Annapurna Devi Mandir

Getting there

• By train

  Varanasi Junction railway station is about 5 km away, the nearest major station.

• By road

  The temple is in Vishwanath Gali, Godaulia, a short distance from Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The address is D 9, Annapurna Math temple, 1 Vishwanath Gali, Godaulia, Varanasi 221001.

Rules to know

• The gold idol is seen only once a year, on Annakut day; the brass idol is open for daily darshan.

Why devotees come here

Annapurna Devi Mandir is one of the most famous Hindu temples in Varanasi. It stands in Vishwanath Gali, about 15 metres north-west of Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Devi Annapurna is worshipped here, and its tower and dome are carved in Hindu style.

Annapurna is the deity of food. Legend says Parvati took her form as Annapurna, with a golden pot and ladle, and gave food to people in Varanasi. In another story, Parvati offers food to Shiva with her own hands, then sets up a kitchen in Varanasi for her devotees. It is also said that Adi Shankaracharya composed the Annapurna Stotra at this temple.

The temple was built in 1729 by the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao. It now comes under Annapurna Math. The architecture is Nagara style, with a sanctum and a large pillared porch. The sanctum houses a picture of Devi Annapurna. The outer and inner walls carry carvings of Hindu tales, flowers and geometric patterns.

The gold idol is seen only once a year, on Annakut day, which falls after Deepavali. On that day fruits, sweets and cereals are laid before the deity and then given out to devotees as prasadam. Devotees who miss it have to wait for one year.

Festivals

• After DeepavaliAnnakut

  Fruits, sweets and cereals are offered to the deity, then given out as prasadam. The gold idol is seen only on this day.

Tips for your visit

• Circling the shrine eight or 108 times brings blessings, according to the Kashi Khand of the Skanda Purana.
• Annakut falls after Deepavali and devotees who miss it wait a year, so plan the trip around that date.

Questions people ask