Annapoorneshwari Temple

The Annapoorneshwari Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Annapoorneshwari ( Annapoorna), located at Horanadu, Karnataka, India, 100 km from Chikmagalur in the thick forests and valleys of the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It is situated on the banks of river Bhadra.

Legend

The temple is also known as ''Adhishakthyathmaka Sri Annapoorneshwari Ammanavara Temple'' or ''Sri Kshetra Horanadu Temple''. It is believed that the sage Agastya established the icon of the goddess here.

As per legend, the god Shiva and his wife Parvati - the presiding goddess of food as Annapoorna, had an argument. Shiva declared everything in the world including food to be ''maya'' (illusion). To prove food is not illusion, Parvati disappeared resulting in the nature to become still. Neither climate changed nor plants grew, causing drought in the world. Taking pity on the world, Parvati appeared and distributed food to all.

According to another tale, Shiva beheaded the god Brahma. Brahma's skull got stuck in Shiva’s hand. He was cursed that till the skull is not full of food or grains, it will stick to his hands. Shiva went everywhere and asked for food but the skull was never full. So he finally went to this temple and Annapoorna filled the skull with grains and reversed Shiva’s curse.

History

Hereditary ''Dharmakartharu'' priests started in this temple from past 400 years. The same family is serving and preserving the temple since then. ''Dharmakartharu'' have played an instrumental role in refurbishing the temple as well as in performing the rituals here. The temple premise was small and unknown to many till the fifth Dharmakartharu Sri D.B. Venkatasubba Jois repaired and revived the temple. The goddess icon was reestablished in 1973 on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya.

Deity and rituals

The word ''Annapoorna'' is a made of two words ''Anna'' meaning rice grains or food and ''Poorna'' meaning perfect and complete. Hence, ''Annapoorna'' means complete or perfect food. Sri Annapoorneshwari is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva.

''Devi Annapoorna'' is lauded and appraised in several ancient texts like ''Rudrayamala, Annapurnamalininaksatramalika, Sivarahasya and Annapurna Kavacha''.

Goddess Annapoorneshwari can be seen here in a standing pose on a ''peetha''. She is holding ''Shanku, Chakra, Sri Chakra and Devi Gayatri'' in her four hands. The idol is covered in gold from head to toe, and it is believed that whom so ever visits ''Devi Anapoorna'', will never go without food in their lives.

''Akshaya Thadige'' or Akshya Tritya is the main festival celebrated in this temple. This day is believed to be the birth date of ''Devi Annapoorna''. This day marks as the beginning of Treta Yuga as well as the end of winters and start of summers. The temple also celebrates 5-day long ''Rathotsaya'' during the month of February, 9-day long Navaratri during September, ''Deepotsava'' and ''Havi'' with great enthusiasm.

Architecture

To reach the main temple complex, worshipers have to climb a flight of steps. The ''Gopura'' (entrance) of the temple is adorned with several sculptures of Hindu deities. ''Mantapa'' is located on the left-hand side of the main temple entrance. Beautiful carvings can be found on the ceilings of the temple. Adi Sesha surrounds the main sanctum or the ''Garbhagruha'' of the temple and the ''Padma Peeta'' consists of ''Koorma, Ashtagaja'' and others.

See also

* Marikamba Temple, Sirsi

References

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Devi temples in Karnataka
Tourist attractions in Chikkamagaluru district