What Did Maa Annapurna Teach Lord Shiva?

Parvati what kind of play is this of yours? This story begins at a time when the entire creation was filled with prosperity. There were lush green fields all around the earth. The granaries were full and all kinds of fruits and vegetables were available in abundance. The animals and birds were healthy and happy. Every family had plenty of food and there was an atmosphere of happiness, peace and prosperity all around. The importance of food was not limited only to the earth. Even in heaven, food was the basis of the yagyas, power and divine works of the gods. Because life is nourished by food and no world can remain complete without food. Chapter One The Mysterious Disappearance of Mother Parvati Kailash, situated in the lap of the Himalayas, was the sacred abode of the gods. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, serene atmosphere and filled with divine energy, this place was the abode of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. Lord Shiva was always absorbed in deep meditation. For him all the material things of the world were merely a musical illusion. His mind was always situated in ultimate truth and self-knowledge. On the other hand, Mother Parvati herself was the form of creation and nature. She knew that along with knowledge, the physical world also has its own importance in life. For him, the creation of the world and its balance were equally important. There was a current of joy flowing at that time on Kailash. Ganesha and Kartikeya used to fill the entire Kailash with happiness and joy with their childhood pranks. Mother, I want to eat Modak. Mother, I want to eat pudding. Mother Parvati loved her sons very much. She herself arranged all the necessary ingredients and prepared Ganesha and Kartikeya’s favourite food with great affection and love. Mother, the food is very tasty. After having food, Ganesha and Kartikeya again got engrossed in their games. Swami Ganesha and Kartikeya are playing so happily all day long. It seems that today both of them have made the entire Kailash their playground. Both of them are going to come to me hungry in a little while. And then you have to go to the kitchen. Just then the two boys came running to their mother. Mother, I am very hungry. Yes mother, we need food. How can I keep my Ganesha and Kartikeya hungry? I will cook food for both of you right now. After this, Mother Parvati went to the kitchen to prepare food for her sons. At the same time Lord Shiva came to the kitchen. Mahadev, our sons will like this food very much. Parvati, can I ask you a question? Please ask Swami. Parvati why does this world give so much importance to food? Is knowledge not enough for the soul? Swami knowledge and devotion are necessary. But the body with which the soul worships you also needs the support of food. This entire world is Maya. The body is also an illusion and food is also an illusion. Swami, if food is only an illusion then why does every living being strive for it? Hunger is the biggest truth. Hunger is of the body, not of the soul. One who attains knowledge of the soul rises above Maya. How can a person whose stomach is empty concentrate on God? Do you mean to say that food is more important than knowledge? What I am saying is that both are incomplete without each other. We are deep in your thoughts Parvati. If you still think that food is just an illusion then I will make you experience its truth yourself. That day, while serving food, Mother Parvati was feeling a little distressed. That conversation with Mahadev was not going away from his mind. Even in the peaceful gardens of Kailash, Mother Parvati’s mind was restless. She was deeply thinking about Mahadev’s words. If the world does not understand the importance of food, then I will make them experience the importance of food myself. And thinking this, Mother Parvati took a musical decision. The very next moment she disappeared, merging into divine light. Mata Mata Mata Not finding their mother anywhere Ganesh and Kartikeya came running to Mahadev in a state of panic. Where is father and mother? Yes father, where is mother? Parvati, what kind of leela is this of yours? Chapter Two A great, devastating famine grips the world, yearning for food. After the disappearance of Mother Parvati, a terrible crisis descended upon the universe. The earth that was once full of food and fruit. Now the same place started looking barren. Animals started suffering from hunger and not even a single grain of food was available anywhere. Mother is hungry. Daughter there is nothing to eat. Oh Lord Shiva, protect us. Due to lack of food, the meditation of sages and saints also started getting disrupted. Due to hunger he was unable to concentrate on the yajna. Due to hunger we are not able to concentrate on the Yagya. O God, please help us. What kind of play is this? I see the suffering of these creatures. But how do I end this hunger? Even heaven was affected by this food crisis. Where there was once an abundance of divine food, there was now silence. Due to the lack of food, the power and glory of the gods started decreasing and Devraj Indra became worried about this dire situation. Due to lack of food, the intensity of the fierce flame of Agnidev also started to diminish. My fire is fading away. If the food is exhausted, my sacred flame will not be able to burn for long. Varun Dev tried to revive the dried up rivers. But his efforts also did not succeed. If this situation continues, the entire earth will be devastated by severe drought. Worried for this reason both the gods went before Devraj Indra. There is not a single grain of food left in the three worlds. If this situation continues then the destruction of the entire universe is certain. Now only Mahadev can save us from this disaster. We should immediately go to Kailash and request Mahadev to bring back Mother Parvati. Meanwhile, in Kailash, Ganesha and Kartikeya were overcome with grief remembering their mother. Brother, where has the mother gone? I miss him a lot. I am also missing him a lot. But I have full faith that Mother will never leave us. She will definitely come. When the danger of apocalypse started appearing near. Then the frightened Devas reached Kailash to pray for help from Mahadev. Mahadev Mahadev, the entire universe is in trouble. Due to lack of food even we gods are losing our divine powers. Mahadev, the rivers have dried up and the earth is being devastated by a severe drought. Please bring back Mother Parvati. I’ll go and see the Earth myself. After all, what kind of condition has the Earth reached? Chapter Three: The divine manifestation of Mother Annapurna and the salvation of the universe. Mahadev himself descended to earth and started walking worriedly on the barren land. Looking around he was looking for a solution to this predicament. All his efforts to revive the crops failed. Then Mahadev himself started going from village to village to see the condition of the people. Mahadev, please protect us from this hunger. It seems that now only Parvati can end this starvation. To free the world from hunger, Mahadev set out in search of Mother Parvati. Parvati Parvati Time passed and eventually hunger began to affect Mahadev himself. Parvati Now only you can do good to this universe. Saying this, Mahadev revealed a begging bowl in his hand. If this is your wish, then today I will myself beg for alms and make the entire creation understand the true importance of food. Holding a begging bowl in his hands, Mahadev departed towards the holy city of Kashi. Bhiksha deh bhiksham dehi bhiksham dehi but due to starvation Mahadev did not get even a single grain of food in alms. His eyes filled with tears as he looked at the empty alms bowl. As soon as Mahadev’s tears fell on the alms bowl, a divine golden light spread across a holy temple in Kashi. Amidst that divine aura Mother Parvati began to appear in the divine form of Mother Annapurna. To satisfy the hunger of the universe, Mother Annapurna, with her divine power, manifested a huge golden vessel filled with kheer and a golden ladle to serve it. At that very moment, Mahadeva arrived at the holy temple with her empty alms bowl in her hands. Parvati I have realized my mistake. Even knowledge is incomplete without food. Please shower your grace on this creation again. Swami, only when food and knowledge go together, the welfare of the world is achieved. From today onwards the world will never again be deprived of food. Saying this, Mother Annapurna served kheer in Mahadev’s alms bowl with her golden ladle. As soon as he took the first bite, Mahadev’s divine radiance and power began to emerge again. As Mother Annapurna you have given the priceless boon of food, prosperity and life to the entire creation. Gradually all the villagers started gathering in the temple. With the hope of satisfying his hunger from Mother Annapurna. Mother Annapurna lovingly served food to each person with her own hands and with this the barren land became green again. The fields started flourishing. The trees were filled with fruits. Animals and birds started getting satisfied again and abundance of food once again returned to the entire creation. It is believed that in Kashi, the darshan of Baba Vishwanath is considered complete only after receiving the blessings of Mother Annapurna and alms. Mother Annapurna teaches us that as much as knowledge is necessary, food is equally important because on an empty stomach neither meditation nor service nor welfare of life is possible.