The Annapurna Mandir in Varanasi is a highly revered shrine dedicated to Goddess Annapurna, the goddess of nourishment and food. The name Annapurna comes from the Sanskrit words Anna (food) and Purna (full or complete), signifying that she provides sustenance to all beings. Devotees believe that no one who seeks her blessings will ever suffer from hunger, making the temple a symbol of prosperity and abundance.

Located near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Annapurna Mandir is deeply interwoven with the city’s spiritual life. According to legend, once Lord Shiva playfully told Goddess Parvati that the world was an illusion (maya) and that food too was unreal. To teach him the value of nourishment, Goddess Parvati took the form of Annapurna and set up a kitchen in Kashi, where she fed everyone, including Shiva himself. This divine episode is celebrated here, highlighting the goddess as the provider of life’s essentials.

The temple houses a striking idol of Goddess Annapurna holding a golden ladle and a vessel filled with grains, symbolizing generosity and nourishment. Devotees come here to seek blessings for prosperity, well-being, and the fulfilment of daily needs. Special worship is offered during Annakut and Diwali, when the temple is beautifully decorated, and food is distributed to devotees as prasad.

Spiritually, Annapurna Mandir represents the compassionate aspect of the Divine Mother, emphasizing that material and spiritual fulfilment go hand in hand. For pilgrims visiting Kashi, offering prayers at Annapurna Mandir after visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple is considered highly auspicious, as it completes the cycle of both spiritual awakening and worldly sustenance.