अन्नपूर्णा स्तोत्रम् — Annapurna Stotram

Composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya

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Introduction & Significance

In Varanasi, tradition dictates that no living being — human, animal, or bird — sleeps hungry because Mother Annapurna rules the hearth. Even Lord Shiva approaches Her holding his ascetic bowl (Bhiksha-patra) to receive the alms of cosmic grace. When Shankara experienced the Mother’s boundless nurturing presence, he composed this melodic hymn. It concludes with the famous petition: Bhiksham dehi kripavalambanakarī mātān napūrṇeśvarī — asking for the dual alms of Jnana (spiritual wisdom) and Vairagya (freedom from worldly craving).

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Verse 1

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

Transliteration:
Nityānandakarī varābhayakarī saundarya-ratnākarī
Nirdhūtākhila-ghora-pāvana-karī pratyakṣa-māheśvarī |
Prāleyācala-vaṁśa-pāvana-karī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
Bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātā’nnapūrṇeśvarī || 1 ||

Meaning:
O Mother Annapurna! You are the cause of eternal bliss, the bestower of boons and fearlessness, an ocean of supreme beauty. You purify all accumulated terrors and sins, and You are the manifest Empress Maheshwari. You sanctified the lineage of the Himalaya Mountains, and You are the sovereign Queen of Kashi. O Divine Mother, extend Your supporting hand of mercy and grant me alms!

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Verse 2

नानाश्रत्नविचित्रभूषणकरी हेमाम्बराडम्बरी
मुक्ताहारविडम्बमानविलसद्वक्षोजकुम्भास्तनी ।
काश्मीरागरुवासिता रुचिकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी माताऽन्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration:
Nānā-ratna-vicitra-bhūṣaṇa-karī hemāmbarāḍambarī
Muktā-hāra-viḍambamāna-vilasad-vakṣoja-kumbhāstanī |
Kāśmīrāgaru-vāsitā rucikarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
Bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātā’nnapūrṇeśvarī || 2 ||

Meaning:
O Mother, adorned with exquisite jewels of diverse gems, wearing luminous golden silks; whose chest is graced by radiant pearl garlands; perfumed with sacred Kashmiri saffron and agaru paste; who creates auspicious delight everywhere; Queen of Kashi, grant me the alms of Your compassion!

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Verse 3

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

Transliteration:
Yogānandakarī ripu-kṣayakarī dharmārtha-niṣṭhākarī
Candrārkānala-bhāsamāna-laharī trailokya-rakṣākarī |
Sarvaiśvarya-samasta-vāñchitakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
Bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātā’nnapūrṇeśvarī || 3 ||

Meaning:
You bestow the supreme bliss of Yoga; You destroy inner enemies (anger, lust, greed); You establish us in righteousness (Dharma) and noble purpose (Artha); Your effulgence radiates waves like the sun, moon, and fire; You protect the three worlds and fulfill all righteous aspirations; Queen of Kashi, grant me alms!

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Verse 4

कैलासाचलकन्दरालयकरी गौरी उमा शङ्करी
कौमारी निगमार्थगोचरकरी ओङ्कारबीजाक्षरी ।
मोक्षद्वारसुपाटपाटनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी माताऽन्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration:
Kailāsācala-kandarālaya-karī gaurī umā śaṅkarī
Kaumārī nigamārtha-gocarakarī oṅkāra-bījākṣarī |
Mokṣa-dvāra-supāṭa-pāṭanakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
Bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātā’nnapūrṇeśvarī || 4 ||

Meaning:
Dweller in the caves of Mount Kailas; known as Gauri, Uma, and Shankari; maiden divine; who illuminates the subtle essence of the Vedas; who is the sacred seed syllable OM; who flings open the heavy golden gates of liberation (Moksha); Sovereign of Kashi, grant me alms!

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Verse 5

दृश्यादृश्यविभूतवाहनकरी ब्रह्माण्डभाण्डोदरी
लीलानाटकसूत्रभेदनकरी विज्ञानदीपाङ्कुरी ।
श्रीविश्वेशमनःप्रसादनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी माताऽन्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration:
Dṛśyādṛśya-vibhūta-vāhanakarī brahmāṇḍa-bhāṇḍodarī
Līlā-nāṭaka-sūtra-bhedanakarī vijñāna-dīpāṅkurī |
Śrī-viśveśa-manaḥ-prasādanakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī
Bhikṣāṁ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātā’nnapūrṇeśvarī || 5 ||

Meaning:
You sustain all visible and invisible manifestations; within Your womb lies the cosmic jar of the entire universe; You guide the strings of the cosmic drama of existence; You ignite the inner lamp of true discernment; You bring delight to the heart of Lord Vishwanath; Mother of Kashi, grant me alms!

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Verse 6

उर्वी सर्वजनेश्वरी भगवती माता कृपासागरी
वेणीनीलसमानकुन्तलधरी नित्यान्नदानेश्वरी ।
साक्षान्मोक्षकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी माताऽन्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ ६ ॥

Meaning:
Goddess of the earth, ruler of all souls, oceanic mother of mercy; with lustrous dark braided tresses; who gives the perpetual gift of food; bestower of immediate liberation; ever-auspicious Queen of Kashi, grant me alms!

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Verse 7 to 10 (Key Themes)

• Verse 7: Adiguru-patni, who dissolves illusions and guides the aspirant along the path of non-attachment.
• Verse 8: The jewel of the gods, who protects travelers and pilgrims entering Varanasi.
• Verse 9: The light of the solar and lunar realms who satisfies the hunger of both body and soul.
• Verse 10: The refuge of the helpless, transforming ordinary rice into nectar (Amrita).

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The Climax & Universal Prayer (Verses 11 & 12)

माता च पार्वती देवी पिता देवो महेश्वरः ।
बान्धवाः शिवभक्ताश्च स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration:
Mātā ca pārvatī devī pitā devo maheśvaraḥ |
Bāndhavāḥ śiva-bhaktāśca svadeśo bhuvana-trayam || 11 ||

Meaning:
Goddess Parvati is my mother; Lord Maheswara is my father; all sincere devotees of Shiva are my true kinsmen; and all the three worlds are my homeland!

अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे ।
ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वति ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration:
Annapūrṇe sadāpūrṇe śaṅkara-prāṇa-vallabhe |
Jñāna-vairāgya-siddhy-arthaṁ bhikṣāṁ dehi ca pārvati || 12 ||

Meaning:
O Annapurna, forever complete and full, You who are dearer than life to Lord Shankara! O Parvati, I beg not for worldly coins or fleeting grains — grant me as alms the twin fruits of Jnana (Supreme Spiritual Knowledge) and Vairagya (Unshakable Inner Renunciation)!