altar ego
The specific deity or religious persona one wishes to identify with for reasons of spiritual growth. So called, because an image of such is often displayed prominently upon one's own personal altar.
Being of a compassionate nature, the young woman felt a great affinity for White Tara and so displayed a beautiful image of her altar ego prominently in her shrine room.
altar ego
The hypocritical show of goodness a scoundrel adopts when going to church.
Crooks always put on their altar ego for public consumption at Sunday services.