Annapurna Mandir is dedicated to Annapurna Devi, who is Parvathi Devi herself. She blesses the residents of Kashi with enough food and other nourishment. Annapurna Devi finds mention in the Skanda Purana and Devi Bhagavatam.
The temple is also called Annapurna Mata Mandir and Annapurna Mandir. The current temple was constructed in the 18th century, precisely 1729 CE by the great Maratha ruler Peshwa Bajirao. Sri Adi Shankaracharya composed these beautiful lines about Annapurna Devi:
नित्यानन्दकरी वराभयकरी सौन्दर्यरत्नाकरी
निर्धूताखिलघोरपावनकरी प्रत्यक्षमाहेश्वरी ।
प्रालेयाचलवंशपावनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ||
“Salutations to Mother Annapurna who always give joy to her devotees, along with boons and assurance of fearlessness (under her motherly care); who is a repository of great beauty and makes their minds beautiful by the touch of the gem of her (inner) beauty, who purifies all the poisons and sufferings of their minds (by the touch of her compassion and bliss), and who is the great goddess manifested visibly in Kashi, who sanctified the lineage of the King of the Mountain of Himalayas (by taking birth as Devi Parvati); who is the ruling mother of the city of Kasi, O Mother Annapurneswari, please grant us the alms of your grace; your grace which support all the worlds.”
अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे ।
ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वति ॥११॥
“(Salutations to Mother Annapurna) O Mother Annapurna, you who are always full (with the gift of food and blessings), you who are the beloved of Shankara, O Mother Parvati, please grant me the alms of your grace, to awaken within me spiritual knowledge and freedom from all the worldly desires.”
Annapurna Devi is the mother who blesses the three worlds with food. It is said that Annapurna Devi fed Lord Shiva too. Paintings depicting the same can be observed on the walls of the Annapurna Mandir. Constructed in the Nagara style of architecture, the temple has a sanctum with a pillared porch.
Annadanam i.e., distribution of free food is conducted in the temple premises every afternoon. The temple is one of the Nava-Durga temples visited by devotees during the Navratri of the Ashwin month i.e., October. The temple door is kept open for only three days in a year. This is based on the belief that anyone opening the door other than on Annakuta festival day will die.
The origin of Annapurna Mandir
There was a famine in Kashi once. People were dying from starvation. Not knowing what to do, Lord Shiva engaged in deep meditation to find a solution. From his meditation, he concluded ‘Annapurna Devi could solve the problem’.
Hence, Lord Shiva went like a common man begging for alms from Annapurna Devi. The Goddess, who provided Lord Shiva with food as alms promised him that no one in Kashi would ever go hungry again. Annapurna Devi has become very important from that time and so has the Annapurna Mandir.
Annapurna Devi is referred to as Bhavani Devi by the locals. The Kashi Khand of Skanda Purana states that devotees should circumambulate Annapurna Devi 108 times during the Shukla Paksha Ashtami of Chaitra month. Devotees doing so would get the benefit of circumambulating the entire world. Also, devotees should circumambulate Annapurna Devi eight times a day and worship her.
Devotees facing any sort of hardship in Kashi should worship Annapurna Devi to be blessed with prosperity.
Festivals celebrated in Annapurna Mandir
Annakuta and Navratri are the two main festivals celebrated here. Annakuta festival is of paramount importance at the temple as Annapurna Devi blesses devotees with food. On the Annakut festival day, 56 varieties or Chappan Bhog is offered to Annapurna Devi. This is later distributed as prasadam to devotees.
The two Navratris are grandly celebrated here. One that falls in Ashwin masa i.e., October and the other is the Navratri of the Chaitra masa i.e., March.
Temple Timings of Annapurna Mandir
The temple houses two Deities of Annapurna Devi. One Deity is made of brass and the other is a golden Deity. Devotees have darshan of the brass Deity regularly. The darshan of Annapurna Devi’s golden Deity is available for only three days in a year around the Annakut festival i.e., from Dhanteras to Annakut (Govardhan Puja).
On these days, the golden Deity of Annapurna Devi holding a golden pot and ladle sits in-between Lakshmi Devi on the right and Bhu Devi on the left. On this festive occasion, coins (known as khazana) and rice grains are distributed to devotees as prasadam. Annampurna Mandir also houses the Kashi Khandokta Deities of Sri Satyanarayana and Sri Kubereshwara Shivalinga. The Annapurna Mandir is actually the Annapurna Mutt. Many scholarly devotees believe that the original vigraha of Annapurna Devi is situated in a temple nearby Vishalakshi Temple.
The temple is open for darshan from 4 AM early morning to 10 PM in the night. The temple is closed for a brief period in-between. Nitya Aradhana Artis happen at 4 AM, 12 PM, 8.30 PM and 10 PM.
How to reach Annapurna Mandir
Annakuta Mandir is in the Visheshwarganj locality of Kashi 15 m north-west from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The Annapurna Mandir being located close to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, you must first reach Kashi. After having the darshan of the prominent Deities such as Kaal Bhairav, Dandapani, Kashi Vishwanath, you can have Annapurna Devi’s darshan.
Your gratitude and humbleness are the price for all the prosperity Annapurna Devi bestows upon you. Enter her abode in the same mood. Tirtha Yatra takes care of everything if you choose their Kashi Yatra.
The regular means of transportation is always available before you as shown below:
By Road: Kashi is well connected by road to major cities in India such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, etc. You can travel in a private vehicle from other cities or hire a taxi. Luxury buses and normal buses are available from Lucknow frequently.
By Rail: Kashi is very well connected to major cities and towns in India via the five railway stations i.e., Kashi Railway Station, Varanasi Junction (also called Varanasi Cantt), Varanasi City, Banaras Railway Station and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction. Tickets can be reserved up-to any one of these five stations.
By Air: Kashi is accessible by air through the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport at Babatpur near Kashi. Domestic and International flights are available from and to the airport. From there, you can take a prepaid taxi to reach the city centre.
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