Annapoorna Yantra

Annapoorna Multi Colour Yantra

Rs. 1200/-

அன்னபூர்ணா தேவி

Annapurna or Annapoorna (Telugu): ఆన్నపూర్ణా దేవి is the Hindu goddess of nourishment.

Anna means "food" or "grains". Purna means "full, complete and perfect". Humans seek nourishment – be it in the form of material objects, such as food or money, or in the form of spiritual nourishment, like cultivating a connection with the divine. It is Divine Mother Annapurna who grants this nourishment. Annapurna is therefore known as “She who is full, complete and perfect in food and grains, the Goddess of Nourishment.”

Benefits of Worship

When She is worshipped, Mother Annapurna blesses Her children with Her divine nourishment. Her nourishment goes beyond the gross material gifts of food to the attainment of perfection in wisdom and renunciation.

Before partaking in any meal, a devotee should offer the food to Mother Annapurna and seek Her blessings. A meaningful prayer is: “Oh Annapurna, You are always full, complete, and perfect. You are the beloved energy of Lord Shiva. For the attainment of perfection in wisdom and renunciation, please give me your nourishment.”

The wisdom She grants us is the understanding that spirituality is about giving. She teaches the renunciation that allows us to remain in equanimity throughout all of life’s circumstances.

Holy Places of Worship

The City of Varanasi, which is also known as Kashi and Benares, is the spiritual capital of India, one of the holiest cities, and a sacred place of pilgrimage. The presiding deities of Varanasi are Lord Shiva, known by the name of Kashi Vishwanath, and the Divine Mother, known by the name of Annpurna.

Celebrations at the Devi Mandir

At the Devi Mandir, Navaratri (the Nine Nights of Worship of Divine Mother) is celebrated four times a year – in fall, winter, spring and summer. Every Navaratri, devotees dedicate nine full days in worship of the Divine Mother through chanting, participating in homas, performing pujas, and sometimes fasting.

At the culmination of the eighth day of Navaratri, Annapurna Puja is performed with the chanting of the Annapurna Sahasranam (the Thousand Names of Annapurna). Devotees offer several delicacies to Mother Annapurna, such as kitchuri, labra, fried eggplant, rice pudding, chutney, sweets, and papadams, and pray for Annapurna’s blessings of wisdom, renunciation, and completeness.

She is an avatar (form) of Parvati, the wife of Shiva.  Annapurna is the Goddess of the city of Kashi (now known as Varanasi, U.P., India). Kasi is also known as the City of Light. Ka means the cause, a means the manifestation of consciousness, sa means peace and i is the causal body. Kashi is also the place which causes consciousness to manifest the highest peace of the causal body.

Goddess Parvati was told by her consort Shiva that the world is an illusion and that food is a part of this illusion called māyā. The Divine Mother who is worshiped as the manifestation of all material things, including food, became angry. To demonstrate the importance of her manifestation of all that is material, she disappeared from the world. Her disappearance brought time to a standstill and the earth became barren. There was no food to be found anywhere, and all the beings suffered from the pangs of hunger.

Seeing all the suffering, Mother Parvati was filled with compassion and reappeared in Kasi and set up a kitchen. Hearing about her return, Shiva ran to her and presented his bowl in alms, saying, "Now I realise that the material world, like the spirit, cannot be dismissed as an illusion." Parvati smiled and fed Shiva with her own hands.

Since then Parvati is worshiped as Annapurna, the Goddess of Nourishment.

Annapurna has many names. The Annapurna Sahasranam presents her one thousand names and the Annapurna Shatanama Stotram contains 108 of her names. She is variously described as:

She who is full, complete and perfect with food and grains

She who gives nourishment

She who is the strength of Shiva

She who is the grantor of knowledge

She who takes away all fear

She who is the Supreme welfare

She who manifests truth and efficiency

She who is beyond Maya

She who is the cause of creation and dissolution

She who is adi sakthi

Physically, Annapurna is described as holding a golden ladle adorned with various kinds of jewels in her right hand and a vessel full of delicious porridge in her left. She is seated on a throne. In some depictions, Lord Shiva is shown standing to her right with a begging bowl, begging her for alms.

It is said that she does not eat a morsel unless all her devotees have been fed in her temple.

She is worshipped through the recitation of her thousand names and her one hundred and eight names. The Sri Annapurna Ashtakam composed by Shankaracharya is chanted by several devout Hindus around the world as a prayer for nourishment, wisdom, and renunciation. Before partaking of any food, Hindus chant the following prayer:

“

Oh Annapurna, who is always full, complete, and perfect. Beloved energy of Lord Shiva, for the attainment of perfection in wisdom and renunciation, give me alms, Parvati. My mother is Goddess Parvati, my father is the Supreme Lord Maheshwara (Shiva). My relatives are the devotees of Lord Shiva, and the three worlds are my Motherland.

”

The Annapurna Vrat Katha containing stories of her devotees are also recited by her devotees.

The most well-known temple dedicated to Goddess Annapurna is in Varanasi, U.P., India. Adjacent to the Sanctum of the Goddess is the Kasi Viswanath temple. The two are separated by only a few yards. Annapurna is regarded as the queen of Varanasi alongside her husband Vishweshwar (Shiva), the King of Varanasi.

In the temple, at noon time, food offerings to the Goddess are distributed to the elderly and disabled daily. During the Autumn Navaratri food is distributed on a larger scale.

The other famous temple is Annapoorneshwari Temple, situated at Horanadu in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, where evening prayers are held after the devotees are fed. Another famous temple of the goddess is situated in Cherukunnu, Kannur, Kerala.

A temple for Annapoorna has been constructed near Watrap, on the way to Saduragiri. The temple is in the shape of eight-sided pyramid.

In Hinduism, Goddess Annapoorna, or Annapurna Devi, is the Goddess of food. She is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati; in essence one of the numerous forms of Shakti. In this incarnation she nourishes all living beings and therefore Hindus consider ‘Annam’ (food) as holy. There is an interesting incident involving Lord Shiva and Goddess Annapoorna, which explains that even Moksha (salvation) is not possible on an empty stomach.

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati used to play the game of dice. Once the game became so interesting that they started betting – Parvati kept her jewels and Shiva his trident. Shiva lost the game and lost his trident.

To get back his trident, Shiva betted serpent and this time too he lost the game. Finally, when the game ended, Shiva lost all that he had including his begging bowl.

A humiliated Shiva left for the Deodar forest. Lord Vishnu approached Shiva and asked him to play again to win back all that he had lost.

Taking advice from Vishnu, Shiva played again and won all that he had lost in the previous game.

Goddess Parvati grew suspicious about Shiva’s sudden turn of fortunes and called him a cheat. This led to a verbal duel between the couple. Finally, Lord Vishnu intervened and revealed that the dice moved as per His wish and they were under the illusion that they were playing.

Symbolically, life is like a game of dice - unpredictable and beyond control.

Verbal duel soon turned to philosophical discussion and Lord Shiva said that possessions are temporary…everything is Maya (illusion)…even the food we eat is Maya.

Goddess Parvati did not agree that food is illusion. She argued that if food is illusion I am also an illusion. She wanted to know how the world would survive without food and disappeared.

Her disappearance meant Nature came to a stand still. There were no seasonal changes. Everything remained barren. There was regeneration or birth. Soon there was severe drought and shortage of food.

Shiva soon realized that he is incomplete without Shakti.

Gods, humans and demons all kept praying for food. Goddess Parvati could not see her children perishing out hunger and appeared in Kashi (Varanasi) and started distributing food.

Shiva appeared before her with a begging bowl and Goddess Parvati fed Shiva. Shiva said that food cannot be dismissed as mere illusion as it is required to nourish the body in which resides the Atma.

Since then Goddess Parvati is worshipped as the Goddess of food – Annapoorna Devi.

The Birthday of this Goddess is observed as Annapurna Jayanti. This day falls on Margashirsha Purnima, the full moon day which falls in the month of Margashirsh. In 2013, this date falls on December 17. Devotees (mostly women) keep a fast on this day. Special Pujas and recitation of Annapurna Astagam is performed in all the temples of this Goddess on Annapoorna Jayanti.

There are many Temples in India dedicated to this Goddess. Some of the famous Temples of this Goddess are :-

Varanasi Annapurneshwari Temple

Adi-Shaktyatmaka Shree Annapoorneshwari Temple, Horanadu, Karnataka

Annapurna Temple, Indore, Madhya Pradesh

KanakaDurga Temple, Vijayawada

Mumbadevi Temple (with Goddess Annapurna mounted on a Peacock).

Mantras of Goddess Annapurna

Given below are Annapurneshwari Mata Mantras.

‘Om Annapurnayai Namaha’

‘Om Sadapurnayai Namaha’

'Om Hrim Namo Bhagavati Maheswari Annapurne Swaha’

‘Om Hreem Shreem Kleem Namo Bhagwatye Maheshwari Annapurne Swaha’

Annapurna Gayatri Mantra

'Om Bhagwatye Vidmahe

Maheshwarye Dheemahi

Tanna Annapurna Prachodayat'.

Sri Annapurna Ashtakam:

What is an Ashtakam? An Ashtakam is a song comprising eight sections. You are expected to sing each section to the same music.

Sri Annapurna Ashtakam is written by Adi Shankaracharya to praise and invoke the grace of Mother Goddess Annapurneswari. Mother Goddess Annapurneswari is the presiding deity at Banaras or Varanasi. She is the Mother who graces food to everybody ; especially for poor and destitute. The Godess of Varanasi also fed King Harishchandra's children (he became poor due to Rishi Vashishta). There are many Annapoorni temples in India where food is freely served every day to every one i.e. Dharmasthala in Karnataka.

Annapurna Ashtakam is loved for its wordings and composition. You will realise all your ambitions by chanting or singing this ashtakam.

Nithyaananda kari,Varaa abhya karee,
Soundarya rathnaakaree,
Nirddhotahakila ghora pavaanakaree,
Prathyaksha Maheswaree,
Praaleyachala vamsa pavavakaree,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree.

Naana rathna vichitra bhooshana karee,
Hemaambaradambaree,
Mukthaa haara vilamba maana vilasa,
Dwakshoja kumbaan dharee,
Kasmeera garu vasithaa ruchi karee,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree

Yogaanandakaree ripu kshyakaree,
Dharman artha nishtaakaree,
Chandrarkaanala bhasa maana laharee,
Trilokya rakshaa karee,
Sarvaiswarya samastha vaanchithakaree,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree

Kailaasaachala kandharaa laya karee,
Gowree , umaa sankaree,
Kaumaree nigamartha gochara karee,
Omkara beejaksharee,
Moksha dwaara kavata patana karee,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree

Drusyaa drusya vibhootha vahana karee,
Brhmaanda bhando dharee,
Leelaa nataka suthra kelana karee,
Vijnana deeptham guree,
Sree viswesa mana prasaadhana karee,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree

Urvee sarva janeswaree bhagawathee,
Maatha krupaa sagaree,
Venee neela samaana kunthala dharee,
Ananda dhaneswaree,
Sarvanandakaree bhayaa shubhakaree,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree

Aadhi kshaantha samastha varna nikaree,
Shabho tribhaava karee,
Kasmeeraa tripureswaree trilaharee,
Nithyaamakuree sarvaree,
Kamaa kamksha karee janodhaya karee,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree

Devee sarva vichitra rathna rachithaa,
Dakshayanee sundaree,
Vama swadu payodhara priyakaree,
Sownhagya maaheswaree,
Bhakthaabhishtakaree, sadaa shubhakaree,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree

Chandrakaanala koti koti sadrusaa,
Chandramsu bhimbaan dharee,
Chandrakaagni samaana kunthala dharee
Chandrarka varneshwaree,
Maala pustaka pasasangusa dharee,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree

Kshatrathraanakaree, mahaa bhayakaree,
Mthaa krupaa sagaree,
Sakshaan mokshakaree sadaa shiva karee,
Visweshwaree sridharee,
Daksha krundha karee niraa mayakaree,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree

Annapurne sadaa purne,
Sankara praana vallabhe,
Jnana vairagya sidhyartham,
Bikshaa dehee cha parvathy.

Mathaa cha Parvathy Devi,
Pithaas cha Maheswara
Bandhawa Shiva Bhakatamscha,
Swadesho Bhuvana Trayam.

Annapoorna Stotram

Nityanandakari varabhayakari saundaryaratnakari Nirdhutakhilaghorapavanakari pratyaxamaheshvariPraleyachalavanshapavanakari kashipuradhishvariBhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari matanapurneshvari [1] 

Nanaratnavichitrabhushanakari hemambaradambariMuktaharavilambamana vilasath vaxojakumbhantariKashmiragaruvasita ruchikarii kashipuradhishvariBhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari matanapurneshvari [2]

Yoganandakari ripukshayakari dharmarthanishthakariChandrarkanalabhasamanalahari trailokyaraxakariSarvaishvaryasamastavajnchitakari kashipuradhishvariBhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari matanapurneshvari [3]

Kailasachalakandaralayakari gauri uma shankariKaumari nigamarthagocharakari onkarabijaxariMoxadvarakapatapatanakari kashipuradhishvariBhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari matanapurneshvari [4]

Drishyadrishya vibhutivahanakari brahmandabhandodariLilanatakasutrabhedanakari vigyanadipankuriShrivishveshamanah prasadanakari kashipuradhishvariBhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari matanapurneshvari [5]

Urvi sarvajaneshvari bhagavati matanapurneshvariVeninilasamanakuntaladhari nityanadaneshvariSarvanandakari sadashubhakari kashipuradhishvariBhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari matanapurneshvari [6] 

Adikshantasamastavarnanakari shambhostribhavakariKashmira trijaleshvari trilahari nityankura sharvariKamakanxakari janodayakari kashipuradhishvariBhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari matanapurneshvari [7] 

Devi sarvavichitraratnarachita daxayani sundariVame svadupayodhara priyakari saubhagya maheshvariBhaktabhishtakari sadashubhakari kashipuradhishvariBhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari matanapurneshvari [8]

Chandrarkanalakotikotisadrisha chandranshubimbadhariChandrarkagnisamanakundaladhari chandrarkavarneshvariMalapustakapashasankushadhari kashipuradhishvariBhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari matanapurneshvari [9] 

Kshatratranakari mahabhayakari mata kripasagariSaxanmoxakari sada shivakari vishveshvari shridhariDaxakrandakari niramayakari kashipuradhishvariBhiksham dehi kripavalambanakari matanapurneshvari [10]

Anapurne sadapurne shankarapranavallabheGyanavairagyasiddhyartham bhiksham dehi cha parvati [11]

Mata cha parvati devi pita devo maheshvarahBandhavah shivabhaktashcha svadesho bhuvanatrayamh [12]