The legend
In one telling, Shiva declared that the whole world — food included — was an illusion. To show him otherwise, Parvati made all food vanish, and hunger spread through creation. Shiva himself was reduced to begging, and came to her door with his bowl. She fed him with her own hands and set up a kitchen in Kashi so that every devotee would be fed. That is why giving food (anna daan) is one of the highest acts of devotion in Kashi.
Another tradition says Parvati playfully covered Shiva’s eyes, plunging the world into darkness; to atone, she took the form of Annapurna and fed the people of Kashi.
History
- The present temple was built in 1729 by the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I — another link between Maharashtra and Kashi.
- It is in the Nagara style, with a sanctum and a large pillared porch, its walls carved with flowers, geometric patterns and scenes from the scriptures.
- The Skanda Purana’s Kashi Khanda says that circling the shrine 8 or 108 times brings the goddess’s blessings.
The images
Daily darshan
A brass image of the goddess is worshipped daily, with Shiva standing beside her holding out his bowl.
The golden Annapurna
A golden image of the goddess seated on a lotus is shown only for a few days a year around Dhanteras and Annakoot. Queues can stretch for hours.
A homecoming from Canada
In 2021, an 18th-century idol of Annapurna stolen from Varanasi about a century earlier was returned from Canada and installed in the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.
Festivals
- Annakoot (the day after Diwali): the temple is filled with a mountain of food offerings, later distributed as prasad.
- Dhanteras to Annakoot: the golden image is displayed for darshan.
- Navratri: special worship and crowds.
Visiting
- The temple is about 15 metres from Kashi Vishwanath — visit right after your darshan.
- The same rules on phones and bags apply in the area; use the lockers you used for Vishwanath.
- The Annapurna kitchen offers free meals to devotees; a donation is welcome.
FAQ