In the Saivite tradition Annapurna is the Hindu goddess of food and cooking. She is the goddess who holds in one hand a jeweled vessel containing food and in the other a spoon to distribute the food among her devotees. She has the power to distribute food to an unlimited amount of people. Annapurna literally means "one who is full of food."
Annapurna is an incarnation of Parvati. She is often seen giving food to her husband, Shiva. Shiva is seen begging with a skull begging bowl as Annapurna doles out food to her lover.
The worship of Annapurna originated in the distant past when all food disappeared from the earth and all living beings were consequently in danger of perishing. They appealed to Lord Brahma for help. Brahma consulted with Lord Vishnu and then decided to awaken Lord Shiva from his ritual sleep (yoganidra)and give him responsibility for restoring prosperity. Shiva invited the goddess Annapurna to the earth and begged her for rice,which he then distributed throughout the world.
In Bengal, the worship of Annapurna is a private affair practiced among certain prominent land-owning families.
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