Annapurna Ashtotharam

Annapurna Ashtotharam

Translated By

P.R.Ramachander

(Goddess Annapurna, called as Annada In Bengali is a form of goddess Parvathi. There are two stories about the reason for  her taking this form.

1.      It seems once Lord Shiva told his consort Goddess  Parvathi  that Food is an illusion  and not a necessity. Being the nourisher and food giver people, Goddess  Parvathi  got upset and disappeared . Then the entire world began to starve .The Goddess  who is the mother of all   could not see the people starving and appeared in the form of Goddess Annapurna in Varanasi   and started supplying food for all . All the world rushed there  and Lord Shiva was one of them who  took fod from her.

2.      Lord Shiva once got attracted by the   wives  of saints of Dharuka forest  an the infuriated  sages  cursed that  he would have to beg. To  avoid her husband begging from  others the Goddess  Parvathi  took the form of Annapurna   and g gave alms   to her own husband.

  In spite of being a goddess  of plenty , there are  very few temples dedicated to her in India.Ofcourse  the most famous is the one  in  Varanasi. The next great one   is in Horanadu   in the middle of the western Ghats in the state of Karnataka. In this temple unless  her devotees   are fed in the evening the Goddess  does not accept  the worship of the priests, There is another Annapurneswari temple in Cherukunnu in Kerala . There are few temples dedicated to her in Madhya Pradesh(umiya matha)   and in Rajashthan (Asha pura Matha) .She is normally seen  with red complexion , full moon face, three eyes, four hands, with one holding a ladle  for serving food.

There is a very soulful prayer addressed to her composed by Adhi Sankara called  Annapurnashtakam, where  the Acharya   ends each verse by requesting her

                                     Please give me alms,
                                     Ocean of kindness and compassion.

There is another great  prayer  called Kamakshya   Annapurna Girija Daskam   Where each verse God Shiva asks   his wife Girija for alms saying that  he is hungry . The second verse is

“I am hungry  , so please    give me  alms  , Oh Girija ,

Who is wearing crown  , garlands  , bangles   on  her  limbs,

Ear ornaments, girdle  and ornaments and shining cloth,

And holding the golden ladle   full of curd rice   in her hands.”

What a great scene? The lord of all the universe   here is asking the  Daughter of mountain for aims.

   The names of the ashtothara that slight differences with what is available on line.)

1.Om Anna-purnayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who fills our need for food
2.Om Shivayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the   consort of Lord Shiva
3.Om Devyai namah-Salutations to the goddess
4.Om Bheemayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who  has a huge form
6.Om Pushtyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who grants health
7.Om Sasvatyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is permanent
8.Om Sarva-jnanayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who knows everything
9.Om Parvatyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the daughter  of the mountain
10.Om Durgayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is Durga   who is difficult  to attain
11.Om Sarvanyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the consort of Shiva
12,Om Shiva-vallabhayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the wife of Lord shiva
13.Om Veda-vedyayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is studied by Vedas
14,Om Maha-vidyayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is great knowledge
15.Om Vidya-datryai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who gives knowledge
16. Om Visharadayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is an  expert in all knowledge
17.Om Kumaryai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the maid
18.Om Tripurayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the three  cities
19,Om Balayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who  is a young lady
20.Om Lakshmyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is Goddess Lakshmi
21,Om Bhaya-harinyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is remover of fear
22.Om Bhavanyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is Bhavani
23,Om Vishnu-jananyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is mother of Vishnu
24.Om Bramhadi-jananyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who  is mother of Brahma and others
25. Om Ganesha jananyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the mother of Ganesa
26.Om Shakthyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the strength behind all
27.Om Kumara-jananyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the mother of Subrahmanya
28.Om Shubhayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is auspecious
29. Om Bhoga-pradayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who gives  enjoyment

30.Om Bhagavatyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is BHagawathi the giver of luck
31.Om Bhakta-abheeshta-pradayeinyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who fulfills the desires of devotees
32.Om Bhava-roga-harayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who cures diease of birth cycle
Om Bhavyayai namah
33. Om Shubrayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is clean and pure
34, Om Parama-mangalayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is divine auspiciousness
35,Om Bhavayayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is pious
36.Om Chamchalayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is   not stable
37. Om Gauryai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is Goddess Gauri
38,Om Charu-chandra-kala-dharayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who wears the pretty crescent of the moon
39,Om Vishalaksyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who  is the broad eyed one
40,Om Vishwa-matayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the mother of universe
41.Om Vishwa-vandyayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is saluted by the universe
42,Om Vilasinyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   whois charming and lovely
43,Om Aaryayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the gentle lady

44,Om Kalyana-nilayayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who  is auspeciousness

45,Om Rudranyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is consort of Rudra
46,Om Kamalasanayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who sits on lotus
47. Om Shubha-pradayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who does good
48.Om Shubhayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is good
49.Om Anantayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is endless
50.Om  vrutta peena-payo-dharayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has fat and round breasts
51. Om Ambayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the mother
52.Om Samhara madanyai  namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is exuberant to kill
53.Om Mrudanyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is Goddess Parvathi
54. Om Sarva-mangalayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is all auspiciousness
55.Om Vishnu samsevitayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is being served  by Vishnu
56,Om Sidhayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is divinely powerful
57. Om Bramhanyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is Goddess  Saraswathi
58.Om Sura-sevitayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is served by  devas
59.Om Paramanandayai namah-Salutations to the goddess  who is   divinely happy
60,Om Shantyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is peaceful
61. Om Paramananda-rupinyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has the form of divine joy
62, Om Paramananda jananyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the divinely happy mother
63. Om Paramnanda pradayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who makes others divinely happy
64,Om Paropakara niratayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is busy in helping others
65. Om Paramayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the greatest
66.Om Bhakta-vathsalayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who loves her devotees
67.Om Purna-chandrabha vadanayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has a face like full moon
68. Om Purna-chandra nibhamshukayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has upper garment resembling full mon
69.Om Shubha-lakshana sampannayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is full of good   signs

70.Om shubhananda gunarnavai  namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the sea of  pure joy
71.Om Shubha-soubhagya-nilayayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has  pure good luck
72.,Om Shubha-dayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who grants auspeciousness
73.Om Rathi-priyayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who likes making love
74.Om Chandikayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the killer of Chanda
75. Om Chanda-mardinayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who destroyed Chanda
76, Om Chanda-darpa-nivarinyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who stifled the pride of Chanda
77. Om Martanda-nayanayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has sun as her eyes
78. Om Sadviyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is pious
79. Om Chandragni-nayanayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has moon and fire as her eyes
80. Om Satyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is Goddess Sathi
81. Om Pundareeka-harayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who wears a lotus garland
82. Om Purnayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is complete
83.Om Punya-dayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who gives blessings
84.Om Punya-rupinyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has blessed form
85.Om Mayatheetayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is beyond illusion
86.Om Shreshta-mayayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the great illusion
87. Om Shreshta-dharmatma-vanditayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is saluted by souls practicing great  Dharma
88. Om Asrushtyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who was not created
89.Om Sanka-rahitayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who does not have any doubt
90.Om Srushti-hetave - namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the cause of creation

91.Om Kabardinyai  namah --Salutations to the goddess   who  wears  the headless bodies
92.Om Vrusharudayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who rides on a bull
93.Om Shula-hastayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has a trident in her hand
94. Om Sthithi samhara karinyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who looks after and destroys
95.Om Mandasmitayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is smiling
96. Om Skanda-mathre namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is   the mother of Lord Subramanya
97.Om Shudha-chittayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has a pure mind
98.Om Muni-stutayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is prayed by   sages
99.Om Maha-bhagavatyai namah-Salutations to the great  goddess
100. Om Dakshayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is alert
101. Om Daksha-dhvara-vinashinyai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who destroyed fire sacrifice of Daksha
102. Om Sarvarthha datryai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who gives all types of wealth
103.Om Savitryai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is SAvithrio
104. Om Sada-shiva-kutumbinyai namah -Salutations to the goddess   who is the wife of Sadashiva
105.Om Nitya sundara sarvaga namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has a perennially pretty body
106. Om Sachidananda lakshanayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who has all properties of divine joy
107.Om Sarva-devata sampujyayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is worshipped by all devas
108.Om Shankara-priya-vallabhayai namah-Salutations to the goddess   who is the darling wife  of Shiva.