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Annapurna - Hindu goddess of food and cooking

Annapurna is the Hindu goddess of food and cooking. Annapurna is empowered with the ability to supply food to an unlimited amount of people. 
Annapurna is an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Parvati, the wife of Shiva.  Temple art depicts Lord Shiva with his begging bowl (a skull), asking Annapurna to provide him food that gives the energy (Shakti) to achieve knowledge and enlightenment.
As such, Annapurna also symbolizes the divine aspect of nourishing care. The cook provides his guests with the energy to best follow their destiny. When food is cooked with a spirit of holiness, it becomes alchemy. Images of Annapurna are also found in kitchens, near dinner tables and in restaurants.





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