About Annapurna Devi Temple
Annapurna Devi Temple is a prominent Hindu temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, located in Vishwanath Gali near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Dedicated to Goddess Annapurna, the goddess of food and nourishment, it is revered as the provider of sustenance. Built in 1729 in Nagara style by Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I, the temple features a sanctum with the deity adorned with ornaments and is an important pilgrimage stop in the Kashi circuit.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a compact temple complex situated in the narrow lanes of old Varanasi, a short walk from Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The temple has Nagara-style architecture with a pillared mandapa and a sanctum housing the standing image of Goddess Annapurna holding a ladle and bowl, alongside an image of Lord Shiva. The surroundings are busy with shops selling prasad, flowers and offerings. Darshan involves queuing in narrow passages and observing daily aarti and rituals.
Key highlights
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Dedicated to Goddess Annapurna, regarded as the goddess of food and nourishment
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Located adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Vishwanath Gali
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Nagara-style architecture built in 1729 by Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I
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Sanctum enshrines Annapurna with ladle and bowl along with Shiva as bhikshu
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Special significance during Annakut and Navratri festivals when deity is elaborately decorated
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Important stop for pilgrims completing Kashi Vishwanath darshan
History of Annapurna Devi Temple
The present temple was constructed in 1729 by Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I in Nagara architectural style and later renovated by subsequent patrons. It stands on a site traditionally associated with the legend of Goddess Annapurna feeding Lord Shiva in Kashi, reflecting the city's long-standing tradition as a center of Shaiva and Shakta worship.
Culture & Context
The temple is dedicated to Annapurna, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati as the provider of food, and is deeply revered by devotees who believe worship ensures never facing scarcity of food. It forms an integral part of the Kashi pilgrimage alongside Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The Annakut festival after Diwali and Navratri are especially significant, when the goddess is adorned with gold ornaments and devotees receive blessed food.