Vedic · Sanskrit
Annapurna Stotra Opening (Annapoorne Sadapoorne)
अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे। ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वति॥
Pronunciation: ahn-nah-poor-neh · sah-dah-poor-neh · shun-kah-rah-prahn-ah-vahl-lah-bheh · / · gyahn-vai-rahg-yah-sid-dhyahr-tum · bhik-shahm · deh-hee · cha · pahr-vah-tee
Translation: O Annapurna, ever-full, beloved of Shiva's life-breath, for the attainment of knowledge and dispassion, give me alms, O Parvati.
The opening verse of the Annapurna Stotra — the central hymn to the goddess of food and nourishment. Recited before meals and for blessings of sustenance in Hindu households globally.
What this mantra is
The Annapurna Stotra is among the most beloved and widely-recited Hindu hymns. Annapurna is Parvati in her aspect as the goddess of food — the cosmic mother who feeds all beings. The famous mythological story has Shiva himself coming to her as a beggar asking for food, establishing the principle that food (anna) is itself divine and that the goddess in her food-providing form is paramount.
The stotra is recited before meals (the practice of food prayers being well-established in Hindu households), in kitchens during cooking, in temples that distribute prasad (blessed food offerings), in homes asking for sustained provision, and in moments of food-scarcity asking for the goddess's blessing of nourishment.
The famous opening line — Annapoorne Sadapoorne Shankarapranavallabhe — establishes Annapurna as ever-full (sadapoorne) and as beloved of Shiva's prana (life-breath). The stotra continues with verses praising her cosmic role and asking for spiritual nourishment.
Major Annapurna temples include the Annapurna Devi Mandir in Varanasi (one of the most important Annapurna shrines, where the goddess is the central deity), and various regional Annapurna temples across India. The Varanasi shrine is particularly powerful — Varanasi being Shiva's city, where the goddess in her food-providing form ensures that no being in the sacred city ever goes hungry.
For non-Hindu practitioners, the stotra is appropriate for engagement with respect, particularly as a food-prayer before meals.
Meaning
The opening verse of the Annapurna Stotra — the central hymn to Annapurna, the goddess of food and nourishment. Annapurna is a form of Parvati (Shiva's consort) in her aspect as the giver of food, who feeds all beings without distinction. The opening verse establishes the practitioner's posture as that of a humble beggar (bhikshu) before the cosmic mother who feeds all — asking for spiritual nourishment (jnana = knowledge, vairagya = dispassion) rather than material plenty.
History
The Annapurna Stotra in its full form is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE), though firm attribution is uncertain. The text has been continuously chanted in Hindu devotional tradition for at least 1,000 years.
The Annapurna mythology comes from various Puranic sources. Major Annapurna temples include the Varanasi Annapurna Devi Mandir (with continuous worship for at least 800 years) and various regional centers.
In modern Hindu practice, the stotra is among the most universally-recited household prayers. Hindi households across India and the global diaspora include Annapurna prayers in daily life — before meals, during cooking, in moments of gratitude for sustenance.
Associated deity / focus
Annapurna — Parvati in her aspect as the goddess of food and nourishment; depicted holding a bowl of food and a ladle, ready to feed all beings; the deity who ensures that no one goes hungry, the cosmic mother in her sustaining function
How to use it
Sit upright before the meal or kitchen. Three slow breaths.
Before meals: recite the opening verse (Annapoorne Sadapoorne...) once, with the food before you. The brief recitation takes ~15 seconds and provides daily contact with the goddess of nourishment.
During cooking: many Hindu cooks recite Annapurna verses during food preparation, holding the cooking-process as a sacred act and inviting the goddess's blessing into the food.
Full stotra practice: the complete Annapurna Stotra is short (~5-7 verses) and takes 2-3 minutes to recite. Daily full recitation is appropriate for practitioners with food-related work, during seasons of food-scarcity, or as broader devotional practice.
For specific need: in moments of genuine food-scarcity, recitation with sincere petition is the traditional appeal. Hindu households facing financial difficulty often maintain Annapurna practice as part of their broader resilience.
Best time
Before every meal is the most universal practice. Friday and Tuesday have particular Annapurna associations. The autumn full moon (Sharad Purnima) is associated with Annapurna in some traditions. The harvest festivals (Pongal, Onam, Lohri, etc.) are also auspicious for extended Annapurna practice.
Benefits
Traditionally: ensures abundant food and nourishment; protects from hunger; supports the household's food-related dharma (cooking, hospitality, generosity to those in need); brings the goddess's specific blessing of sustenance.
In lived practice: practitioners maintaining daily Annapurna practice often describe a particular quality of relationship with food — more gratitude before meals, more attention to food as sacred rather than merely fuel, more generosity in sharing food with others.
Cultural context
Annapurna practice is universally welcomed in Hindu tradition. Respectful practice: treat food as sacred, support food-related charities (the langar tradition in Sikhism is particularly aligned with Annapurna's spirit), avoid wasting food. The cosmic mother who feeds all beings expects her practitioners to participate in feeding others.
FAQ
Should I recite this before every meal?
If you want to develop the practice, yes — the brief opening verse before meals is the most established Annapurna practice. The recitation takes ~15 seconds and provides daily contact with the food-providing goddess. Many Hindu households maintain this practice consistently across generations. For non-Hindu practitioners, food prayers are appropriate across many traditions; the Annapurna verse is one accessible form.
What is Annapurna's relationship to Parvati?
Annapurna is Parvati in her food-providing aspect. The same goddess (consort of Shiva) takes various forms for various functions — Parvati as the gentle householder goddess, Durga as the warrior, Kali in her fierce form, Annapurna as the food-provider. All are aspects of the same cosmic feminine. The Annapurna form specifically addresses the food-providing function.
Why is Shiva depicted as a beggar to her?
The famous mythological story: Shiva, in his ascetic transcendence, dismisses the material world as illusion. Parvati responds by withdrawing her food-providing function from the cosmos. All beings begin to suffer hunger. Even Shiva himself eventually comes to Parvati as a beggar asking for food, establishing that even the supreme transcendent deity depends on the cosmic mother's nourishing function. The story affirms that food (anna) and the act of feeding are themselves divine, not lower-order material concerns.
Is this related to charity or feeding the poor?
Yes, substantially. Annapurna practice traditionally extends beyond personal food-blessing to include feeding others — the cosmic mother who feeds all beings expects her practitioners to participate in that feeding. Many Hindu temples maintain food-distribution programs (annadana) as Annapurna practice. The Sikh langar tradition (free communal meals) is similarly aligned. Practitioners maintaining Annapurna practice are often called to support food-related charities.
Can non-Hindus use this prayer?
Yes — food prayers are universal across traditions, and the Annapurna verse is appropriate for cross-cultural practice. Practice with respect: learn what Annapurna actually represents, treat food as sacred rather than merely fuel, support food-related charity. The cosmic mother who feeds all beings welcomes sincere practice across cultural lines.