Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 669: Shri Annada (ōṃ annadāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the giver of food to all living things in this universe. 

Anna specifically means food which helps to sustain and nourish life in all living and non-living beings and things in this universe. She takes the form of food and provides the food; All embodied beings need food. Even the creatures within stone receive their food, due to the Divine Mother’s help. All universal beings get their food by various means from the Divine Mother. Four elements earth, water, fire and air provide the needed food. Food has a general name” Annam”. As the Divine Mother properly provides the food for all universal beings, She is called Annapurna. Through those four elements, She, is providing the food for all. For those who have the blessings of the Divine Mother, there is no shortage and worry about getting the food. Those who believe that they will get food through the Divine Mother’s blessings, understand this Nama Annada. 

Food (Annam) helps the universal beings to live. The Divine Mother or Annapurna holds the vessel in one hand and spoon to give out the food in another hand. The food provided by the Divine Mother gives the physical strength, wisdom and determination to Her devotees. The Divine Mother holds absolute wisdom, the food given by Her provides wisdom. Shri Sankara’s Annapurna Stotram describes all the good things given out by the Divine Mother. Before eating the food, if we recite this Annapurna Stotram and eat the food, the negative effects of eating the food will not affect us. Knowledge and determination will improve. 

The Gita says that food arising from the clouds grows from the body. The Divine Mother is the one who gives not only food, but also blesses all living beings with everything needed for sustenance of life. Shri Sankara in his famous hymn, praises the Divine Mother as “Annapurna” (fully endowed with food). he asks for more than just food. “O Devi Annapurna, sweetheart of Shiva, You, who are always full, grant me the alms of wisdom and dispassion, O Parvathi!”. (Annapurna).

The Divine Mother is Annapurna the provider of Food,

even to Lord Shiva

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 24 November 2021/updated 28 August 2024.

 

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, San Ramon, California, USA, with Commentary by T. V Narayana Menon

2.     Shri Lalitha Sahasranama Stostram published in Tamil by N. Ramaswami Iyer charities’ societies, Trichirapalli, India, with Commentary by C. V. Radhakrishna Sastry.

3.     The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Sithbavandar