Annapurna Devi Temple, the goddess of food

Kashi is a place of great religious significance. From ancient texts to modern days, the charm of the place is still as it is. One of the major things that make Kashi even more famous is its temples. There are a plethora of gods and goddesses who reside in Kashi temples. One such deity is Annapurna Devi, the goddess of food, who is revered in the Annapurna Devi temple.

Annapurna Devi, the goddess of food. Image source- Varanashi Guru.jpg

The ambience of the place is divine, and the fragrance of sandalwood and flowers fills the city. Located in the Vishwanath Gali, Annapurna temple resides just adjacent to the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The temple worships the goddess of food, Annapurna, a form of Parvati. The temple attracts a sizable number of devotees towards the holy city of Varanasi.

The golden idol of the goddess holds a pot to provide food to her devotees. She is so divine and significant that God Vishwanath also seeks food with open hands in front of her idol. Along with the statue of the goddess, there are also the idols of Maa Kali, Lord Shiva, and other deities.

The temple's history dates back to the 18th century when Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao erected the temple. It depicts the Nagara style of architecture with a sanctum. This sanctum houses two idols of the goddess - one is of gold, and the other is of brass. Where the brass idol is available for everyday darshan, the golden one is brought for darshan only once a year.

There are stories that revolve around Maa Annapurna. According to legend, once, Maa Parvati closed all the eyes of Lord Shiva. The moment his eyes were closed, the universe was filled with darkness. This darkness turned Parvati black, and he lost his Gauri form. Devastated by this effect, she asked Shiva for help. Since Shiva could not see his wife sad, he suggested her to donate food in Kashi. So, she took the form of Annapurna and went down with a golden pot to distribute food in Kashi.

Another story says that once Lord Shiva declared that everything in the universe is an illusion, including food. As Parvati was the goddess of food, she got offended by this comment and decided to teach Shiva a lesson. She made all the food disappear from the earth, and everyone suffered from food shortages. Finally, Shiva understood his mistake and requested her rescue. Soon, Parvati made a surplus of food for everyone and built her kitchen in Varanasi.

Some legends say that, as Parvati seized the food supply, the earth was hit with a great famine. From gods to demons, everyone cried out for food. However, Parvati could not bear such suffering and incarnated as Annapurna to distribute food to everyone.

It is believed that Anapurna Devi does not take a single bite until her devotees feed her in the temple. The prasad of the afternoon is distributed among the visitors. The temple trust also serves free food for the tourists so that Mata's devotees never go hungry. The temple serves as the structure that glorifies the ancient city of Varanasi and etches in name in the must-visit places in India.