Shri Annapurna Ashtakam - Complete meaning and benefits of chanting

Shri Annapurna Ashtakam is a Sanskrit hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya, dedicated to the goddess Annapurna, the provider of nourishment. It consists of eight verses praising her divine qualities and expressing gratitude for the abundance she bestows upon devotees. The hymn invokes blessings for sustenance, wisdom, and liberation, portraying Annapurna as the embodiment of divine grace and fulfillment.

Table of Contents

1. Stotra

2. Meaning

3. Benefits of chanting Shri Annapurna Ashtakam

4. Who can chant Shri Annapurna Ashtakam & When to chant?

5. How to chant the stotram?

Stotra

Nityānandakarī varābhayakarī saundaryaratnākarī
Nirdhūtākhilaghorapāvanakarī pratyakṣhamāheshvarī ।
Prāleyāchalavanshapāvanakarī kāshīpurādhīshvarī
Bhikṣhāan dehi kṛupāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī ।।1।।

Nānāratnavichitrabhūṣhaṇakarī hemāmbarāḍambarī
Muktāhāravilambamānavilasadvakṣhojakumbhāntarī ।
Kāshmīrāgaruvāsitāngaruchire kāshīpurādhīshvarī
Bhikṣhāan dehi kṛupāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī ।।2।।

Yogānandakarī ripukṣhayakarī dharmārthaniṣhṭhākarī
Chandrārkānalabhāsamānalaharī trailokyarakṣhākarī ।
Sarvaishvaryasamastavānychhitakarī kāshīpurādhīshvarī
Bhikṣhāan dehi kṛupāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī ।।3।।

Kailāsāchalakandarālayakarī gaurī umā shankarī
Kaumārī nigamārthagocharakarī onkārabījākṣharī ।
Mokṣhadvārakapāṭapāṭanakarī kāshīpurādhīshvarī
Bhikṣhāan dehi kṛupāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī ।।4।।

Dṛushyādṛushyavibhūtivāhanakarī brahmāṇḍabhāṇḍodarī
Līlānāṭakasūtrabhedanakarī vijnyānadīpānkurī ।
Shrīvishveshamanahprasādanakarī kāshīpurādhīshvarī
Bhikṣhāan dehi kṛupāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī ।।5।।

Urvīsarvajaneshvarī bhagavatī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī
Veṇīnīlasamānakuntalaharī nityānnadāneshvarī ।
Sarvānandakarī sadā shubhakarī kāshīpurādhīshvarī
Bhikṣhāan dehi kṛupāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī ।।6।।

Ādikṣhāntasamastavarṇanakarī shambhostribhāvākarī
Kāshmīrātrijaleshvarī trilaharī nityānkurā sharvarī ।
Kāmākānkṣhakarī janodayakarī kāshīpurādhīshvarī
Bhikṣhāan dehi kṛupāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī ।।7।।

Devī sarvavichitraratnarachitā dākṣhāyaṇī sundarī
Vāman swādupayodharapriyakarī saubhāgyamāheshvarī ।
Bhaktābhīṣhṭakarī sadā shubhakarī kāshīpurādhīshvarī
Bhikṣhāan dehi kṛupāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī ।।8।।

Chandrārkānalakoṭikoṭisadṛushā chandrāanshubimbādharī
Chandrārkāgnisamānakuntaladharī chandrārkavarṇeshvarī ।
Mālāpustakapāshāsānkushadharī kāshīpurādhīshvarī
Bhikṣhāan dehi kṛupāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī ।।9।।

Kṣhatratrāṇakarī mahā’bhayakarī mātā kṛupāsāgarī
Sākṣhānmokṣhakarī sadā shivakarī vishveshvarashrīdharī ।
Dakṣhākrandakarī nirāmayakarī kāshīpurādhīshvarī
Bhikṣhāan dehi kṛupāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇeshvarī ।।10।।

Annapūrṇe sadāpūrṇe shankaraprāṇavallabhe ।
Jnyānavairāgyasiddhyarthan bhikṣhāan dehi ch pārvati ।।11।।

Mātā ch pārvatī devī pitā devo maheshvarah ।
Bāndhavāah shivabhaktāshcha svadesho bhuvanatrayam ।।12।।

Stotra with meaning

Nithyaananda kari,Varaa abhya karee, Soundarya rathnaakaree,
Nirddhotahakila ghora pavaanakaree, Prathyaksha Maheswaree,
Praaleyachala vamsa pavavakaree, Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee, Mathaa Annapurneswaree.1.
Meaning - O, Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who helps others with kindness, Who makes all days deliriously happy,
Who gives boons and shelter to all, Who is the epitome of all beauty,
Who cleans up all sorrows from life,Who is the ever-visible Goddess of the world,
Who is the star of the family of Himavan, Please give me alms,Ocean of kindness and compassion.

Naana rathna vichitra bhooshana karee, Hemaambaradambaree,
Mukthaa haara vilamba maana vilasa, Dwakshoja kumbaan dharee,
Kasmeera garu vasithaa ruchi karee,Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,Mathaa Annapurneswaree 2.
Meaning - O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is adorned with jewels of variety,Who is dressed in golden silk,
Who has a beautiful chest, Adorned with golden chains full of gems,
Who is the epitome of all beauty,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion..

Yogaanandakaree ripu kshyakaree,Dharman artha nishtaakaree,
Chandrarkaanala bhasa maana laharee,Trilokya rakshaa karee,
Sarvaiswarya samastha vaanchithakaree,Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,Mathaa Annapurneswaree.3.
Meaning - O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who gives bliss through Yoga, Who destroys enemies,
Who makes dharma and wealth permanent,
Who shines like moon , sun and fire, Who takes care of all the three worlds,
Who gives all the wealth,Who fulfills all wishes,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

Kailaasaachala kandharaa laya karee, Gowree , umaa sankaree,
Kaumaree nigamartha gochara karee, Omkara beejaksharee,
Moksha dwaara kavata patana karee, Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,Mathaa Annapurneswaree.4
Meaning:-O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who lives in a cave in Mount Kailasa, Who is also called Gauri, Uma and Sankari,
Who is an ever-blissful maiden, Who is known only through meaning of Vedas,
Who is personification of “OM”,Who opens the gates of Moksha,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion

Drusyaa drusya vibhootha vahana karee, Brhmaanda bhando dharee,
Leelaa nataka suthra kelana karee, Vijnana deeptham guree,
Sree viswesa mana prasaadhana karee,Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,Mathaa Annapurneswaree..5
Meaning:- O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is the vehicle of the seen and unseen ,Who is carrying the universes inside her,
Who cuts of attachment to this world, Who is the beacon of light for all science,
Who makes the Lord of Universe happy,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

Urvee sarva janeswaree bhagawathee, Maatha krupaa sagaree,
Venee neela samaana kunthala dharee, Ananda dhaneswaree,
Sarvanandakaree bhayaa shubhakaree, Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee, Mathaa Annapurneswaree..6
Meaning:- O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is the Goddess of earth and its beings,Who is the knowledge, wealth and valour of the world,
Who is the ocean of compassion, Who has lustrous blue hair,
Who gives happiness to all, Who is personification of happiness,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

Aadhi kshaantha samastha varna nikaree, Shabho tribhaava karee,
Kasmeeraa tripureswaree trilaharee, Nithyaamakuree sarvaree,
Kamaa kamksha karee janodhaya karee, Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee, Mathaa Annapurneswaree..7
Meaning:-O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is described by all alphabets, Who gives Shambhu the three powers,
Who is Kashmira the Goddess of three cities,
Who is the intoxicant in three forms, Who gives rise to daily existence,
Who is the enemy of all sorrows, Who fulfills the desire of every one,
Who is dawn in life of all,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

Devee sarva vichitra rathna rachithaa, Dakshayanee sundaree,
Vama swadu payodhara priyakaree, Sownhagya maaheswaree,
Bhakthaabhishtakaree, sadaa shubhakaree, Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee, Mathaa Annapurneswaree..8
meaning:-O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is adorned with all precious gems, Who is the daughter of Daksha,
Who is the epitome of beauty, Who feeds all the world her milk of song and writing,
Who is the Goddess of all ,Who is the fortune of all,
Who fulfills the wishes of devotees, Who always does good,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

Chandrakaanala koti koti sadrusaa, Chandramsu bhimbaan dharee,
Chandrakaagni samaana kunthala dharee , Chandrarka varneshwaree,
Maala pustaka pasasangusa dharee, Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee, Mathaa Annapurneswaree..9
Meaning:- O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is The Goddess of Kasi,
Who is like billions of moon , sun and fire,
Whose smile is like the rays of the moon,
Whose hair has the luster of moon, sun and fire,
Who is coloured like the moon and the sun,
Who has a chain of beads and a book in her hands,
Who has a spear and rope also in her hands,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

Kshatrathraanakaree, mahaa bhayakaree, Mthaa krupaa sagaree,
Sakshaan mokshakaree sadaa shiva karee, Visweshwaree sridharee,
Daksha krundha karee niraa mayakaree, Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee, Mathaa Annapurneswaree..10
Meaning:- O mother Annapurneswari, Who is the Goddess of Kasi,
Who protects the duties of kings, Who gives great protection,
Who is the great mother, Who is the ocean of mercy,
Who gives perennial salvation, Who always does good,
Who is the goddess of all universe, Who has all the wealth in the world,
Who insulted Daksha , Who gives great health,
Please give me alms, Ocean of kindness and compassion.

Annapurne sadaa purne, Sankara praana vallabhe,
Jnana vairagya sidhyartham, Bikshaam dehee cha parvathy..11
Meaning:-O Mother Annapurneswari, Who is the darling of Sankara,
Please give me alms, Of knowledge and renunciation.

Mathaa cha Parvathy Devi, Pithaas cha Maheswara
Bandhawa Shiva Bhakatamscha, Swadesho Bhuvana Trayam.12
Meaning:-My mother is Goddess Parvathy, My father is God Maheswara,
My relations are the devotees of Shiva, And my country is the universe.

Benefits of chanting Shri Annapurna Ashtakam
1. Nourishment and Abundance
2. Gratitude and Contentment
3. Spiritual Growth
4. Protection and Guidance
5. Inner Peace and Harmony

Who can chant Shri Annapurna Ashtakam & When to chant?

Shri Annapurna Ashtakam can be chanted by anyone who has devotion towards the goddess Annapurna and seeks her blessings for nourishment, abundance, and spiritual growth. There are no specific restrictions on who can chant the hymn; it is open to all individuals regardless of age, gender, or religious background.

As for when to chant Shri Annapurna Ashtakam, there are no strict guidelines. However, many devotees prefer to chant it during auspicious occasions, such as festivals dedicated to the goddess Annapurna or during daily worship rituals. Additionally, some people chant it before meals as a way of expressing gratitude for the food they are about to consume.

How to chant the stotram?
Before chanting the Shri Annapurna Ashtakam, here are some traditional practices that devotees may follow to prepare for a more focused and meaningful experience:

1. Take a bath or wash your hands and face to feel physically clean. This can symbolize inner purification as well.
2. Find a quiet, clean space free from distractions where you can focus on the chanting.
3. Wear comfortable and clean clothes that allow you to sit comfortably.
4. Approach the chanting with reverence and devotion to Lord Surya. Set an intention for your chanting, whether it's seeking protection, peace, or spiritual growth.
5. You can offer a short prayer to Lord Surya before chanting, expressing your gratitude and seeking his blessings.