A yidam or iṣṭadevatā is a meditational deity that serves as a focus for meditation and spiritual practice, said to be manifestations of Buddhahood or enlightened mind.

The yidam is a special deity one works with in meditation as a means towards recognizing one’s own awakened nature. The word is said to be a contraction of yid kyi dam tshig, which …

The yidam is one's tutelary deity; a personal protector of one's practice and guide to enlightenment. Traditionally, yidam practice is the main practice that follows the preliminaries.

In this important path, meditating and honouring your own personal Yidam allows for fast comprehension of the nature of reality — and deeper insight into Dharma. Yidam, literally means “heart bond deity” which points to the close relationship we should experience.

Yidam (Skt. iṣṭadevatā; Tib. ཡི་དམ་, Wyl. yi dam) — one of the three roots, the tutelary or chosen meditation deity, which is the root of spiritual accomplishment. Yidams are often classified according to whether they appear in peaceful and wrathful form. Sogyal Rinpoche writes:

A Yidam (Skt. iṣṭadevatā; Tib. ཡི་དམ་, Wyl. yi dam) is a term used in Tibetan Buddhism that refers to "an emanated form of a Buddha, often with multiple faces, arms, and legs, which tantric practitioners visualize themselves as."

The yidam is the spiritual guide who reveals inner truths. It can take various forms and roles. These include mother, brother or friend, teacher, protector, bride or lover, and God-emperor. The person should gain a yidam through initiation, when the lama or …

In Vajrayana Buddhism, an Ishta-Deva or Ishta-devata (Sanskrit: इष्टदेवता) (Yidam in Tibetan) is a fully enlightened being who is the focus of personal meditation, during a retreat or for Life. The term is often translated into English as tutelary deity, meditation deity, or meditational deity.

In Vajrayana Buddhism, a Yidam (Tibetan) or Ishtadevata (Sanskrit) is a fully enlightened being who is the focus of personal meditation, during a retreat or for life. The term is often translated into English as meditational deity.

Yidam as a contracted form of the Tibetan yid kyi dam tshig is the bundle of practices associated with our samaya (commitment) deity — unless you’re in the habit of contracting “Yidam deity” to Yidam.