Annapurna Temple Home > Uttar Pradesh > Attractions > Temples > Annapurna Temple

Annapurna Temple

Annapurna temple is located at Dashashwamedh road in Vishwanath gali in Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh. It is devoted to the “Annapoorna Mata” or the Goddess of Food. “Anna” means “food” and “purna” means “full” or “complete.”

The temple is near to Kashi Vishawanath Temple.

Annapurna temple sees a colossal crowd of devotees during the Annacoot Festival. It is celebrated after Diwali. During this festival Annacoot coins are distributed in this temple to everybody present in it. It is believed that a person who worships this coin is blessed by Annapurna Mata and enjoys a prosperous life.

Locals of this city consider Annapurna Mata the Goddess of Varanasi City. They have faith that the Goddess protects Kashi and fills every home with food.

Annapurna Mata is regarded as the Queen of Kashi. Lord Shiva is regarded as the King of Kashi.

The best manner to worship the Goddess is by doing “Anna Daan” in Kashi. It is strictly believed that a person doing the daan must never take the daan for himself or herself. This is like transferring the sins from the donor to the receiver. However, people can eat “prasad” at Annapurna temple. It is offered to all devotees during lunch time every day.

Legend

As the legend goes, once Lord Shiva told Goddess Parvati that the world was an illusion and food was a part of this “maya.” This angered Goddess Parvati. She decided to show the importance of food. So, she made all material things in the world disappear. As food vanished from Mother Earth, she became infertile. Everybody suffered from extreme hunger.

Seeing her devotees suffer, Goddess Parvati reappeared on Earth. Legend says that she made a kitchen in Varanasi, the holy city of India. Lord Shiva also came here. He understood the importance of food. Learning this Goddess Parvati became happy and offered food to her husband with her hands. Since then, Goddess Parvati is also called Annapurna or Goddess of Food.

According to another legend, once Goddess Parvati closed the eyes of Lord Shiva (three eyes connoting Sun, Moon, and Fire). The whole world plunged into darkness. “Pralaya” occurred and Goddess Parvati also turned black. She become remorseful and asked Lord Shiva how she could get her “Gauri Roop” or whiteness again.

Lord Shiva advised her to do “Anna daan” in Kashi. Goddess Parvati came down to Earth in her “Annapurna Roop.” She was laced with a golden pot and ladle. She did the daan. Doing this she regained her “Gauri Roop.” Since then, devotees do “Annapurna Puja” and do “Anna daan” in Kashi to wash off their sins and have a prosperous life.

Goddess Parvati is worshipped in several forms. The Annapuran Shatanama Stotram features 108 names of Annapurna Goddess, while the Annapurna Sahasranam has 1000 names of her.

Architecture

Annapurna temple is bigger than Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Annapurna Devi is believed to be the “avatar” or incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The temple comes under Annapurna Math. It is owned by Dashnami Shaiva Paramhans Sannyasis.

Annapurna temple features two idols of Goddess Annapurna. One is made of gold. The other is made of brass. The brass idol is open to devotees all days. The gold idol is open for worship or “darshan” only on the day before Diwali. The temple also has idols of Hanuman, Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, Sun God, and Kuber.

Temple Timings

Annapurna Temple is open from 4:00 am to 11:30 am and from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Aarti is done at 4:00 am.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Varanasi is in the seasons of Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Summers are too hot.

How to Reach

By Rail

Annapurna temple lies just 4 km from Cantonment Railway Station of Varanasi. The city of Varanasi lies on the bank of the Holy Ganga.

By Air

The city also has an airport. Varanasi, being a famous city of India, is well connected by rail, road, and air. It witnesses a swarm of tourists throughout the year due to its holy stature.

Related Image

Also Browse Following Under This Section

Related Topics

Parks

uttar-pradesh is mostly famous as the industrial state in India, whereas it must also be known that it is an upcoming tourist destination ....

Forts

One of the highly discussed entertaining and mesmerising natural spots in India with regards to travel destinations is uttar-pradesh and the place is indeed known for its culture ....

Snake Temple

Know more about this temple ...

Dakor Temple

Know more about this temple ...