Fiji Islands - Nadi
Sri Shiva Subramaniya Swami Temple
Never would one imagine finding a Hindu temple here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Instead there is: Sri Subramaniya Swami is a beautiful Hindu temple that is located on the outskirts of Nadi, heading south. The temple is one of the few outside of India (others are in Singapore) that allows to admire the traditional Dravidian architecture typical of South India. Undoubtedly this is the easternmost.
The temple and the side buildings that make up the complex are decorated with hundreds of colorful wooden figurines of the Hindu deities, brought here directly from India. The weight, height and width of each of the representations have a specific religious significance.
The temple can be visited by paying a modest entrance fee. When visiting Sri Shiva Subramaniya, remember that it is a sacred place and therefore worthy of respect. It is necessary to dress decently and take off your shoes.
Theoretically, out of respect for the Hindu creed, visitors should remain fasting of meat and eggs on the day of the visit, but who can know it. The sacred complex is divided into three parts and is dedicated to the deity Murugan, the god of war, whose statue is positioned inside the main temple that has the characteristic pyramidal shape of the "gopuram" of Indian temples. The second part of the temple is dedicated to Ganesh, the elephant-god who removes obstacles, or more generally the lord of the beginnings and of the auspicious, protector of science and the arts and god of intellect and wisdom. Finally, the third part of the temple is dedicated to Meenakshi and Shiva. Shiva is one of the highest Hindu deities while Meenakshi, his wife, is one of the few female deities, and represents life and beauty.
The legend tells that Meenakshi was the king's daughter born with three breasts and fish eyes ("meen" means fish and "akshi" means eyes), so ugly instead, but the third breast would disappear the day Meenakshi met her future husband. One day she went to the Himalayas and at the sight of Shiva the third breast disappeared. Many deities attended their wedding, but during the banquet the gods refused to start eating unless Shiva did a great dance for everyone. Shiva then danced the cosmic dance Chidambaran, and ciragging in front of his wife brought all the existing life force and beauty into her. Thus Meenakshi became the representation of life and beauty.
The temple was built following the ancient Dravidian architectural tradition and the principles of sacred architecture Vastu Vedic. Inside the temple it is forbidden to take photographs, which are allowed throughout the outdoor area.
Fiji Islands - Nadi
Sri Shiva Subramaniya Swami Temple
Never would one imagine finding a Hindu temple here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Instead there is: Sri Subramaniya Swami is a beautiful Hindu temple that is located on the outskirts of Nadi, heading south. The temple is one of the few outside of India (others are in Singapore) that allows to admire the traditional Dravidian architecture typical of South India. Undoubtedly this is the easternmost.
The temple and the side buildings that make up the complex are decorated with hundreds of colorful wooden figurines of the Hindu deities, brought here directly from India. The weight, height and width of each of the representations have a specific religious significance.
The temple can be visited by paying a modest entrance fee. When visiting Sri Shiva Subramaniya, remember that it is a sacred place and therefore worthy of respect. It is necessary to dress decently and take off your shoes.
Theoretically, out of respect for the Hindu creed, visitors should remain fasting of meat and eggs on the day of the visit, but who can know it. The sacred complex is divided into three parts and is dedicated to the deity Murugan, the god of war, whose statue is positioned inside the main temple that has the characteristic pyramidal shape of the "gopuram" of Indian temples. The second part of the temple is dedicated to Ganesh, the elephant-god who removes obstacles, or more generally the lord of the beginnings and of the auspicious, protector of science and the arts and god of intellect and wisdom. Finally, the third part of the temple is dedicated to Meenakshi and Shiva. Shiva is one of the highest Hindu deities while Meenakshi, his wife, is one of the few female deities, and represents life and beauty.
The legend tells that Meenakshi was the king's daughter born with three breasts and fish eyes ("meen" means fish and "akshi" means eyes), so ugly instead, but the third breast would disappear the day Meenakshi met her future husband. One day she went to the Himalayas and at the sight of Shiva the third breast disappeared. Many deities attended their wedding, but during the banquet the gods refused to start eating unless Shiva did a great dance for everyone. Shiva then danced the cosmic dance Chidambaran, and ciragging in front of his wife brought all the existing life force and beauty into her. Thus Meenakshi became the representation of life and beauty.
The temple was built following the ancient Dravidian architectural tradition and the principles of sacred architecture Vastu Vedic. Inside the temple it is forbidden to take photographs, which are allowed throughout the outdoor area.