Matha Annapoorna Devi

Public domain image from wikimedia.

Goddess Annapurna Devi is a form of Parvathi Devi.
According to a Hindu legend  Shiva told Parvati his wife that the material world is nothing but " Maya" or illusion. Devi was quite upset with the very casual opinion Shiva had about food.She wanted  Shiva to realize the value of nourishment and thus disappeared to prove her point. Since then there was no food to be found and all the beings  including the Devas, Manavas and Asuras  were suffering from hunger .Time too stood still.
Even the saints cried-" Spirituality cant be appreciated on an empty stomach".
              Seeing this utter chaos the very kind Devi Parvathi manifested herself as Matha Annapoorna and set up a kitchen in Varanasi . Shiva ran to her with the other very hungry beings and accepted that the material world cannot be dismissed off so easily as a mere illusion.the Devi smiled and fed Shiva and everyone else.
    Since then Devi Parvati is worshipped as Mata Annapurna Devi.Anna means food and Poorna means complete.
Her idol is always the ever smiling peaceful Goddess with a bowl and ladle ready to dole out nourishment and food for her children.