| Shiva and Parvati often played Dice in their conjugal | | | | barren and there was a terrible drought. There was no |
| abode on Mount Kailasa. Once to make the game | | | | food to be found in the three worlds of Akaash, Pataal |
| more exciting and interesting, Shiva asked Parvati to | | | | and Dharti. Gods, demons and humans kept suffering |
| bet her Jewels and he betted his trident. If he won, he | | | | from the pangs of hunger. "Salvation makes no sense |
| would get Parvati's jewels. If Parvati won, she would | | | | to an empty stomach", cried the sages. |
| get Shiva's trident. But Parvati won the game and | | | | Seeing all the suffering, Parvati's heart melted and she |
| Shiva lost his trident to her. Not to give up so easily, | | | | appeared at Kashi and set up a Kitchen. Hearing about |
| Shiva now betted his serpent in the next game. That | | | | her return, Shiva ran to her with all other hungry |
| also he lost to Parvati. | | | | mendicants and presented his bowl in alms saying, |
| Then in a bid to win the consequent games that | | | | "Now I realise that the material world, like the spirit, |
| followed, he kept wagering all his possessions - his skull | | | | cannot be dismissed as an illusion." |
| bowl, his rudraksha beads, his ash, his drum, his | | | | Parvati smiled and fed Shiva with her own hands. |
| smoking pipe and even his loin cloth - he lost them all | | | | Since then Parvati is worshipped as Annapoorna Devi |
| to Parvati in the Game of Dice. | | | | - the Goddess of Food. |
| Humiliated by his defeat, Shiva went off in seclusion to | | | | The image of Parvati serving food to her |
| the Deodar Forest. Seeing his plight, Lord Vishnu | | | | hermit-husband, Shiva adorns one of the temples at |
| offered to help and asked him to play again with | | | | Kashi, Varanasi (U.P. India) where devotees offer |
| Parvati assuring him that this time he would definitely | | | | prayers. |
| win all the games of Dice, thus regaining back his | | | | It is said that she does not eat a morsel unless all her |
| possessions from Parvati. | | | | devotees have been fed the Bhog-Prashad in her |
| So Shiva went back to Parvati and enticed her for | | | | temple. |
| another round of games. He won all of them but | | | | The idol of Annapoorna always has a small vessel / |
| Parvati felt suspicious of Shiva's sudden success, | | | | ladle containing Annam (food) signifying that the |
| calling him a Cheat. Shiva outraged by the accusation, | | | | worshipper is assured of food throughout his / her life |
| demanded an apology. It led to heated debates and | | | | time. |
| hurling of insults and abuses between the couple. | | | | There is another temple dedicated to Annapoorna |
| Seeing their Commotion, Vishnu came to pacify them. | | | | Devi at Cherukunnam in Kerala. Every devotee who |
| He revealed to Parvati the secret of Shiva's victories. | | | | worships at that temple is served food. The tradition is |
| He said that his spirit had entered the dice and that the | | | | that in the night, after every one is fed, a packet of |
| dice didn't work according to their moves but as per | | | | food is left tied to the branch of a tree, the idea being |
| his wish. So neither Shiva had really won nor had | | | | that even the thief who prowls about in the night |
| Parvati actually lost. The game was an illusion and their | | | | should not go without food. |
| quarrel was a product of their delusion. | | | | She is also worshipped in Unja (Gujarat) where she is |
| On hearing Vishnu, Shiva and Parvati realised that life | | | | known as Umiya Maata. |
| was like their game of dice - very unpredictable and | | | | Annapoorna symbolises the divinity of nourishing care. |
| beyond control. | | | | When food is cooked with a spirit of holiness, it |
| Shiva told Parvati that the world is an illusion. Nature is | | | | becomes alchemy. Images of Annapoorna Devi are |
| an illusion. Matter is just a mirage, here one moment, | | | | also adorned in kitchens, dining areas and restaurants |
| gone the next. Even Food is just Maya. | | | | of India. |
| Parvati, mother of all material things including food, lost | | | | The Annapoorneshwari Temple is located at |
| her temper. "If I am just an illusion, let's see how you | | | | Horanadu, 100 km from Chikmagalur, amidst the thick |
| and the rest of the world get along without me," she | | | | forests and valleys of the Western Ghats of |
| said and disappeared from the world. | | | | Karnataka. All who visit this temple are provided with |
| Her disappearance caused havoc in the cosmos. Time | | | | breakfast, lunch and dinner and a place to sleep on the |
| stood still, seasons did not change, the earth became | | | | temple premises. |