Annapoorneshwari, Chikkamagaluru

The 8-century Bhagavati temple of Annapoorneshwari at Horanadu in Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, in the Sringeri cluster of the Western Ghats Malnad region — one of the major Shakta temples of Karnataka, with its principal deity Annapoorneshwari (the goddess of food). The temple foundation is attributed to Adi Shankara (8-century) along with his establishment of the nearby Sringeri Sharada Peetham. The current temple structure is 20-century (rebuilt and expanded 1965-1982), with the installation of a large seated Annapoorneshwari deity made of panchaloha (five-metal alloy). The temple's distinctive feature is its daily prasad of unlimited free meals to all pilgrims regardless of caste or religion — a tradition that has made Horanadu a pilgrimage particularly associated with ritual food-service.