Swami Vivekananda once said, "As many living beings, so many Shivas." Shiva resides within every living being, though people may not realize it. He realized that Shiva exists within everyone's body, specifically where the Kula Kundalini resides—in the Nabhimandal (navel center) of every man and woman. Mother Annapurna provides food to Him.
For this reason, I will recite the meditation mantra (Dhyana Mantra). I will also provide a rare and precious image; if people look at it closely, they will understand.
She is the one who removes the sorrows of the world (Bhava-dukkha); hence her name is Annapurna. This is what is said in the meditation.
Next is the Beej Mantra: "Dashabaktra Shiva sahita Sring Hring Hring Maheswari Annapurnaye Namah" or "Bhairavi Namah."
The Kashi Vishwanath has ten heads and twenty hands. Every hand holds a weapon, and His entire body is covered with snakes. I will share the photo so you can see it; it is a very rare image of whom Mother Annapurna is feeding. Nabachandrachura refers to the new moon—the crescent moon of the first day—which rests on His head. She offers food to Him. He is Kashi Vishwanath, He is the Hiranyagarbha, the Infinite. Mother provides food to that Shiva, meaning she provides food to every living soul in the universe. That is why she is called Annapurna—the one who completes the need for food.
There is an ancient mythological history behind this. When Mahadev (Shiva) carried the body of Sati on his shoulder, and Lord Vishnu began cutting it with his Sudarshana Chakra, fifty-one Shakti Peethas were created. When Shiva realized Sati was no longer physically with him, he chose Kashi. He planted his trident there and declared, "From today, I am a resident of Kashi."
It is said that in the old days, parents would tell their sons, "Leave me in Kashi." There is no shortage of food there; no one goes hungry by the grace of Mother Annapurna. Fasting or starvation does not exist there. Mother Annapurna wanders there in the guise of an old woman and appears to those she chooses. She is described as having breasts so heavy they touch the ground—this signifies her role as the ultimate provider. She ensures anyone who cannot find food is fed.
The Vishwanath and Annapurna temples you see today were built later. When the original Vishwanath temple was looted and the idol was thrown into a well—as historical accounts suggest occurred during the Mughal period—the current temple was reconstructed. The old Kashi Vishwanath was lost to that destruction. There is a large mosque/dargah right next to it now.
However, Mother Annapurna said, "Starvation will not exist here; I will keep no one hungry." Furthermore, Kashi is said to rest on the tip of Shiva's trident, meaning it is technically outside the physical Earth. It has no connection to the rest of the world. The rules followed in Kashi are the standard for all temples across India. When the deity in Kashi takes a bath, then all fifty-one Peethas and temples across India follow suit. Even the Jagannath Temple in Puri follows this rhythm.
There is an old saying: "Ran, Sanr, eyi niye Bishwanath" (Widows, bulls, and Shiva make up Kashi). In the past, many widows would relocate to Kashi to spend their final days. And of course, there are many bulls roaming the streets. There is a dedicated "Bengali neighborhood" (Bengali Tola) there as well.
There are three or four major cremation grounds (Shasan) there. Manikarnika Ghat is the most famous, followed by Dashashwamedh Ghat (though no bodies are burnt there) and Harishchandra Ghat. There is a deep-rooted belief that if someone is cremated at Manikarnika Ghat, they attain salvation and never have to return to this Earth; they travel straight to heaven. Whether it is true or not, people come from far and wide to cremate their loved ones there. The system is quite different; the locals handle everything, from the ritual bath to the cremation.
As I said, it is believed Shiva comes to the Mother at noon to receive food. She feeds the "New Moon-crowned" Shiva. I have visited Kashi at least fifteen to twenty times for various reasons. I will send the photo of the ten-faced Shiva; please look at it closely to understand His form.