Horanadu Temple Of Annapoorneshwari: Interesting Facts That You Must Know Before You Visit

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Annapoorneshwari is the goddess of food, whose devotees do not suffer lack of food at any point in time in their lives.

Her idol is known to have been established by Sage Agasthya Rishi in the Adishakthyathmika Sri Annapoorneshwari (Parvati) temple or Shri Kshetra Horanadu temple at Horanadu, which is a little away from Western Ghats.

The devi idol that is constructed in Gold from top to bottom, is in a standing position on a peetha holding Shankha and chakra, and Sri chakra and devi gayatri in her hands.

We worship mother nature in all her forms. Each form of mother nature represents a God or Goddess for us. Anna or food is worshipped as Brahma in hinduis which is why we don't waste even a single grain of rice while eating.

We have a belief that our luck could be present in any of the rice grains we eat and who knows the grain of rice that carries luck for us, may have been wasted and thrown by us in the drain. Of all danas, anna dana is the best dana as it gives us the maximum punya that will save us all through our lives.

Maa Saraswati represents knowledge and similarly Anna poorneshwari devi represents food. In Sanskrit Anna means 'foodgrains' and Poorna (also spelt as Purna) means 'full' or 'complete'.. In this context, Devi here is worshipped as the Goddess of food.

It is believed that once a person steps in here, will not have to worry about his food throughout his life..
Devotees here are daily fed with a three-course vegetarian meal.

With one flight of steps, you can reach the temple that is notable for its modern carvings. Adishesha sculpture surrounds the sanctum and padma peetha has the deities kurma, ashta Gaja and others.

Dress code for males says that they have to remove shirts before entering inside. Akshaya Tritiya and Navaratri are celebrated in the temple. Akshaya Tritiya day is when Devi manifested herself in the Annapoornavatar.

Akshaya Tritiya is a grand event for the people around here. The temple also hosts a grand 5-day Rathotsava during the month of February along with 9-day long Navaratri celebrations. Friday is a special day here.

Sanctums are also built for Gods, namely Sri Udbhava Maha Ganapathi, Anjaneya and Navagrahas.
Legend: Legend says that once shiva and Parvati got into a serious argument.

While Shiva told Parvati that the world is nothingness and maya Parvati was disturbed about the logic. To disprove his words, she disappears and as a result world stands still and soon the world will be in draught.

Later, after years of Tapasya by sages, Parvati regains her mercy over the world and assuming the form of Annapoorneshwari, she distributes food to all.

Thereafter she came to be known as Annapoorneshwari devi. The temple is managed by the hereditary Dharmakartharu priests whose family has been worshipping the deity for the past 400 years.

Temple is known for its sculptures, the main mantapa with amazing carvings on the ceilings, and the adishesha and other moortis. The Mahamangalarathi is a spectacular event here that goes on during 9 AM, 1:30 PM, and 9 PM.

Travel Experience: The Horanadu route leaves you on the lap of nature for a while, till the serpentine roads lead you to the temple of Mata Annapoorneshwari.

Dense forests and ghat section will even induce a die hard atheist to visit Annapoorneshwari temple a lot of time, just to savour the beauty of the landscape that soothes you of your travel fatigue with views of her sprawling greenery.

Winter times, you will not think even once about visiting a place like Kashmir as the paradisical experience here would suffice. There are plenty of other places you can plan to visit around Hornadu temple. You can consider Kukke, Sringeri, Dharmasthala, Udupi, and Kollur.