Ruminations

by Sandeep Nangia

Annapurna Stotra

श्रीशङ्कराचर्यविरचितम् अन्नपूर्णास्तोत्रम्

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

[You are] the bestower of eternal happiness, giver of boons and fearlessness, ocean of beauty, purifier of all terrible sins, verily the consort of Shiva, one who purified the lineage of Himalaya, supreme Deity of the city of Kashi, provider of the support of compassion, Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity. Give me alms.

Notes: नित्य-आनन्द-करी bestower of eternal happiness, वर-अभय-करी bestower of boons and fearlessness, सौन्दर्य-रत्नाकरी ocean of beauty (रत्न-आकर the source of gems i.e. ocean), निर्धूत-अखिल-घोर-पावन-करी One who shakes off all sins and purifies them (निर्धूत = shaken off) प्रत्यक्ष-माहेश्वरी verily the Shakti of Shiva प्रालेय-अचल-वंश-पावन-करी one who purified the lineage of प्रालेय(snow)-अचल (mountain) i.e. Himalaya, काशी-पुर-अधीश्वरी the supreme Deity of the city of Kashi, भिक्षाम् alms देहि give कृपा-अवलम्बन-करी provider of the support of compassion माता-अन्न-पूर्णा-ईश्वरी Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity.


नानारत्नविचित्रभूषणकरी हेमाम्बराडम्बरी मुक्ताहारविलम्बमानविलसद्वक्षोजकुम्भान्तरी ।
काश्मीरागरुवासिता रुचिकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥२॥

[You are] wearing brilliant ornaments of various gems, adorned with gold (laced) clothes, one whose space between the breasts shines the elongated necklace of pearls, perfumed with saffron and agar, the cause of splendor, supreme Deity of the city of Kashi, provider of the support of compassion, Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity, give me alms.

Notes: नाना-रत्न-विचित्र-भूषण-करी Wearing brilliant ornaments made of various gems हेम-अम्बर-आडम्बरी adorned with gold (laced) clothes मुक्ता-हार-विलम्बमान-विलसत्-वक्षोज-कुम्भ-अन्तरी one whose space between the breasts shines with the elongated necklace of pearls काश्मीर-अगरु-वासिता perfumed/decorated with saffron and agar (Aquilaria Agallocha) रुचिकरी the cause of splendor or beauty काशी-पुराधीश्वरी the supreme Deity of the city of Kashi भिक्षां alms देहि give कृपा-अवलम्बन-करी provider of the support of compassion माता-अन्न-पूर्णा-ईश्वरी Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity.


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

Giver of the bliss of yoga, destroyer of the enemies, giver of the steadiness to dharma, one who is like the waves of the beams of light of moon, sun and fire, preserver of the three worlds, provider of all powers and desires, supreme Deity of the city of Kashi, provider of the support of compassion, Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity, give me alms.

Notes: योग-आनन्द-करी giver of the bliss of yoga रिपु-क्षय-करी destroyer of the enemies धर्म-अर्थ-निष्ठा-करी giver of the steadiness towards dharma चन्द्र-अर्क-अनल-भा-समान-लहरी one who is a wave of beam of light like moon, sun and fire त्रैलोक्य-रक्षा-करी the preserver of the three worlds सर्व-ऐश्वर्य-समस्त-वाञ्छित-करी provider of all powers and desires काशी-पुर-अधीश्वरी supreme Deity of the city of Kashi भिक्षाम् alms देहि give कृपा-अवलम्बन-करी provider of the support of compassion माता-अन्न-पूर्ण-ईश्वरी Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity.


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

Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity, the supreme Deity of city of Kashi, residing in the caves of Mount Kailash, Gauri, Uma, verily, the consort of Shankara, (ever) youthful, one who makes us understand the meaning of Vedas, one who is of the form of bija mantra OM, one who breaks the door panel to emancipation, one who provides the support of compassion, give me alms.

Notes: कैलास-अचल-कन्दरा-आलय-करी One residing in the caves of the Mount Kailas गौरी Gauri हि verily, indeed उमा Uma, a name of Parvati (the name Uma is said to be derived from उ मा, "O [child] , do not [practise austerities]" the exclamation addressed to पार्वती by her mother) शङ्करी consort of Shankara कौमारी (ever) youthful निगम-अर्थ-गोचर-करी one who makes (us) understand the meaning of Vedas ओङ्कार-बीज-अक्षरी one who is of the form of the bija mantra OM मोक्ष-द्वार-कपाट-पाटन-करी one who breaks the door panel to emancipation काशी-पुर-अधीश्वरी supreme Deity of the city of Kashi भिक्षाम् alms देहि give कृपा-अवलम्बन-करी provider of the support of compassion माता-अन्न-पूर्णा-ईश्वरी Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity.


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

Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity, provider of the support of compassion, the supreme Deity of Kashi, you purify the many visible and invisible objects, you carry the treasure of the universe in your womb, destroyer of the sporting play (of the world), the igniter of the lamp of knowledge, you make Shiva happy, give me alms.

Notes: दृश्य-अदृश्य-प्रभूत-पावन-करी one who purifies the numerous visible and invisible objects ब्रह्म-अण्ड-भाण्ड-उदरी one who carries the treasure of the primordial egg in her womb लीला-नाटक-सूत्र-भेदन-करी destroyer of the sporting play (of the world) विज्ञान-दीप-अङ्कुरी the cause of the lamp of knowledge श्री-विश्व-ईश-मनः-प्रसादन-करी one who makes the mind of विश्वेश (Lord of the world - Shiva) happy काशी-पुर-अधीश्वरी supreme Deity of the city of Kashi भिक्षाम् alms देहि give कृपा-अवलम्बन-करी provider of the support of compassion माता-अन्न-पूर्णा-ईश्वरी Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity.


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

Mother Annapurna, (you are) the supreme Deity, the mistress of all the people of earth, (you) are the Goddress, Mother, the Supreme mistress Annapurna, you carry your braided lock of hair which is like the sapphire, you are always the mistress who is the giver of food, always the giver of bliss, always auspicious. You are the supreme Deity of Kashi, provider of the support of compassion. Give me alms.

Notes: उर्वी-सर्व-जन-ईश्वरी the mistress of all of the people of earth भगवती Goddess माता Mother अन्न-पूर्णा-ईश्वरी Supreme mistress Annapurna वेणी-नील-समान-कुन्तल-हरी carrying the braided lock of hair which is like the sapphire (a blue gem) नित्य-अन्न-दान-ईश्वरी always the mistress/goddess who is the giver of food सर्व-आनन्द-करी always the giver of bliss सदा-शुभ-करी always auspicious काशी-पुर-अधीश्वरी supreme Deity of the city of Kashi भिक्षाम् alms देहि give कृपा-अवलम्बन-करी provider of the support of compassion माता-अन्न-पूर्णा-ईश्वरी Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity.


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

Mother Annapurna, you are descriptive of everything that is described by all the letters, you are the origin of the three states of Shiva, you are of the color of saffron, the mistress of the three kinds of creatures, you are one with three waves of creation, preservation and destruction. You are the eternal cause, of the form of darkness, the generator of desires, the cause of the rise of men. You are the supreme Deity of the city of Kashi, the provider of the support of compassion. Give me alms.

Notes: अ-आदि-क्ष-अन्त-समस्त-वर्णन-करी descriptive of everything from अ to क्ष (i.e. all letters) शम्भोः Shiva's त्रि-भाव-आकरी origin of the three states (i.e. creation, preservation, destruction) काश्मीरा of the color of saffron त्रि-जन-ईश्वरी the mistress of the three kinds of creatures (those in heaven, earth and the nether regions) त्रि-लहरी one who has three waves (creation, preservation and destruction) नित्य-अङ्कुरा the eternal cause शर्वरी of the form of darkness (during destruction) काम-आकाङ्क्ष-करी the generator of desires (in people) जन-उदयकरी the cause of the rise of men काशी-पुर-अधीश्वरी supreme Deity of the city of Kashi भिक्षाम् alms देहि give कृपा-अवलम्बन-करी provider of the support of compassion माता-अन्न-पूर्णा-ईश्वरी Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity.


दर्वी स्वर्णविचित्ररत्नखचिता दक्षे करे संस्थिता वामे स्वादुपयोधरी सहचरी सौभाग्यमाहेश्वरी ।
भक्ताभीष्टकरी दॄशा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥८॥

Mother Annapurna, you are the supreme Deity, you hold a spoon studded with gold and manifold gems in your right hand and in your left hand you hold a pot with (thickened) milk, you are the ordainer of fortune, the doer of desired things for the devotees, the doer of auspicious things just by casting your glance, you are the supreme Deity of the city of Kashi, the provider of the support of compassion. Please give me alms.

Notes: दर्वी spoon स्वर्ण-विचित्र-रत्न-खचिता studded with gold and various gems दक्षे (in) right करे (in) hand संस्थिता lying वामे in the left स्वादु-पयः-धरा holding the savory (thickened) milk सहचरी friend (of spoon) i.e. a pot सौभाग्य-माहेश्वरी the ordainer of fortune भक्त-अभीष्ट-करी doer of desired things for the devotee दॄशा through the sight शुभकरी doer of auspiciousness काशी-पुर-अधीश्वरी supreme Deity of the city of Kashi भिक्षाम् alms देहि give कृपा-अवलम्बन-करी provider of the support of compassion माता-अन्न-पूर्णा-ईश्वरी Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity.


चन्द्रार्कानलकोटिकोटिसदृशा चन्द्रांशुबिम्बाधरी चन्द्रार्काग्निसमानकुण्डलधरी चन्द्रार्कवर्णेश्वरी ।
मालापुस्तकपाशकाङ्कुशधरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥९॥

Mother Annapurna, the provider of the support of compassion, the supreme Deity of Kashi, you are like crores and crores of moons, suns and fires, you are the holder of the disk of the rays of the moon, you are wearing earrings like moon, sun and fire, you are of the color of moon and sun, you bear rosary, book, noose along with a goad, give me alms.

Notes: चन्द्र-अर्क-अनल-कोटि-कोटि-सदृशा Who is like crores and crores of moons, suns and fires चन्द्र-अंशु-बिम्बाधरी holder of the disk of the rays of the moon चन्द्र-अर्क-अग्नि-समान-कुण्डल-धरी one who is wearing earrings like moon, sun and fire चन्द्र-अर्क-वर्ण-ईश्वरी the supreme being with the colour of moon and sun माला-पुस्तक-पाशकाङ्कुशधरी bearer of rosary, book, noose along with a goad काशी-पुर-अधीश्वरी supreme Deity of the city of Kashi भिक्षाम् alms देहि give कृपा-अवलम्बन-करी provider of the support of compassion माता-अन्न-पूर्णा-ईश्वरी Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity.


क्षत्रत्राणकरी महाभयकरी माता कृपासागरि साक्षान्मोक्षकरी सदा शिवकरी विश्वेश्वरी श्रीधरी ।
दक्षाक्रन्दकरी निरामयकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥१०॥

Protectress of wealth, great giver of fearlessness, Mother, ocean of compassion, verily the provider of liberation, always the doer of auspicious, the mistress of the world, bearer of forgone, the cause of lamenting of Daksha, provider of freedom from illness, the supreme Deity of the city of Kashi, provider of the support of compassion, Annapurna, give me alms.

Notes: क्षत्र-त्राण-करी the protectress of wealth महा-अभयकरी the great giver of fearlessness माता Mother कृपा-सागरी the ocean of compassion साक्षात्-मोक्ष-करी verily the provider of liberation सदा-शिव-करी always the doer of auspicious विश्व-ईश्वरी the mistress of the world श्री-धरी bearer of fortune दक्ष-आक्रन्द-करी the cause of lamenting of Daksha निरामय-करी provider of the freedom from illness काशी-पुर-अधीश्वरी supreme Deity of the city of Kashi भिक्षाम् alms देहि give कृपा-अवलम्बन-करी provider of the support of compassion माता-अन्न-पूर्णा-ईश्वरी Mother Annapurna, the supreme Deity.


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

O Annapurna, O always fulfilled one, O the beloved of Shiva, O Parvati, give me knowledge, dispassion and perfection as alms.

Notes: अन्न-पूर्णे O Annapurna सदा-पूर्णे O always fulfilled one शङ्कर-प्राण-वल्लभे O beloved of Shiva ज्ञान-वैराग्य-सिद्धि-अर्थम् भिक्षाम् alms of knowledge, dispassion and perfection देहि give च and पार्वति O Parvati


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

And (my) mother is Devi Parvati, father is the Supreme Lord God, the devotees of Shiva are my relatives and the three worlds are my native place.

Notes: माता Mother च and पार्वती Parvati देवी Devi पिता Father देवः God महा-ईश्वरः Supreme Lord बान्धवाः relatives शिव-भक्ताः devotees of Shiva च and स्व-देशः my native place/country भुवन-त्रयम् the three worlds

End note

  • There are many alternate readings of this stotra. The reading used here is the the one given in स्तवनाञ्जलिः, 3rd edition, published by Ramakrishna Math, Nagpur, India.
  • Here is a beautiful audio rendering of this stotra (a slightly different reading, though).
  • Have consulted देवीस्तोत्ररत्नाकर of Gita Press, Gorakhpur and Stavakusumanjali for this translation. Thanks to Rohini Bakshi for her help in reviewing this translation.