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“Annapoorna”
In Sanskrit 'Anna' means food and 'purna' means complete; together the term Annapoorna signifies nourishing with food to the fullest. The Devi Annapoorna is the goddess of food and harvest and is believed to be the one who fills the stomachs of the hungry with her noble powers. In Hindu belief she is the one endowed with the powers to supply food in a limitless form. She is the divine symbol of nourish and care she provides to her children. In common parlance at Hindu households if people waste food, it is said that they in turn make Annapoorna Devi angry. The origin of Goddess Annapoorna is related to the mythological tale of Lord Brahma and Vishnu being worried about the extinction of food from earth resulting in perishing of many human beings. These gods pleaded to Lord Shiva who invited the goddess Annapoorna to earth and begged for food from her. Lord Shiva distributed the food received from the Devi and since then promised her that she should continue to nourish the people of earth and in turn he would give moksha to the people of Kasi where the goddess resides. Goddess Annapoorna is the incarnation of Devi Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Annapoorna is also referred to as the goddess of fertility and agriculture which calls for immense popularity of this deity in the villages of India. Goddess Annapoorna is also reasonably popular in South India with separate shrines dedicated to this deity of food and harvest. The idol of goddess Annapoorna devi is always shown with a bowl which is always filled with grain, representing the bountiful of food she has to offer to her children.
Annapoorna Stotram
नित्यानन्दकरी वराभयकरी सौन्दर्य रत्नाकरी Nithyaananda kari,Varaa abhya karee, Soundarya rathnaakaree, 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.
नाना रत्न विचित्र भूषणकरि हेमाम्बराडम्बरी Naana rathna vichitra bhooshana karee, Hemaambaradambaree, 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.
योगानन्दकरी रिपुक्षयकरी धर्मैक्य निष्ठाकरी Yogaanandakaree ripu kshyakaree, Dharman artha nishtaakaree, 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.
कैलासाचल कन्दरालयकरी गौरी-ह्युमाशाङ्करी Kailaasaachala kandharaa laya karee, Gowree , umaa sankaree, 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.
दृश्यादृश्य-विभूति-वाहनकरी ब्रह्माण्ड-भाण्डोदरी Drusyaa drusya vibhootha vahana karee, Brhmaanda bhando dharee, 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.
उर्वीसर्वजयेश्वरी जयकरी माता कृपासागरी Urvee sarva janeswaree bhagawathee, Maatha krupaa sagaree, 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.
आदिक्षान्त-समस्तवर्णनकरी शम्भोस्त्रिभावाकरी Aadhi kshaantha samastha varna nikaree, Shabho tribhaava karee, 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.
देवी सर्वविचित्र-रत्नरुचिता दाक्षायिणी सुन्दरी Devee sarva vichitra rathna rachithaa, Dakshayanee sundaree, 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.
Chandrakaanala koti koti sadrusaa, Chandramsu bhimbaan dharee, 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.
क्षत्रत्राणकरी महाभयकरी माता कृपासागरी Kshatrathraanakaree, mahaa bhayakaree, Mthaa krupaa sagaree, 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.
अन्नपूर्णे सादापूर्णे शङ्कर-प्राणवल्लभे । Annapurne sadaa purne, Sankara praana vallabhe, Oh! Parvati! Annapurna! always full, the dear consort of Sankara, grant us alms for the sake of securing knowledge and detachment.
माता च पार्वतीदेवी पितादेवो महेश्वरः । Mathaa cha Parvathy Devi, Pithaas cha Maheswara 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. |
