Thursday, August 9, 2012

GODDESS ANNAPURNA

---BY Shri Anurag Mishra
Goddess Annapurna is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati and she is the Hindu Goddess of Food. Annapurna means ‘Bestower of Food.’ ‘Anna’, though translated as ‘food,’ has a wider connotation and includes all material objects/wealth, which are food for the five-sense organs. Goddess Shakti as Annapurna symbolizes nourishment without which the universe is dead.

The most popular image of Goddess Annapurna is that of Her serving food to Shiva. There is an interesting story associated with Annapurna serving food to Shiva. Once Goddess Parvati was told by Shiva that all that is here is illusion or Maya including food.

Goddess Parvati was not ready to agree to this and She disappeared from the world taking with her all the food items. Her disappearance caused havoc in the universe. Shiva soon realized that salvation or Moksha is not possible in an empty stomach.

Goddess Parvati then appeared as Annapurna at Kashi and served food to Lord Shiva.

The image of Annapurna is always depicted with a small vessel or a ladle or bowl containing Annam (food). Symbolically, it suggests that her devotees will never go without food.

Images of Goddess Annapurna adorn the walls of traditional kitchens, dining areas and restaurants of India.

There are numerous temples dedicated to Annapurna and in all these temples the devotees are fed all the time and in some temples the Goddess only take her Prasad after all her devotees are satisfied.

One of the most popular prayers dedicated to Goddess Annapurna is composed by Adi Shankaracharya. Sri Annapurna Ashtakam is a devotional prayer addressed to Goddess Annapurneswari, the queen mother of Varanasi. Chanting or singing Sri Annapurna Astakam will help one to achieve all ambitions.

Sri Annapurna Astakam

Nithyaananda kari,Varaa abhya karee,
Soundarya rathnaakaree,
Nirddhotahakila ghora pavaanakaree,
Prathyaksha Maheswaree,
Praaleyachala vamsa pavavakaree,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree ||1||

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 ||2||

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 ||3||

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 ||4||

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 ||5||

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 ||6||

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 ||7||

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 ||8||

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 ||9||

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 ||10||

Annapurne sadaa purne,
Sankara praana vallabhe,
Jnana vairagya sidhyartham,
Bikshaa dehee cha parvathy ||11||

Mathaa cha Parvathy Devi,
Pithaas cha Maheswara
Bandhawa Shiva Bhakatamscha,
Swadesho Bhuvana Trayam ||12||

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