Nadi Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Fiji Islands

This is a Guest Post by Dr R Sri Ravindra Rajah - writing about his visit to Nadi Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Fiji Islands.

Very recently I visited Fiji Island for the first time and went to Nadi Sri Subramaniya Swamy temple. This temple which is the biggest Hindu Temple and only Shaiva temple in Pacific Islands built according Agamic traditions by Indian builders. It was opened by the late Sivasubramuniya Swami of Hawaii in 1994. This temple had its second Kumbabhishekam in June 2006.

Thaipoosam is the biggest festival at this temple is celebrated for ten days with flag hoisting ceremony. Devotees from all over Fiji and other Pacific Islands come to the temple. This temple is run by Sangam - The India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam, which also runs number of primary and secondary schools all over Fiji for over 100 years. Recently it had started Sangam Institute of Technology.

One of the features of the temple is that both old and new traditions of conducting poojas are maintained. Local non-brahmin priests conduct the pujas in Tamil and Brahmin priests, brought from India, conduct regular pujas and festivals in Sanskrit. Temple devotees are allowed to do the aarthi and abhishekam to Shivalingam at the shrines by themselves. Only priests are allowed to enter the main shrine. Although Brahmin priests are not completely happy (as expected) they have adopted the environment without much of a problem. The devotees come to the temple in traditional dresses and pray sincerely and do archana.

The temple is well maintained and there are many beautiful paintings depicting Puranic stories on the roof in the Temple Mandapum by the artist from Mahabaalipuram in Tamil Nadu

The temple is located at the heart of Nadi town and close to the Nadi river. During the recent flood the water level rose over 8 feet in the temple ground and fortunately the main shrines and other shrines were not affected because the mandapum was at a higher elevation. Priest quarters and storeroom with hundred of books, CDs and printed matters were underwater and all the contents were destroyed. However, thankfully Thaipoosum festival went on without any difficulties since the rain stopped in time and water was drained few days before.

A short video on the Nadi Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple

Dr R Sri Ravindra Rajah