Information of Annapoorneshwari Temple, Horanadu, Chikmagalur, Karnataka

Annapoorneshwari Temple at Hornadu is a holy place for the Hindus since from the ancient times. Once it was a remote temple in the forests and from last 5 centuries it's became an important pilgrim place and a religious tourist spot in Karnataka. This is a beautiful temple located on the Western Ghats of Karnataka. This temple is uniquely placed around green pasture land, forest, hills and on the river banks of Badhra. This temple place is very grace full to look in the monsoon rains. It is remotely located at horanadu in Chikmagalur District of Karnataka State in India.

Annapoorneshwari Temple Religious Significance

Annapoorneshwari is the god of Food. Annapoorna literally means food for all and Eshwari means Devi or the female God. As its temple name means food for all and whoever comes to this temple are provided 3 time meals, either a breakfast in the morning, a full lunch meals in the afternoon and a dinner at night. In the evening Tea and coffee is also served here. Serving food for free is termed as Anna Dhana or Anna Prasadam in Hindu customs in a temple. There for whoever comes to worship here will not suffer of hunger. Even this temple is accommodating its devotees to stay at temples premises and its own complexes built here for free. This temple is very famous for its full day Anna Dhana throughout the year. Its main deity is the Annapoorneshwari. There are also deities of Maha Ganapathi, Anjenayar and the Nava Graha idols present in side this temple in various mani-mandapas. Devi Annapoorneshwari is common to all Hindu sects in India. Many pilgrims come here to get blessings from the Annapoorneshwari. This temple conducts daily poojas and rituals as per the Hindu calendar. Its main festivals are the Navaratri Maha Utsav held in the September month. It is a grand festival last for a month and throng by many devotees. It also conduct its Car Festival on every year, this is well known here as the Rathoutsavam. It is celebrated with lots of lights and decorations in this temple and mostly seen colorful with flower decorations. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and fervor which makes the event of holiness more pure and joyful, giving reasons for devotees and visitors, to make way to the temple and offer prayers.

Annapoorneshwari Temple Mythology & History

As per ancient inscription, this temple was primarily built by the great Agasthiya Muni, who was a great scholar and a Sage. He placed the Idol of Annapoorneshwari and built a small temple in this dense forest cover. It was in the medieval times this temple was identified. This temple was added with more facility complexes and expanded its areas in the passage of time. Now this is a great and a famous temple for the Hindus.

Annapoorneshwari Temple Architectural Significance

Annapoorneshwari temple welcomes its devotees with a beautiful tower which has steps that are sloping upwards. One can find the temple when gets on the upper steps only. Its tower has got beautiful pediments. These pediments are having carved stone sculptors of god and goddesses. The main deity complexes are the ancient one and filled with single stone pillars and with mandapas. The sculptor of Annapoorneshwari is a stone carved one. The Anjeneya God is made of metal and all of its sub deities are made of stones. The Nava Graha sculptures are really unique and show the expertise in its craftsmanship. All of its deities are placed in small complexes looking very cute with lights of oil lit hanging lamps. There are beautiful carving works found on the callings, these are mainly the floral motifs. Few traditional complexes are also found here in the traditional style of terracotta tiled roofs in slanting shape. This temple has got very good open places and is built in a rectangular shape. Thus from architectural point of view, it is well planned which makes the visit to the temple even more remarkable and offering prayer is totally a serene experience, where devotees finds peace and purity from inside.