Goddess Annapoorna is looked upon as the provider of food and the sustainer of prosperity. Legend has it that Shiva made an agreement with Goddess Annapoorna that she look after life before death, ensuring that no one went hungry in the sacred city of Kasi, while he would ensure they received moksha (freedom from the cycle of birth & death). Annapoorna is Kasi's queen. She is known in the Kasi Khanda as Bhavani, the female shakti of Bhava, "Being," one of the names of Shiva. The name Annapoorna means "She of Plenteous Food." She is called the "Mother of the Three Worlds," and she promises to those who come to her what only a mother can give, naturally and freely - food.

Legend says when Vishnu adopted the Vamana avatar, the sky provided him the umbrella, Kubera provided him the bowl and Goddess Annapoorna, the gracious hostess herself, offered bhiksha to Him. The idol of Annapoorna always has a small vessel/ladle containing Annam (food) signifying that the worshipper is assured of food throughout his/her life time.

Shree Annapoornaashtakam

Nityaanandakaree Varaabhayakaree Saundaryaratnaakaree
Nirdhootaakhiladhora Paapanikaree Pratyakshamaaheswaree
Praaleyaachala Vanshapaavanakaree Kaasheepuraadeeshwaree
Bhikshaan Deyhi Krupaavalambanakaree Maataannapoorneshwaree

Oh! Mother Annapurna! renderer of the support of compassion, the bestower of eternal happiness, the donor of gifts and protection, the ocean of beauty, the destroyer of all sins and purifier, the great goddess, the purifier of the family of Himavan, and the great deity of Kasi, (thou) grant us alms.

Naanaaratnavichitra Bhooshanakaree Hemaambaraadambaree
Muktaahaara Vidambamaana Vilasad Shtojakumbhaantaree
Kaashmeeraa Guruvaasitaa Ruchikaree Kaasheepuraadeeshwaree
Bhikshaan Deyhi Krupaavalambhanakaree Maatannapoorneshwaree

Oh! Mother Annapurna! renderer of the support of compassion, one who is adorned with ornaments made up of different kinds of gems, wearer of golden-laced dress, the space, in between whose breasts shines with the pendant garland of pearls, the beautiful - bodied, rendered and the presiding deity of Kasi, (thou) grant us alms.

Yogaanandakaree Ripukshayakaree Dharmeikanishtaakaaree
Chandraakaarnala Bhaasamaanalaharee Treilokyarakshaakaree
Sarveishravyakaree Tapapfalakaree Kaasheepuraadeeshwaree
Bhikshaam Deyhi Krupaavalambanakaree Mataannapoorneshwaree

Oh! Mother Annapurna! the renderer of the support of compassion, the giver of happiness obtainable through yoga, the destroyer of the enemies, the cause of (men) getting deep-rooted in righteousness, the possessor of the waves of splendour of the three worlds, the donors of all riches, the bestower of the fruits of penance, and the presiding deity of Kasi, (thou) grant us alms.

Kailaashaachal Kandaraalayakaree Gaureehayumaashaadkaree
Kaumaaree Nigamaarthagocharakaree Hyodakaarabeejaaksharee
Mokshadwaarakawaatapaatanakaree Kaasheepuraadeeeshwaree
Bhikshaam Deyhi Krupaavalambanakaaree Maataannapoorneshwaree

Oh! Mother Annapurna! the renderer of the support of compassion, the resident of the caves of the Kailasa mountains, golden-complexioned, Oh! Uma! the consort of Sankara, endowed always with maidenhood, the cause of our comprehension of the purport of the Vedas, whose basic syllable is the syllable `Om', the opener of the doors of emancipation and the presiding deity of Kasi, (thou) grant us alms.

Drushyaadrushya Vibhutivaahanakaree Brahmaandabhaandodaree
Leelaanaatakasootra Khelanakaree Vigyaanadeepadkuree
Shree Vishveshamana Prasaadanakaree Kasheepuraadheeshwaree
Bhikshaam Deyhi Krupaavalambanakaree Maataannapoorneshwaree

Oh! Mother Annapurna! the renderer of the support of compassion, the conveyor of the visible and invisible prosperity, the container of the primordial egg, the directress of the sportive drama (of the world), the flame of the lamp of true knowledge, the source of the mental happiness of Sri Visvanatha, and the presiding deity of Kasi, (thou) grant us alms.

Aadeekshaanta Varnanakaree Shambostribhaavaakaree
Kashmeeraa Tripureshwaree Trinayanee Vishveshwaree Sharvaree
Swargadwaar Kavaatapaatanakaree Kasheepuradeeshwaree
Bhikshaan Deyhi Krupaavalambanakaree Maataannapoorneshwaree

Oh! Mother Annapurna! the renderer of the support of compassion, the maker of the letters 'a' (‚) to 'ksha' (®¸), he cause of the three acts of Sambhu, namely, the creation, protection and destruction, the wearer of saffron, the consort of the destroyer of the three cities, the consort of the three-eyed lord, the governess of universe, the form of the goddess of night, the opener of the gates of heavens, and the presiding deity of Kasi, (thou) grant us alms.

Urvee Sarvajaneshwaree Jayakaree Maataa Krupaasaagaree
Veneineela Samaan Kuntaladhari Nityaannadaaneshwaree
Saakshaanmekshakaree Sadaa Shubakaree Kaasheepuraadeeshwaree
Bhikshaan Deyhi Krupaavalambanakaree Maatannapoorneshwaree

Oh! Mother Annapurna! the renderer of the support of compassion, the form of the earth, the governess of all men, the cause of victory, the mother, the ocean of compassion, the possessor of beautiful and dark braid of hari resembling the flower of the indigo plant, the giver of food daily, the direct bestower of emancipation and eternal welfare, and the presiding deity of Kasi, (thou) grant us alms.

Devee Sarvavichitra Ratnarachitaa Daakshaayanee Sundaree
Vaamaa Swaadupayodaraa Priyakaree Saubaghyamaaheshwaree
Bhaktaabeeshtakaree Sadaa Shubakaree Kasheepuraadeeshwaree
Bhikshaan Deyhi Krupavalambanakaree Maataannapoorneshwaree

Oh! Mother Annapurna! the renderer of the support of compassion, Oh! Goddess! adorned with different kinds of gems, the daughter of Daksha, the most beautiful, bearer of benign breasts, doer of good to all, endowed with good fortune, fulfiller of the desires of the devotees, doer of auspicious acts, and the presiding deity of Kasi, (thou) grant us alms.

Chandraakaarnala Koti Koti Sadhrushee Chandranshu Bhimbaadaree
Chandraakaaragni Samaan Kuptaladharee Chandraakarvaneshwaree
Maala Pushtaka Paashasaadkhushadharee Kaashee Puraadeeshwaree
Bhikshaan Deyhi Krupavalambanakaree Maataannapoorneshwaree

Oh! Mother Annapurna! the renderer of the support of compassion, one who resembles crores and crores of suns, moons and fires, endowed with lips resembling the red pearl and the bimba fruit, bearer of ear-ornament resembling the moon, sun and fire (in radiance), having a complexion of the goad, and the presiding deity of Kasi, (thou) grant us alms.

Kshatratraanakaree Mahaabhayakaree Maataa Krupaasaagaree
Sarvaanandakaree Sadaa Shivakaree Vishveshwarashreedharee
Dakshakrandakaree Niraamayakaree Kasheepuraadheeshwaree
Bhikshaan Deyhi Krupavalambanakaree Maataannapoorneshwaree

Oh! Mother Annapurna! the renderer of the support of compassion, the protector of the dominion remover of great fear, the mother, the ocean of compassion, the cause of the happiness of all, the eternal doer of good, the consort of Visvesvara, the form of Lakshmi, the destroyer of the sacrifice of Daksha, one who makes us free from diseases, and the presiding deity of Kasi, (thou) grant us alms.

Annapoorna Sadaa Poorne Shadkarapraana Vallabhe
Gyaanavairagya Siddhayarta Bhikshan Dehi Cha Paarvatee

Oh! Parvati! Annapurna! always full, the dear consort of Sankara, grant us alms for the sake of securing knowledge and detachment.

Maataa Cha Paarvatee Devee Pitaa Devo Maheshwara
Baandavaa Shivabhaktaakscha Swadesho Bhuvanatrayam

Goddess Parvati is my Mother, Lord Mahesvara is my Father, the devotees of Lord Siva are my relatives; and the three worlds are my own country.

MOTHER ANNAPOORNA

When Sri Sankaran Bhagavatpada visited the shrine of Sri Annapoorna, during his stay in the holy city of Kaasi, he composed a hymn in praise of the Devi in eight verses, known as Annapoornaashtakam. This hymn is recited with great reverence throughout India. Each one of these verses ends with the refrain,

“Bikshaam dehi kripaavalambanakaree maataannapoornesvaree.

One of the verses describes the Divine Mother as Aadikshaanta samasta varnanakaree. The fiftyone letters of the alphabet from a ksha, go by the name of varna. Varna also means the four castes. Another meaning of varna is colour. The Divine Mother is is soul of the varna or alphabet. The sastras which are based on sabda (sound) are the sound forms of paradevata. Sabda gives rise to forms – visible shapes. It is observed that when particular musical notes are played near a pond, the resultant vibrations induce particles of light dust, floating on the water, to arrange themselves into specific shapes. Thus sabda and roopa, sound and form, have close affinity. This also accounts for the sanctity of mantras, which are words and letters combined and arranged in specific forms. The repetition of a mantra, with devotion, earns for us the grace of the particular manifestation of God for whom that mantra is dedicated. The Divine Mother is the soul of all mantras.

The conception of Divinity as the Mother is unique and inspiring. In human relationship the affection of a mother for her child is unsurpassed. Similarly, the depth of the Divine Mother’s love for her devotees is unfathomable. The grace that flows from Her is spontaneous and irresisble. That is why Sri Annapoorna is depicted as carrying a vessel containing ksheeraannam (rice mixed with milk) in one hand and a ladle in the other. She is ready to distribute this food to those who pray for it. In the abundance of Her mercy, She gives us not only food that sustains our body, but also jnana that nourishes the soul. When Sri Adi Sankara prayed to Mother Annapoorna to give him alms, he prayed not only for himself but for all mankind. We are all members of one family., being the children of the Divine Parents, Paravati and Paramesvara. It is our duty to love, help, and serve one another.

There is a temple dedicated to Sri Annapoorneswari at Cherukunnam in Kerala. Every devotee who worships at that temple is served with food. The tradition is that in the night, after every one is fed, a packet of food is left tied to the branch of a tree, the idea being that even the thief who prowls about in the night should not go without food.

Let us reverentially pray to Mother Annapoorna by reciting the immortal Annapoornaashtakam of Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada and earn Her grace for the welfare of the entire world.

May 16, 1958