Shri Annapurna Ashtakam with meaning

Sri Annapurna Ashtakam is written by guru Adi Shankaracharya to praise and invoke the grace of Mother Goddess Annapurneswari. Maa Annapurna is the Hindu goddess of food and cooking. She is the goddess who holds in one hand a jeweled vessel containing food and in the other a golden spoon to distribute the food among her devotees. She has the power to distribute food to an unlimited amount of people. Annapurna in Sanskrit is a combination of two words Anna + purna; 'Anna' means food and 'purna' means complete, together the term Annapurna literally means "one who is full of food." The verses in this Ashtakam are chanted by Hindus around the world as a prayer for nourishment, wisdom and renunciation.

Maa Annapurna is an incarnation of Parvati. In some depictions, Lord Shiva is shown standing to her right with a begging bowl, begging her for alms and also asking to Annapurna to provide unlimited food that people can get energy and achieve the knowledge and enlightenment. In the Hindu pantheon, Maa Annapurna is the symbol of divine aspect of nourishing care. . In south India you often find images of Annapurna anywhere people eat.

Food is one of the basic necessities of life, and it is no wonder that we say 'Annam Brahma', food is God and the body is ‘annamayakosha.’ In Hinduism, eating is a holy ritual. It is a yajna, a sacrifice. Food should not be eaten during moments of anxiety or emotional upheaval. It is considered a medicine for the illness of hunger and for sustenance of life. Grabbing and eating food in an undisciplined manner is a mark of disrespect to the Source.

The temple of Goddess Annapurna Devi is located near Kashi Viswanath temple,Varanasi. This sanctuary of godless Annapurna was built by Martha Chieftain Peshwa Baji Rao in 1729 according as per available texts. The idol of Maa Annapurna Bhavani is made in solid gold and carries a cooking pot. The Goddess is believed to be the mother of all the three worlds, heaven, earth and hell and is said that her devotees never suffer from starvation. The temple complex has a small sanctum that enshrines the idol of Goddess Annapurna. During the Autumn Navaratri, food is distributed on a larger scale. During the annual Annakuta festival, just after Diwali, mountains of fruits, sweets and cereals are laid out before the Goddess and then distributed to the poor.

Annapurna Ashtakam

श्री अन्नपूर्णा अष्टाकम 

Shri Annapurna Ashtakam

नित्यानन्दकरी वराभयकरी सौन्दर्यरत्नाकरी
निर्धूताखिलघोरपावनकरी प्रत्यक्षमाहेश्वरी ।
प्रालेयाचलवंशपावनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥१॥

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

O, Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who helps others with kindness, Who makes all days deliriously happy,
Who gives boons and shelter to all, Who is the epitome of all beauty,
Who cleans up all sorrows from life,Who is the ever-visible Goddess of the world,
Who is the star of the family of Himavan, 
Please give me alms,Ocean of kindness and compassion.

नानारत्नविचित्रभूषणकरी हेमाम्बराडम्बरी
मुक्ताहारविलम्बमानविलसद्वक्षोजकुम्भान्तरी ।
काश्मीरागरुवासिताङ्गरुचिरे काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥२॥

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

O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is adorned with jewels of variety,Who is dressed in golden silk,
Who has a beautiful chest, Adorned with golden chains full of gems,
Who is the epitome of all beauty,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion..

योगानन्दकरी रिपुक्षयकरी धर्मार्थनिष्ठाकरी
चन्द्रार्कानलभासमानलहरी त्रैलोक्यरक्षाकरी ।
सर्वैश्वर्यसमस्तवाञ्छितकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥३॥

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

O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who gives bliss through Yoga, Who destroys enemies,
Who makes dharma and wealth permanent,
Who shines like moon , sun and fire, Who takes care of all the three worlds,
Who gives all the wealth,Who fulfills all wishes,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

कैलासाचलकन्दरालयकरी गौरी उमा शङ्करी
कौमारी निगमार्थगोचरकरी ओङ्कारबीजाक्षरी ।
मोक्षद्वारकपाटपाटनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥४॥

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

O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who lives in a cave in Mount Kailasa, Who is also called Gauri, Uma and Sankari,
Who is an ever-blissful maiden, Who is known only through meaning of Vedas,
Who is personification of “OM”,Who opens the gates of Moksha,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion

दृश्यादृश्यविभूतिवाहनकरी ब्रह्माण्डभाण्डोदरी
लीलानाटकसूत्रभेदनकरी विज्ञानदीपाङ्कुरी ।
श्रीविश्वेशमनःप्रसादनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥५॥

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

O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is the vehicle of the seen and unseen ,Who is carrying the universes inside her,
Who cuts of attachment to this world, Who is the beacon of light for all science,
Who makes the Lord of Universe happy,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

उर्वीसर्वजनेश्वरी भगवती मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी
वेणीनीलसमानकुन्तलहरी नित्यान्नदानेश्वरी ।
सर्वानन्दकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥६॥

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

O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is the Goddess of earth and its beings,Who is the knowledge, wealth and valour of the world,
Who is the ocean of compassion, Who has lustrous blue hair,
Who gives happiness to all, Who is personification of happiness,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion

आदिक्षान्तसमस्तवर्णनकरी शम्भोस्त्रिभावाकरी
काश्मीरात्रिजलेश्वरी त्रिलहरी नित्याङ्कुरा शर्वरी ।
कामाकाङ्क्षकरी जनोदयकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥७॥

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

O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is described by all alphabets, Who gives Shambhu the three powers,
Who is Kashmira the Goddess of three cities,
Who is the intoxicant in three forms, Who gives rise to daily existence,
Who is the enemy of all sorrows, Who fulfills the desire of every one,
Who is dawn in life of all,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

देवी सर्वविचित्ररत्नरचिता दाक्षायणी सुन्दरी
वामं स्वादुपयोधरप्रियकरी सौभाग्यमाहेश्वरी ।
भक्ताभीष्टकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥८॥

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

O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is adorned with all precious gems, Who is the daughter of Daksha,
Who is the epitome of beauty, Who feeds all the world her milk of song and writing,
Who is the Goddess of all ,Who is the fortune of all,
Who fulfills the wishes of devotees, Who always does good,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

चन्द्रार्कानलकोटिकोटिसदृशा चन्द्रांशुबिम्बाधरी
चन्द्रार्काग्निसमानकुन्तलधरी चन्द्रार्कवर्णेश्वरी ।
मालापुस्तकपाशासाङ्कुशधरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥९॥

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

O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is like billions of moon , sun and fire,
Whose smile is like the rays of the moon,
Whose hair has the luster of moon, sun and fire,
Who is coloured like the moon and the sun,
Who has a chain of beads and a book in her hands,
Who has a spear and rope also in her hands,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

क्षत्रत्राणकरी महाऽभयकरी माता कृपासागरी
साक्षान्मोक्षकरी सदा शिवकरी विश्वेश्वरश्रीधरी ।
दक्षाक्रन्दकरी निरामयकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥१०॥

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

O mother Annapurneswari, Who is the Goddess of Kasi,
Who protects the duties of kings,  Who gives great protection,
Who is the great mother, Who is the ocean of mercy,
Who gives perennial salvation, Who always does good,
Who is the goddess of all universe, Who has all the wealth in the world,
Who insulted Daksha , Who gives great health,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे ।
ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वति ॥११॥

Annapurne sadaa purne, Sankara praana vallabhe,
Jnana vairagya sidhyartham, Bikshaam dehee cha parvathy

O Mother Annapurneswari,  Who is the darling of Sankara,
Please give me alms, Of knowledge and renunciation.

माता च पार्वती देवी पिता देवो महेश्वरः ।
बान्धवाः शिवभक्ताश्च स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयम् ॥१२॥

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

My mother is Goddess Parvathy,  My father is God Maheswara,
My relations are the devotees of Shiva,  And my country is the universe.