Annapurna Mata | Goddess Annapoorna Devi

Goddess Annapurna Devi is one of the supreme manifestations of Goddess Parvati. Annapoorna Devi is the presiding deity of Kasi (Varanasi) Annapurna Mandir. Annapurna Mata is also worshipped during Durga Navaratri puja.

Who is Goddess Annapurna Devi – Significance of Annapoorna Mata Incarnation?

Goddess Annapurna is one of the aspects of Goddess Parvati. To prove her credibility in feeding living beings, once she separated from Lord Shiva and consecrated in Kasi (Varanasi) as Annapurneshwari Devi.

Lacking her in Kailash, Lord Shiva was starved for some time and was unable to live without Parvati and food. Lord Shiva realized that the main source and creator of worlds nourishment and feeding is Goddess Parvati, the Mother Goddess. And he visited Kasi and prayed to Goddess Annapurneshwari Devi. He begged her some food and made himself free from starvation.

Goddess Annapurna Puja is observed in Shukla paksha of Chaitra month as per the traditional Hindu (Bengali) calendar.

Importance of Goddess Annapurna Worship – Significance of Mata Annapoorneshwari Pooja:

Devotees who worship of Goddess Annapurneshwari will be blessed with prosperity and health. Women worship Annapurneshwari Devi for their better married life. They also perform Annapurneswari Pooja for their childrens health and better growth.

Annapurna Ashtakam – Annapoorna Astakam – important Stotram to Goddess Annapurna

Annapurna Puja – Annapoorna Vratham

Annapurna Devi is the goddess who provides food for all the living beings in the earth. The name Annapurna itself indicates as the giver of sufficient food. Annapurna is an important goddess, since through her blessings only, we are able to eat food and sustain in this world. She is an incarnation of Mata Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. The Annapurna Sahasranam praises her glory and describes her various names.

Kashi Viswanath Temple in Varanasi is the famous temple for goddess Annapurna and daily thousands of devotees come to this place to worship the divine goddess and to get her blessings. Akshaya Tritiya Festival is celebrated considering as the birthday of the goddess Annapurna, and people purchase golden jewellery and start new ventures on that day.

The other names of Annapurna are:
1. Visalakshi
2. Visvasakti
3. Visvamata
4. Bhuvanesvari

Annapurna once offered food to Lord Shiva in order to make him to realize that she is the ultimate giver of the food to the entire UNIVERSE.

The Hindu Scriptures describe the features of Annapoorna as a beautiful goddess with golden coloured body and a shining face. In one hand, she holds the food pot, and in another hand, she offers food to her devotees. She is seated on a golden throne. She is also mentioned in divine texts as the giver of knowledge, wisdom, courage, spiritual energy and strength in mind and in body. Devi Bhagavata and Skanda Purana praise her glory and mention her importance.

Food is considered as the most important thing for the living beings in this world. Without food, no one would survive in this world. Hence it is a must for us to pray to goddess Annapurna devi and must thank to her for giving sufficient food to us. She has to be worshipped on a daily basis especially before taking our food. The importance of Annadhanam is mentioned in various Puranas, and Lord Krishna also tells in his Bhagavatgita about the importance of food donation, and asks us to provide food to other living beings in the world.

The Annapurna Slokas composed by AdiShankaracharya is recited by Hindus throughout the world as a thanks giving to Mata Annapurna for giving food.

FAMOUS TEMPLES

1. Annapurna Devi Mandir in Varanasi.
2. Annapurna Devi Templein West Bengal.
3. Maa Annapurna Mandirin Madhya Pradesh.
4. Annapoorneshwari Temple, situated at Horanadu in Karnataka. Here food is provided to the devotees three times a day at free of cost. Apart from providing food, they are offering beverages like milk and coffee and giving shelters with blankets at free of cost.
5. KunnamAnnapoorneswari Devi Temple in Kerala.
6. Annapurna Mata Temple in Hyderabad.
7. Annapurna Devi Temple in Maharashtra.
8. Annapurna Temple in Gujarat.
9. Annapurna Temple in Rajasthan.

IMPORTANCE

Being the UNIVERSAL MOTHER, Annapurna Mata shows great love and affection on us and provides plenty of food to us. We cannot forget her, since daily we have to consume food. Food is the most essential thing for our survival in this world. Without food, we cannot do anything in this world. Hence, let us worship her sincerely by offering daily prayers to her and keep her idol and picture in our home, and perform puja and abhishekham to her. By reciting her slokas and worshipping her in the famous temples meant for her, all of our health related problems will be solved and our mind also will work more actively.

Let us chant her holy names and be blessed.
“OM SREE MATA ANNAPURNA DEVIYE NAMAHA”
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR