The name Annapurna is connected to Hindu Mythology, where Annapurna is revered as a goddess of food, nourishment, and abundance and also known as daughter of the king of mountains, Himavat. The legend of Annapurna has its significant place in Hindu Mythology. One very well-known tale about Annapurna is legend of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati or Annapurna (Hindu deities).
The tale is that once Lord Shiva called world and food as an illusion, people don’t need food to survive spiritually, Parvati who is mother of universe, and the goddess of nature and fertility, was deeply disheartened. She believed food is sacred because it sustains our life. So, in order to teach Lord Shiva and the world the value of food she decided to disappear from the world causing widespread and deadliest famine all over.
After that it is said Lord Shiva realized his mistake and he repented and begged for her return with begging bowl. Annapurna then reappeared, carrying a golden ladle in one hand and a vessel of food in the other, filling Lord Shiva’s bowl and reviving food and nourishment to the whole world. So, the word Annapurna is combination of two Sanskrit words ‘anna” (food) and ‘Purna’ (complete), which is named in her honor. The mountains still bear this name, which continues to remind us of nourishing and live giving power of nature and its sacredness.