Annapurna Temple: Kathmandu's Shrine to the Goddess of Abundance - Nepal Purple Travel Guide

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The name ‘Annapurna’ comes from two Sanskrit words: ‘Anna’ meaning food or grain, and ‘Purna’ meaning full or complete. Annapurna is thus the goddess of nourishment, believed to provide for all who seek her blessings.
She is a benevolent aspect of Parvati, the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, motherhood, and fertility, and consort of Lord Shiva, and is honored across Nepal and India for her role in ensuring no one goes hungry.
In the Kathmandu context, this deity holds particular importance in Asan, a market square known for its vibrant trade in spices, grains, and produce.

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Significance and Use of Annapurna Temple

The Annapurna Temple in Asan is an active place of worship, especially popular among women and vendors who pray for prosperity, well-being, and abundance. Daily rituals include the offering of rice, flowers, and oil lamps, while special festivals and pujas are held to honor the goddess during harvest and religious holidays.
One unique tradition at this temple is the distribution of food to the needy, especially during festive times, reinforcing Annapurna’s role as a provider. The temple also plays a central part in many local Newar festivals, including Asan Pāhān Charhe, when the community pays homage to ancestral deities.

Architecture and Setting of Annapurna Temple

The temple is a two-story pagoda-style structure, characteristic of Newar temple architecture. It stands in a cozy corner of the square, often surrounded by vendors selling offerings, incense, and colorful marigolds. A beautifully carved torana (doorway) greets visitors, and the inner sanctum contains the image of Annapurna adorned with red vermilion powder and garlands.

One thing that you may have noticed in several Buddhist and Hindu temples today, and that is very prominent at Annapurna Temple, is the Dhaja.
A Dhaja is typically a long, narrow banner or pennant made of cloth or, in Kathmandu mostly, metal – at Annapurna Temple it is golden metal with intricate carvings. A cloth Dhaja is often colorful, with specific colors holding symbolic meanings (e.g., five colors representing the five elements or the five Dhyani Buddhas in Buddhist contexts). It is hung or installed vertically from the highest point of the temple's roof, often near the pinnacle or gajur, and extends downwards, often passing just below or near the torana (the ornate carving above the doorway).
Symbolic Significance: The Dhaja serves several important symbolic purposes:

• Victory Banner: In its most fundamental sense, the Dhaja is a victory banner, representing the triumph of good over evil, or the victory of the Dharma (righteousness or truth).

• Offering and Prayer: It is considered an offering to the deity of the temple. As a cloth Dhaja flutters in the wind, it is believed to spread prayers, blessings, and positive energy into the surroundings.

• Connection Between Heaven and Earth: The vertical line of the Dhaja visually and symbolically connects the celestial realm (represented by the top of the temple) with the earthly realm (the entrance and the devotees). It acts as a conduit for divine energy and blessings to flow downwards.

• Mark of Sacred Space: The presence of a Dhaja clearly marks the building as a sacred space, a temple or shrine dedicated to a particular deity.

• Protection: It is also believed to offer protection to the temple and the surrounding area from negative influences and harmful spirits.

• Individual Merit: Devotees sometimes offer or sponsor the hanging of Dhajas as a way to accumulate merit and express their devotion.

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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel

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