Annapūrṇāstotram

Hymn to Annapūrṇā

 Introduction

This is the Annapūrṇāstotram or «Hymn to Annapūrṇā». The most venerable Śaṅkarācārya was the author of this hymn, as you surely know.

The name of this goddess literally means «Anna-pūrṇā» or «food-full of», that is, «the One who is full of food». This goddess is a form assumed by the consort of Lord Śiva, that is, the goddess Pārvatī. She is considered as the one who nourishes all beings. Then, this hymn is sung so that the goddess never becomes angry, as she once did with the Earth, and stops supplying the food that beings need on this small and insignificant planet of an insignificant planetary system whose sun is also insignificant. In short, the goal of reciting this hymn is to keep the goddess pleased so that we can continue living one more day here with our bodies physically. From a metaphysical point of view, this goddess also nourishes our souls with Her blessings.

According to tradition, Śiva maintained that everything material, including the food that humans consume, was merely an illusion (māyā). Pārvatī, who governs the material aspects and nutrition, felt offended by this statement and decided to demonstrate to him the importance of her work. To that end, Pārvatī withdrew from the world. When she disappeared, so did every source of food. The Earth was plunged into darkness, and hunger began to afflict all beings, including the gods. Faced with widespread suffering, Śiva realized his mistake and prayed for the return of his consort.

Pārvatī then reappeared in the sacred city of Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) in the form of the goddess Annapūrṇā, establishing a kitchen of infinite abundance to feed all hungry creatures. Śiva, as a humble beggar holding an empty bowl, approached her to ask for alms and forgiveness. Upon receiving food from her hands, he recognized that nourishment and the grace of the Mother are sacred realities that even he needs.

Now read the Annapūrṇāstotram and experience Supreme Delight, dear Śiva.

Important: Everything that is between parentheses and in italics within the translation has been added by me to complete the sense of a given phrase or sentence. In turn, everything that is between double hyphens (--...--) constitutes additional clarifying information also added by me.

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 Annapūrṇāstotram

नित्यानन्दकरी वराभयकरी सौन्दर्यरत्नाकरी
निर्धूताखिलघोरपावनकरी प्रत्यक्षमाहेश्वरी।
प्रालेयाचलवंशपावनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी॥१॥
Nityānandakarī varābhayakarī saundaryaratnākarī
nirdhūtākhilaghorapāvanakarī pratyakṣamāheśvarī|
Prāleyācalavaṁśapāvanakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī||1||

The One Who produces Eternal Bliss (nitya-ānanda-karī), the One Who produces boons and absence of fear (vara-abhaya-karī), the One Who produces an ocean of Beauty (saundarya-ratnā-karī), the One Who produces the purification of all poisons in the tormented (nirdhūta-akhila-ghora-pāvana-karī), the Goddess of the Great Lord who is before one's own eyes (pratyakṣa-māheśvarī), the One Who produces the purification of the lineage of the Himalayas --that is, of Himavān, the king of such a mountain range-- (prāleya-acala-vaṁśa-pāvana-karī). The Supreme Lady of the city of Kāśī --present-day Benares-- (kāśī-pura-adhīśvarī), the One Who produces support through Compassion (kṛpā-avalambana-karī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī). Grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||1||

नानारत्नविचित्रभूषणकरी हेमाम्बराडम्बरी
मुक्ताहारविलम्बमानविलसद्वक्षोजकुम्भान्तरी।
काश्मीरागरुवासिता रुचिकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी॥२॥
Nānāratnavicitrabhūṣaṇakarī hemāmbarāḍambarī
muktāhāravilambamānavilasadvakṣojakumbhāntarī|
Kāśmīrāgaruvāsitā rucikarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī||2||

The One Who produces a wonderful decoration with multiple gems (nānā-ratna-vicitra-bhūṣaṇa-karī), the One Who is endowed with a sublimity of golden garments (hema-ambara-āḍambarī), the One Who has near Her chest a pot and a string of pearls that hangs playfully --the Sanskrit is very far-fetched here-- (muktāhāra-vilambamāna-vilasat-vakṣoja-kumbha-antarī), the One Who is perfumed with the fragrant aloe of Kashmir (kāśmīra-agaru-vāsitā), the One Who causes pleasure (ruci-karī). The Supreme Lady of the city of Kāśī --present-day Benares-- (kāśī-pura-adhīśvarī), the One Who produces support through Compassion (kṛpā-avalambana-karī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī). Grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||2||

योगानन्दकरी रिपुक्षयकरी धर्मार्थनिष्ठाकरी
चन्द्रार्कानलभासमानलहरी त्रैलोक्यरक्षाकरी।
सर्वैश्वर्यसमस्तवाञ्छितकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी॥३॥
Yogānandakarī ripukṣayakarī dharmārthaniṣṭhākarī
candrārkānalabhāsamānalaharī trailokyarakṣākarī|
Sarvaiśvaryasamastavāñchitakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī||3||

The One Who produces the Bliss of Yoga (yoga-ānanda-karī), the One Who causes the destruction of enemies (ripu-kṣaya-karī), the One Who produces dedication/application to dharma and to wealth (dharma-artha-niṣṭhā-karī), the One Who is a Wave that appears brilliantly as moon, sun and fire (candra-arka-anala-bhāsamāna-laharī), the One Who protects the three worlds (trailokya-rakṣā-karī), the One Who generates all sovereignty and all that has been desired (sarva-aiśvarya-samasta-vāñchita-karī). The Supreme Lady of the city of Kāśī --present-day Benares-- (kāśī-pura-adhīśvarī), the One Who produces support through Compassion (kṛpā-avalambana-karī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī). Grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||3||

कैलासाचलकन्दरालयकरी गौरी उमा शङ्करी
कौमारी निगमार्थगोचरकरी ओङ्कारबीजाक्षरी।
मोक्षद्वारकपाटपाटनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी॥४॥
Kailāsācalakandarālayakarī gaurī umā śaṅkarī
kaumārī nigamārthagocarakarī oṅkārabījākṣarī|
Mokṣadvārakapāṭapāṭanakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī||4||

The One Who makes Her Abode in a cave of mount Kailāsa (kailāsa-acala-kandara-ālaya-karī), Gaurī (gaurī), Umā (umā), Śaṅkarī (śaṅkarī), Kaumārī (kaumārī), the One Who makes perceptible the meaning of the Veda-s (nigama-artha-gocara-karī), the One Who is the seed syllable «Om̐» (om-kāra-bīja-akṣarī), the One Who bursts open the leaf of the door to Liberation (mokṣa-dvāra-kapāṭa-pāṭana-karī). The Supreme Lady of the city of Kāśī --present-day Benares-- (kāśī-pura-adhīśvarī), the One Who produces support through Compassion (kṛpā-avalambana-karī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī). Grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||4||

दृश्यादृश्यविभूतिवाहनकरी ब्रह्माण्डभाण्डोदरी
लीलानाटकसूत्रभेदनकरी विज्ञानदीपाङ्कुरी।
श्रीविश्वेशमनःप्रसादनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी॥५॥
Dṛśyādṛśyavibhūtivāhanakarī brahmāṇḍabhāṇḍodarī
līlānāṭakasūtrabhedanakarī vijñānadīpāṅkurī|
Śrīviśveśamanaḥprasādanakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī||5||

The One Who produces the vehicles for visible and invisible powers (dṛśya-adṛśya-vibhūti-vāhana-karī), Whose belly is a vessel (that contains) the egg of Brahmā (brahma-aṇḍa-bhāṇḍa-udarī), the One Who cuts the thread of the drama of the Divine Play (līlā-nāṭaka-sūtra-bhedana-karī), the One Who is the Flame of the lamp of Knowledge (vijñāna-dīpa-aṅkurī), the One Who calms and gratifies the Mind of the venerable Lord of the universe (śrī-viśva-īśa-manas-prasādana-karī). The Supreme Lady of the city of Kāśī --present-day Benares-- (kāśī-pura-adhīśvarī), the One Who produces support through Compassion (kṛpā-avalambana-karī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī). Grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||5||

उर्वी सर्वजनेश्वरी भगवती मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी
वेणीनीलसमानकुन्तलधरी नित्यान्नदानेश्वरी।
सर्वानन्दकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी॥६॥
Urvī sarvajaneśvarī bhagavatī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī
veṇīnīlasamānakuntaladharī nityānnadāneśvarī|
Sarvānandakarī sadā śubhakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī||6||

(She is) the Earth (urvī), the Lady of all people (sarva-jana-īśvarī), the Fortunate One --also «the Consort of the Lord»-- (bhagavatī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī), the One Who has dark uniform hair with braids (veṇī-nīla-samāna-kuntala-dharī), the Lady of constant gifts of food (nitya-anna-dāna-īśvarī), the One Who produces all Bliss (sarva-ānanda-karī), the One who always produces auspicious things (sadā śubha-karī). The Supreme Lady of the city of Kāśī --present-day Benares-- (kāśī-pura-adhīśvarī), the One Who produces support through Compassion (kṛpā-avalambana-karī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī). Grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||6||

आदिक्षान्तसमस्तवर्णनकरी शम्भोस्त्रिभावाकरी
काश्मीरा त्रिजलेश्वरी त्रिलहरी नित्याङ्कुरा शर्वरी।
कामाकाङ्क्षकरी जनोदयकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी॥७॥
Ādikṣāntasamastavarṇanakarī śambhostribhāvākarī
kāśmīrā trijaleśvarī trilaharī nityāṅkurā śarvarī|
Kāmākāṅkṣakarī janodayakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī||7||

The One who manufactures all letters --although «varṇana» literally means «description, explanation»-- from «a» to «kṣa» (a-ādi-kṣa-anta-samasta-varṇana-karī), the One Who scatters the three states --sattva, rajas and tamas-- (tri-bhāva-ākarī) of Śambhu (śambhoḥ), the One Who is from Kashmir --or «the One Who is like saffron», it refers to Her color-- (kāśmīrā), the Lady of the three waters --the three Powers of Will, Knowledge and Action-- (tri-jala-īśvarī), the One Who is (similar to) three waves (tri-laharī), the One Who is always a sprout (nitya-aṅkurā), the Woman Who is like the night --I translated it this way because «śarvarī» means both «woman» and «night»-- (śarvarī), the One Who carries out the intention of desires --She materializes desires-- (kāma-ākāṅkṣa-karī), the One Who produces the elevation of people (jana-udaya-karī). The Supreme Lady of the city of Kāśī --present-day Benares-- (kāśī-pura-adhīśvarī), the One Who produces support through Compassion (kṛpā-avalambana-karī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī). Grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||7||

देवी सर्वविचित्ररत्नरचिता दाक्षायणी सुन्दरी
वामे स्वादुपयोधरा प्रियकरी सौभाग्यमाहेश्वरी।
भक्ताभीष्टकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी॥८॥
Devī sarvavicitraratnaracitā dākṣāyaṇī sundarī
vāme svādupayodharā priyakarī saubhāgyamāheśvarī|
Bhaktābhīṣṭakarī sadā śubhakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī||8||

The Goddess (devī) Who is all studded with gems of many colors (sarva-vicitra-ratna-racitā), the Beautiful (sundarī) Daughter of Dakṣa (dākṣāyaṇī), the One Who holds sweet milk (svādu-payas-dharā) on (Her) left (vāme), the One Who gives pleasure (priya-karī), the Lady of the Great Lord (Who brings) prosperity and well-being (saubhāgya-māheśvarī), the One Who fulfills what has been desired by (Her) devotees (bhakta-abhīṣṭa-karī), the One Who always generates good fortune (sadā śubha-karī). The Supreme Lady of the city of Kāśī --present-day Benares-- (kāśī-pura-adhīśvarī), the One Who produces support through Compassion (kṛpā-avalambana-karī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī). Grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||8||

चन्द्रार्कानलकोटिकोटिसदृशा चन्द्रांशुबिम्बाधरी
चन्द्रार्काग्निसमानकुण्डलधरी चन्द्रार्कवर्णेश्वरी।
मालापुस्तकपाशसाङ्कुशधरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी॥९॥
Candrārkānalakoṭikoṭisadṛśā candrāṁśubimbādharī
candrārkāgnisamānakuṇḍaladharī candrārkavarṇeśvarī|
Mālāpustakapāśasāṅkuśadharī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī||9||

The One Who is similar to millions and millions of moons, suns and fires (candra-arka-anala-koṭi-koṭi-sadṛśā), the One Who sustains the reflections of the moon rays (candra-aṁśu-bimba-ādharī), the One Who wears homogeneous earrings (shining like) the moon, the sun and the fire (candra-arka-agni-samāna-kuṇḍala-dharī), the Lady Who has the colors of the moon and the sun (candra-arka-varṇa-īśvarī), the One Who holds a rosary, a book, a noose and a goad (mālā-pustaka-pāśa-sa-aṅkuśa-dharī). The Supreme Lady of the city of Kāśī --present-day Benares-- (kāśī-pura-adhīśvarī), the One Who produces support through Compassion (kṛpā-avalambana-karī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī). Grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||9||

क्षत्रत्राणकरी महाभयकरी माता कृपासागरी
साक्षान्मोक्षकरी सदा शिवकरी विश्वेश्वरी श्रीधरी।
दक्षाक्रन्दकरी निरामयकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी॥१०॥
Kṣatratrāṇakarī mahābhayakarī mātā kṛpāsāgarī
sākṣānmokṣakarī sadā śivakarī viśveśvarī śrīdharī|
Dakṣākrandakarī nirāmayakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī||10||

The One Who protects the kṣatriya-s --those belonging to the military and ruling caste-- (kṣatra-trāṇa-karī), the One Who produces great absence of fear (mahā-abhaya-karī), the Mother (mātā) Who is an Ocean of Compassion (kṛpā-sāgarī), the One Who generates Liberation directly (sākṣāt-mokṣa-karī), the One Who is always Auspicious --or «the One Who always produces Favorability»-- (sadā śiva-karī), the Lady of the universe (viśva-īśvarī), the Possessor of Fortune (śrī-dharī), the One Who makes Dakṣa cry (dakṣa-ākranda-karī), the One Who generates health --absence of disease-- (nirāmaya-karī). The Supreme Lady of the city of Kāśī --present-day Benares-- (kāśī-pura-adhīśvarī), the One Who produces support through Compassion (kṛpā-avalambana-karī), the Mother (mātā), the Lady Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā īśvarī). Grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||10||

अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे।
ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वति॥११॥
Annapūrṇe sadāpūrṇe śaṅkaraprāṇavallabhe|
Jñānavairāgyasiddhyarthaṁ bhikṣāṁ dehi ca pārvati||11||

O Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇe), You are always Full (sadā-pūrṇe), You are the Beloved and the Life of Śaṅkara (śaṅkara-prāṇa-vallabhe)! And (ca), to attain dispassion and Knowledge (jñāna-vairāgya-siddhi-artham), O Pārvatī (pārvati), grant (dehi) a boon (bhikṣām)!||11||

माता मे पार्वती देवी पिता देवो महेश्वरः।
बान्धवाः शिवभक्ताश्च स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयम्॥१२॥
Mātā me pārvatī devī pitā devo maheśvaraḥ|
Bāndhavāḥ śivabhaktāśca svadeśo bhuvanatrayam||12||

My (me) Mother (mātā) (is) the Goddess (devī) Pārvatī (pārvatī), (my) Father (pitā) (is) the God (devaḥ) Maheśvara (mahā-īśvaraḥ), (my) relatives (bāndhavāḥ) (are) the devotees of Śiva (śiva-bhaktāḥ), and (ca) my country (sva-deśaḥ) (is) the three worlds (bhuvana-trayam)||12||

॥इति श्रीशङ्करभगवतः कृतावन्नपूर्णास्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम्॥
||Iti śrīśaṅkarabhagavataḥ kṛtāvannapūrṇāstotraṁ sampūrṇam||

Thus (iti), in the work (kṛtau) of the venerable lord Śaṅkara --that is, «of the venerable Śaṅkarācārya»-- (śrī-śaṅkara-bhagavataḥ), the hymn to Annapūrṇā (annapūrṇā-stotram) is complete (sampūrṇam)||

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This document was conceived by Gabriel Pradīpaka, one of the two founders of this site, and spiritual guru conversant with Sanskrit language and Trika philosophy.

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