Goddess Annapurna is one of the main deities in Hindu culture and is worshiped by many people around the world. She is considered one of the manifestations of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. There are many temples dedicated to Annapurna Devi in India such as Annapurna Devi Mandir in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh where she is worshiped as the queen of Varanasi alongside Vishweshwar (Lord Shiva). Thousands and lakhs of people from different parts of the world visit this temple to take the blessings of Goddess Annapurna. The appearance of the Goddess is celebrated as Akshaya Tritiya and on this auspicious day, people buy gold jewelry. The glories and stories of Annapurna Devi are mentioned in various Vedic literature such as the Skanda Purana, the Annapurna Upanishad, and the Linga Purana.

She is depicted as a young, beautiful woman with a bright face. She typically possesses four hands and has a third eye on her forehead. She is often portrayed seated on a royal throne, bedecked with jewels, and wearing a crown with a crescent moon on her head.

Are Annapurna and Parvati the same?

Yes, Devi Annapurna and Devi Parvati are non-different from each other. There comes a story in the Vedic literature that describes how Goddess Parvati took the form of Annapurna to show her consort Lord Shiva her importance and how the world would not survive without her offering of food. It is believed that the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi was built by Lord Shiva in her honor.