April 28, 1976 : Fiji
Hari Sauri: We arrived in Fiji at 1:30 P.M. Present at Nandi airport, Lautoka, to greet Srila Prabhupada with fresh, fragrant garlands of frangipani and marigolds, were Upendra Dasa, Mr. Deoji Punja, and a small gathering of their friends. Mr. Punja is a respectful, humble, middle-aged man who has seriously taken up Krishna consciousness, observing all the regulative principles and chanting the mahamantra every day. After seeing Prabhupada's success in spreading Krishna consciousness in Australia, he was inspired to build an ISKCON temple here.
Prabhupada has recommended that they install the Deity of Kaliya-Krishna. He explained that Fiji was the island where the serpent Kaliya lived after Garuda drove him from his home. Later, he went to India where he polluted the entire Yamuna river, causing Lord Krishna to chastise him. After this, Kaliya returned to Fiji. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada said, there are no snakes in Fiji because Kaliya ate them. Mr. Punja informed us that according to a centuries-old local legend there is a gigantic, many-hooded snake said to be living in a cave in the interior of the island.
The temple is to be built here in Lautoka. It will have three large domes, following the same basic design as ISKCON Vrindavana, but on a smaller scale. It will be the first custom-built ISKCON temple outside India.
Prabhupada has recommended that they install the Deity of Kaliya-Krishna. He explained that Fiji was the island where the serpent Kaliya lived after Garuda drove him from his home. Later, he went to India where he polluted the entire Yamuna river, causing Lord Krishna to chastise him. After this, Kaliya returned to Fiji. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada said, there are no snakes in Fiji because Kaliya ate them. Mr. Punja informed us that according to a centuries-old local legend there is a gigantic, many-hooded snake said to be living in a cave in the interior of the island.
The temple is to be built here in Lautoka. It will have three large domes, following the same basic design as ISKCON Vrindavana, but on a smaller scale. It will be the first custom-built ISKCON temple outside India.
Reference: A Transcendental Diary Volume 2 - Hari Sauri Dasa
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