Annapoornashtakam

Introduction:Acharyal becomes a helpless kid before Maha Annapoorneshwari and asks alms or begs before her for her mercy. Unlike the worldly samsaaris, Acharyal asks for the alms of wisdom and determination, which is revealed in the last verse of this great octet. Acharyal, who is an ocean of wisdom and Bhakthy has made this great work, so that the sinful samsaaris of this Kali could get a glimpse of that great qualities of Bhakthy and wisdom by reading this work. Acharyal, who could compose the Shareera Bhashyam for Brahma sutras  at the age of 16 , compose KananDhara Stothram at the age of 8 , becomes a small kid before JaganMatha, who feeds the  food of wisdom and Bhakthy to Universe and begs for her mercy. Ambal's mercy flows like overflowing nectar from a flower and her blessings flow like the fragrance of a flower. Let's join our magnificent Acharyal to beg the mercy of Sri Annapoorneshwari .

नित्यानन्दकरी वराभयकरी सौन्दर्य रत्नाकरी

निर्धूताखिल घोर पावनकरी प्रत्यक्ष माहेश्वरी ।

प्रालेयाचल वंश पावनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी

भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ 1 ॥

Desc: Acharyal starts this glorious sloka, by praising Ambal as the one, who bestows permanent bliss (int he form of Aathma Gnanam). He further praises Ambal as the one holding the Abhaya and Varada mudra, a gem of  eternal beauty, one who would make the crazily bad  or impure ones as pure (Pavana), one who had glorified the clan of the kings of Himalayas  and one who is the Queen of the city called Kashi. After mentioning all of such auspicious attributes of Ambal, Acharyal asks alms or Biksha to that mother Annapoorneshwari, who is the ocean of mercy.

नाना रत्न विचित्र भूषणकरि हेमाम्बराडम्बरी

मुक्ताहार विलम्बमान विलसत्-वक्षोज कुम्भान्तरी ।

काश्मीरागरु वासिता रुचिकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी

भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ 2 ॥

Desc: Acharyal further describes the Swaroopa soundaryam of Ambal. He describes her as the one, who is adorned with various kinds of precious gems, one who is adorned with lustrous silks lined with gold, one whose chest is adorned with strings of pearls (Muktha haaram), one who has mouth, fragrant with and tasting the kesar or kumkum flowers from Kashmir  and one who is the Ishwari or the Queen of this entire Universe starting from the holy city of Kashi . After showing us a glimpse of the vaibhavam or glories of Ambal , Acharyal begs alms or asks Biksha to that JaganMatha, who has manifested as Sri Annapoorneshwari.

योगानन्दकरी रिपुक्षयकरी धर्मैक्य निष्ठाकरी

चन्द्रार्कानल भासमान लहरी त्रैलोक्य रक्षाकरी ।

सर्वैश्वर्यकरी तपः फलकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी

भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ 3 ॥

Desc: Acharyal further enlists the glories of JaganMatha as the one who would gives us the bliss of  Yoga (like Bhakthy  Gnana, etc..), one who destroys the enemies(of jealousy,lust etc..),one who bestows the fruits of Dharma and Artha (wealth). He further adds that Ambal shines like Moon,Sun and fire, and protests all the tree worlds, one who bestows all kinds of riches and wealth, one who distributes the fruits of penance and one who is the Queen of all the cities starting from Kashi Pura. He then asks the Sri Annapoorneshwari to give him alms or Biksha.

कैलासाचल कन्दरालयकरी गौरी-ह्युमाशाङ्करी 

कौमारी निगमार्थ-गोचरकरी-ह्योङ्कार-बीजाक्षरी ।

मोक्षद्वार-कवाटपाटनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी 

भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ 4 ॥

Desc: Here Acharyal praises Ambal as the one, who lives int he cave of Kailasha Mountains, and who is called as Gowri, Uma, Koumari and Shaankari, one who cannot be realized even from the Vedas,one who has the Omkaram as her Bheejam or seed or mantra, one who opens the doors for the eternal gate(s) of moksham or salvation (by showing us that, this world,time and space are Maya and the Self alone is truth) and who is the Queen of this world and Kashi. Acharyal humbly asks alms to that Ambal, whom he describes as the Paradevatha, who will not just give the alms of worldly food, but the nectar of heaven, which would make one immortal by showing one's Swaroopam as none other than that Supreme Brahmam.

दृश्यादृश्य-विभूति-वाहनकरी ब्रह्माण्ड-भाण्डोदरी 

लीला-नाटक-सूत्र-खेलनकरी विज्ञान-दीपाङ्कुरी ।

श्रीविश्वेशमनः-प्रसादनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी 

भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ 5 ॥

Desc: Now Acharyal mentions the fol. attributes or Ambal: one who acts as the vehicle for both the seen and unseen, one who has all the great worlds in her womb (Banda Udari), one who plays the divine drama (of creation,destruction etc..), one who is the beacon of the light of Wisdom (Vignana), one who is appealing to the heart of Sri Viswanatha and one who is the Queen of all the cities including Kashi Pura. Once again Acharya asks alms to the mother of this Universe, who is sitting at Kashi as Sri Annapoorneshwari.

उर्वीसर्वजयेश्वरी जयकरी माता कृपासागरी 

वेणी-नीलसमान-कुन्तलधरी नित्यान्न-दानेश्वरी ।

साक्षान्मोक्षकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी 

भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ 6 ॥

Desc: Acharyal burst out with his beautiful sloka on seeing the merciful form of Ambal and her graces made him singer about her like the water from a waterfall. Acharyal further states that Amla is the one, who is the Queen or Empress or Ishwari of this world and all the creatures, one who possesses blue and lustrous hair, one who provides (free) food to all (nitya annadanam), one who provides moksham or salvation, one who always does good and victorious things and one who is the Queen of the city of Kashi (and all other cities). Out of endless love Acharyal asks the mother of this Universe to provide him with alms to satiate his eternal or spiritual hunger.

आदिक्षान्त-समस्तवर्णनकरी शम्भोस्त्रिभावाकरी 

काश्मीरा त्रिपुरेश्वरी त्रिनयनि विश्वेश्वरी शर्वरी ।

स्वर्गद्वार-कपाट-पाटनकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी 

भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ 7 ॥

Desc: Here Acharyal says that, Ambal is the one who is described by the all the alphabets from A to Ksha, one who has granted the three qualities to Shambu, One who is praised as the resident of the city of Kashmir, one who is the Ishwari or Goddess of the Tripura or the three worlds, one who has three eyes, one who is the Goddess of this Universe , omni-present, one who opens the doors to heaven and one who is the Goddess of the city of Kashi. Acharyal once again asks alms to Jaganmatha, who is manifested as Sri Annapoorneshwari, who is the ocean of mercy (as she grants a status equal to her by granting Aathma Gnanam - which no one else would do so).

देवी सर्वविचित्र-रत्नरुचिता दाक्षायिणी सुन्दरी 
वामा-स्वादुपयोधरा प्रियकरी सौभाग्यमाहेश्वरी ।
भक्ताभीष्टकरी सदा शुभकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी 
भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ 8 ॥

Desc: Acharyal further praises her as: the one, who is the Goddess or Devi, who is adorned with all rare gems, who is the daughter of the demon king Daksha, the beautiful one, one who holds the golden pot with rice/ milk pudding,  one who bestows all the desires for her devotees,one who always does good things and one who is the Super Goddess of luck for her devotees. To such glorious Mother, who is an ocean of mercy Acharyal once again begs alms.

चन्द्रार्कानल-कोटिकोटि-सदृशी चन्द्रांशु-बिम्बाधरी 

चन्द्रार्काग्नि-समान-कुण्डल-धरी चन्द्रार्क-वर्णेश्वरी 

माला-पुस्तक-पाशसाङ्कुशधरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी 

भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ 9 ॥

Desc: Acharyal now describes Ambal's form or Swaroopam to us once again. He says she is -  one, who looks like crores and crores of Sun,Moon and fire together, one who wears ear rings  which look like Sun,Moon and Fire, one whose color is like that of Sun and Moon, one who holds Mala(garland or string of beads), scriptures  Paasha, Ankusha in her 4 hands and who is the Queen of the city of Kashi. To such glorious Mother, who is an ocean of Mercy Acharyal begs alms once again.

क्षत्रत्राणकरी महाभयकरी माता कृपासागरी 

सर्वानन्दकरी सदा शिवकरी विश्वेश्वरी श्रीधरी ।

दक्षाक्रन्दकरी निरामयकरी काशीपुराधीश्वरी 

भिक्षां देहि कृपावलम्बनकरी मातान्नपूर्णेश्वरी ॥ 10 ॥

Desc: Acharyal further states that, Ambal is the one, who absolves the Kshathriyas, removes great fears, an ocean of mercy, one who bestows all the happiness (of this world and the eternal world), one who  is Shivam always, one who is the Ishwari for this world as she's the consort of Viswanatha, and one who bears Sree or Wealth, one who destroyed Daksha and made him regret,  one who is bestows Niaramaya or dispassion and who is the Queen of the eternal city of Kashi. Acharyal once again begs alms to Ambal.

अन्नपूर्णे सादापूर्णे शङ्कर-प्राणवल्लभे ।
ज्ञान-वैराग्य-सिद्धयर्थं बिक्बिं देहि च पार्वती ॥ 11 ॥

Desc: Acharyal declares that Annapurna, who fills our stomach and fills this earth with food is also that Poorna and Complete knowledge as mentioned in Upanishads and he also praises her as the one who is most closest to the heart of Shankara. He finally reveals the motive behind his begging of alms - he asks JaganMatha to give him Biksha or alms for the purpose of attainment of wisdom and determination  Acharyal knows that, as a kind mortal mother Ambal will certainly appease his bodily hunger, but as JaganMatha she is the only one, who can bless one with enlightenment. So Acharyal asks for that Biksha  on behalf of all of us so that all the samsaaris of this Kali could be benefited by Ambal's mercy.

माता च पार्वतीदेवी पितादेवो महेश्वरः ।

बान्धवा: शिवभक्ताश्च स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयम् ॥ 12 ॥

Desc: Acharyal further goes a step ahead and declares this statement of Universal brotherhood. Unlike other modern politicians and other money-minded fools, Acharyal declares that, Parvati Devi, is the mother for this entire Universe and Maheshwara us the divine father for everyone. He further adds that, all the three worlds are our own country and the Shiva Bakthas are all our friends. 

Conclusion: Thus Acharyal had showed us the path of Universal brother hood, and taught us how to ask for alms to the divine mother, who blesses all of us just by her kataksham.