[3][4] The hymn is based on the legend of Annapurna, a form of the goddess Parvati who represents nourishment and sustenance.

Her consort, Shiva, is regarded to have begged for food from her to save the inhabitants of earth from starvation after she withdrew all sources of food from living beings.

[5] The Annapurna Stotra is popularly sung in Varanasi in performance of the arati ritual to propitiate the goddess.

[6] The first hymn of the mantra describes the attributes of Annapurna:[7][8] nityānandakarī varābhayakarī saundarya ratnākarīnirdhūtākhila ghōra pāvanakarī pratyakṣa māhēśvarīprālēyāchala vaṃśa pāvanakarī kāśīpurādhīśvarībhikṣāṃ dēhi kṛpāvalambanakarī mātānnapūrṇēśvarī O benign Mother, who pourest out upon us everlasting bliss!

Thou, the visible ruler of the world, the sanctifier of King Himalaya's line!