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Mantra · Twelve verses that ask the Queen of Kashi for alms, food and wisdom

Annapurna Stotram

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

Also known as Nityanandakari

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

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What the Annapurna Stotram is

The Annapurna Stotram, also printed as the Annapurnashtakam, is a Sanskrit hymn to Annapurneshvari, the Goddess who rules Kashi, and tradition ascribes it to Adi Shankaracharya. Ten verses in the long shardulavikridita metre come first. Each is a chain of titles ending in -kari, she who makes or gives, and each closes on the same line: give me alms, Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion. The titles move through her whole person. Verse 1 calls her the great Goddess made visible; verse 2 dresses her in gems, gold cloth and saffron; verse 4 places her in the caves of Kailasa as Gauri, Uma and the syllable Om; verse 7 makes her every letter of the alphabet from a to ksha; verse 9 puts the rosary, book, noose and goad in her hands. Two short anushtubh verses follow: the request for knowledge and detachment, and the verse that names Parvati as mother and Shiva as father.

A renunciant's alms call in Kashi

According to tradition, Shankara composed this hymn while staying in Kashi. A renunciant owns no kitchen and lives on bhiksha, food asked for at a householder's door, and the Manusmriti (2.49) even fixes how the asking student must word that request. The hymn borrows that daily act. Every refrain is the line a mendicant speaks at a door, bhiksham dehi, give alms, but the door is the Goddess herself and the city is hers: every one of the ten long verses names her Kashipuradhishvari, ruler of the city of Kashi. Only in verse 11 does the petitioner say what the alms are for, knowledge and detachment, the two things a sannyasi lives by. Kashi tradition gives the hymn its setting. Shiva, as Vishveshvara, is said to receive his own food from her hand, and her temple stands about fifteen metres north-west of the Kashi Vishwanath temple in the lane leading to it. The present shrine was built in the eighteenth century by the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I, with 1729 the date usually given. Beside the brass image worshipped daily, the sanctum keeps a solid gold image of the Goddess with a silver Shiva holding out his bowl. It is opened for darshan only at Annakut, after Diwali; accounts differ on whether the viewing begins at Dhanteras and runs about four days or falls on Annakut alone.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiनित्यानन्दकरी वराभयकरी सौन्दर्यरत्नाकरी निर्धूताखिलघोरपावनकरी प्रत्यक्षमाहेश्वरी । प्रालेयाचलवंशपावनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥

Tamilநித்யாநந்தகரீ வராபயகரீ ஸௌந்தர்யரத்நாகரீ நிர்தூதாகிலகோரபாவநகரீ ப்ரத்யக்ஷமாஹேஶ்வரீ । ப்ராலேயாசலவம்ஶபாவநகரீ காஶீபுராதீஶ்வரீ பிக்ஷாம் தேஹி க்ருபாவலம்பநகரீ மாதாந்நபூர்ணேஶ்வரீ ॥

Teluguనిత్యానన్దకరీ వరాభయకరీ సౌన్దర్యరత్నాకరీ నిర్ధూతాఖిలఘోరపావనకరీ ప్రత్యక్షమాహేశ్వరీ । ప్రాలేయాచలవంశపావనకరీ కాశీపురాధీశ్వరీ భిక్షాం దేహి కృపావలమ్బనకరీ మాతాన్నపూర్ణేశ్వరీ ॥

Kannadaನಿತ್ಯಾನನ್ದಕರೀ ವರಾಭಯಕರೀ ಸೌನ್ದರ್ಯರತ್ನಾಕರೀ ನಿರ್ಧೂತಾಖಿಲಘೋರಪಾವನಕರೀ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷಮಾಹೇಶ್ವರೀ । ಪ್ರಾಲೇಯಾಚಲವಂಶಪಾವನಕರೀ ಕಾಶೀಪುರಾಧೀಶ್ವರೀ ಭಿಕ್ಷಾಂ ದೇಹಿ ಕೃಪಾವಲಮ್ಬನಕರೀ ಮಾತಾನ್ನಪೂರ್ಣೇಶ್ವರೀ ॥

Malayalamനിത്യാനന്ദകരീ വരാഭയകരീ സൌന്ദര്യരത്നാകരീ നിര്ധൂതാഖിലഘോരപാവനകരീ പ്രത്യക്ഷമാഹേശ്വരീ । പ്രാലേയാചലവംശപാവനകരീ കാശീപുരാധീശ്വരീ ഭിക്ഷാം ദേഹി കൃപാവലമ്ബനകരീ മാതാന്നപൂര്ണേശ്വരീ ॥

EnglishRoman transliterationnityānandakarī varābhayakarī saundaryaratnākarī nirdhūtākhilaghorapāvanakarī pratyakṣamāheśvarī | prāleyācalavaṃśapāvanakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarī bhikṣāṃ dehi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeśvarī ||

“She gives lasting joy, grants boons and freedom from fear, and is an ocean of beauty; she purifies by washing away every dreadful sin and is the great Goddess made visible. She hallowed the line of the snow mountain and rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.”

नित्यानन्दकरी: nityānandakarī — giver of lasting joy
वराभयकरी: varābhayakarī — granter of boons and fearlessness
सौन्दर्यरत्नाकरी: saundaryaratnākarī — ocean of beauty
निर्धूताखिलघोरपावनकरी: nirdhūtākhilaghorapāvanakarī — who purifies, washing away every dreadful sin
प्रत्यक्षमाहेश्वरी: pratyakṣamāheśvarī — the great Goddess made visible
प्रालेयाचलवंशपावनकरी: prāleyācalavaṃśapāvanakarī — who hallowed the snow mountain's line
काशीपुराधीश्वरी: kāśīpurādhīśvarī — ruler of the city of Kashi
भिक्षां: bhikṣāṃ — alms
देहि: dehi — give
कृपावलम्बनकरी: kṛpāvalambanakarī — who upholds all by compassion
मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी: mātānnapūrṇeśvarī — O Mother Annapurneshvari

Annapurna Stotram lyrics in full

Ten long verses, each ending on the alms refrain, then the two short verses 'Annapurne sadapurne' and 'Mata cha Parvati devi'. The printed closing line is given at the end.

All 13 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Annapurna Stotram PDFAll 13 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

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Verse 1

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

She gives lasting joy, grants boons and freedom from fear, and is an ocean of beauty; she purifies by washing away every dreadful sin and is the great Goddess made visible. She hallowed the line of the snow mountain and rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.

Verse 2

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

She wears ornaments set with many kinds of gems and shines in golden garments; a pearl necklace hangs and gleams between her breasts. Fragrant with saffron and aloewood and lovely to see, she rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.

Verse 3

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

She gives the bliss of yoga, destroys enemies and makes people steadfast in dharma and rightful wealth; she shines in waves of light like the moon, the sun and fire, and protects the three worlds. She grants every kind of prosperity and every wish, and rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.

Verse 4

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

She dwells in the caves of Mount Kailasa; she is Gauri, Uma and Shankari, the maiden Kaumari, the meaning the Vedas point to, and the seed syllable Om. She throws open the doors of liberation and rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.

Verse 5

दृश्यादृश्यविभूतिवाहनकरी ब्रह्माण्डभाण्डोदरी लीलानाटकसूत्रभेदनकरी विज्ञानदीपाङ्कुरी ।
श्रीविश्वेशमनःप्रसादनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥

She bears all powers seen and unseen and holds the whole universe within her; she cuts the thread of the world's play and is the bright sprout of true knowledge. She delights the heart of Vishvesha and rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.

Verse 6

उर्वी सर्वजनेश्वरी भगवती मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी वेणीनीलसमानकुन्तलहरी नित्यान्नदानेश्वरी ।
सर्वानन्दकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥

She is queen of the earth and of all people, the blessed Mother Annapurneshvari; her dark braided tresses are enchanting, and she gives food at all times. She gives joy to all, always does good, and rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.

Verse 7

आदिक्षान्तसमस्तवर्णनकरी शम्भोस्त्रिभावाकरी काश्मीरात्रिजलेश्वरी त्रिलहरी नित्याङ्कुरा शर्वरी ।
कामाकाङ्क्षकरी जनोदयकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥

She is all the letters of the alphabet from a to ksha and holds the three natures of Shambhu; she is Kashmira, queen of the three waters, she of the three waves, ever sprouting, Sharvari. She fulfils desires, lifts people up, and rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.

Verse 8

देवी सर्वविचित्ररत्नरचिता दाक्षायणी सुन्दरी वामे स्वादुपयोधराप्रियकरी सौभाग्यमाहेश्वरी ।
भक्ताभीष्टकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥

The Goddess adorned with all kinds of wondrous gems, Dakshayani the beautiful; on her left, with breasts of sweet milk, she is kind and loving, the great Goddess of good fortune. She grants what devotees wish, always does good, and rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.

Verse 9

चन्द्रार्कानलकोटिकोटिसदृशा चन्द्रांशुबिम्बाधरी चन्द्रार्काग्निसमानकुण्डलधरी चन्द्रार्कवर्णेश्वरी ।
मालापुस्तकपाशसाङ्कुशधरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥

She shines like countless millions of moons, suns and fires, her lips glowing like the moon's disc; her earrings gleam like the moon, the sun and fire, and she has the radiance of the moon and the sun. She holds a rosary, a book, a noose and a goad, and rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.

Verse 10

क्षत्रत्राणकरी महाऽभयकरी माता कृपासागरी साक्षान्मोक्षकरी सदा शिवकरी विश्वेश्वरी श्रीधरी ।
दक्षाक्रन्दकरी निरामयकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥

She protects the warriors, gives great fearlessness, and is the Mother, an ocean of compassion; she grants liberation directly, always brings auspiciousness, and is Vishveshvari and Shridhari. She made Daksha cry out, frees from illness, and rules the city of Kashi. Mother Annapurneshvari, you who hold up all beings by your compassion, give me alms.

Verse 11

अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शङ्करप्राणवल्लभे ।
ज्ञानवैराग्यसिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वति ॥

O Annapurna, ever full, dearest to Shankara as his own life, O Parvati, give me alms so that I may gain knowledge and detachment.

Verse 12

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

My mother is Goddess Parvati and my father is Maheshvara; my kin are the devotees of Shiva, and my homeland is the three worlds.

Closing

इति श्रीमच्छंकराचार्यविरचितमन्नपूर्णास्तोत्रं संपूर्णम् ।

Thus ends the Annapurna Stotram composed by the revered Shankaracharya.

The syllable people get wrong

In the refrain, bhikṣāṃ is often said 'bhik-sham' with a plain sh; the kṣ is k followed by the retroflex ṣ, tongue curled back, and the anusvara before dehi sounds as n, so the phrase is said 'bhikshaan dehi'.

When the Annapurna Stotram is chanted

Weekday. Friday

Festival. Annapurna Jayanti (Margashirsha Purnima)

Questions

Yes. 'Annapurne sadapurne shankara pranavallabhe' is verse 11, the first of the two short verses that follow the ten long ones. It addresses her as Annapurna, ever full, dear to Shankara as his own life, and asks Parvati for alms so that knowledge and detachment may be gained. Many households say this single verse on its own before a meal, which is why it is often searched for apart from the hymn.

Ashtakam means a hymn of eight verses, and some headings use that name for this stotram. The text as most printings give it has ten verses ending in the alms refrain, followed by two short verses, so the name and the count do not match. The printed closing line itself uses the other name, calling the work the Annapurna Stotram, and both titles head the same text.

It is printed as verse 12, the last verse before the closing line. It says: my mother is the Goddess Parvati, my father is Maheshvara, my kin are the devotees of Shiva, and my homeland is the three worlds. After eleven verses asking for alms, it ends the hymn by naming the family the petitioner belongs to. The verse is also recited on its own, and one printing opens it 'Mata me', my mother, in place of 'Mata cha'.

Two families of the text are in print. This page follows the one most printings carry. The other words verses 3, 5, 6, 7 and 10 differently in places, for example 'sutrakhelanakari' for 'sutrabhedanakari' in verse 5, and orders the material of verses 6 and 7 differently. Some printings also add three further verses, which one recension notes as coming from the Annada Kalpa Tantra rather than the stotram. The refrain is the same in both families apart from spelling.

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Annapurna Stotram

What the Annapurna Stotram is

A renunciant's alms call in Kashi

The mantra, in six scripts

Annapurna Stotram lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Annapurna Stotram is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

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