the devotee’s own aspirations, such as compassion, wisdom, strength, or nurturing grace. Life events, dreams, or powerful experiences in pilgrimage and worship can further confirm this inner leaning, gradually crystallizing one form as the primary focus of the heart.

Guidance from a guru often refines and formalizes this process. A competent teacher may discern the disciple’s temperament, karmic tendencies, and psychological constitution, and then recommend a particular deity and mantra suited to that inner structure. When mantra-dīkṣā is given, the deity associated with that mantra generally becomes the iṣṭa-devatā, providing a stable center for meditation and ritual practice. In some cases, astrological indications are also taken into account, with charts consulted to see which deity is considered especially harmonious with the seeker’s constitution and planetary influences.

Throughout, the Advaitic vision of Smartism allows for a certain fluidity. Since all deities are understood as expressions of the same non-dual reality, the devotee may honor multiple forms without contradiction, and the primary focus may shift as devotion matures. The iṣṭa-devatā is thus not a rigid boundary but a chosen gateway: a single, beloved form through which the mind is steadied, the heart is refined, and the formless Brahman is gradually realized.