Annapurna temple is situated at Dashashwamedh road, Vishwanath gali and close to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. Annapurna temple is dedicated to the Annapurna or Annapoorna Mata, the Goddess of Food or the Goddess of Nourishment (Anna means food and Purna means complete or full), Mata Parvati. There was a golden idol of the Annapurna Mata in the Annapurna temple. Annapurna temple has a huge crowd of pilgrims at the occasion of Annacoot. Annacoot festival is celebrated in India every year after Diwali. On the occasion of Annacoot coins are distributed to all the devotees. It is considered that whoever will worship this coin, he will be blessed by the Annapurna Mata for his successful and prosperous life. Annapurna Mata is the Goddess of the Varanasi city Who always protects the Kashi and fulfill His devotees with the food.
Opening time of the Annapurna temple is: 4:00 am to 11:30 am and 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Aarti time is: 4.00 am
History of the Goddess Annapurna
Once, Lord Shiva said to the Goddess Parvati that the whole world is an illusion and the food is the part of that known as ‘Maya’. The Goddess of food (Mata Parvati) became very angry and She had to show the importance of all the material, in order to that She had vanished all things from the world. In the absence of food from the earth, the earth became infertile and everyone had suffered from the deep hunger.
She had to reappear in the world by seeing His devotees suffering from the deep hunger. She, then made a kitchen in the holy city, Varanasi. Lord Shiva too came to Her and said that I understand that the material can never be sent away as an illusion. Mata Parvati became very happy and offered food to the Lord Shiva with her own hands. From that time Mata Parvati is worshiped as an Annapurna means the Goddess of Food.
Another myth about the Annapurna is, Once Mata Parvathi had closed all the eyes of the Lord Shiva (three eyes: Sun, Moon and Fire) and entire world was full of darkness. There was the condition of ‘Pralaya’ and the color of the Mata Parvati became dark also (means She has lost Her Gauri Rupa). She was very sorrow and asked Lord Shiva how to get Gauri Rupa again. Lord Shiva said to Her to make Anna Dan in the Kashi. Mata Parvati took Her Annapurna Rupa with a golden pot and ladle and made Anna Dan in Varanasi. Again She got Her Gauri Rupa. It is considered that Her devotees do Annapurna Pooja by making Anna Dan in Kashi.
There are various names of the Mata Parvati worshipped by Her devotees all over the world. The Annapurna Shatanama Stotram has 108 names and The Annapurna Sahasranam presents one thousand names of the Annapurna Mata.
It is considered that She does not eat a little bit till the time Her devotees have not been fed in Her temple. The Annapurna Vrat Katha has various stories and helps Her devotees to get rid of their problems. Annapurna temple in Varanasi is situated adjacent to the Kashi Viswanath temple. Annapurna Mata is considered as the queen of the Kashi and Lord Shiva is considered as the king of the kashi. In the temple of the Mata Annapurna, in the noon time food as a ‘Prasad’ is offered to all the old, disabled and other devotees daily.
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