CHANDRIKA Prasad and his wife Uma Wati have been caretakers at the Naag Pattar Mandir or snake temple for more than 20 years.
They know too well the ins and outs of the temple, which story has hit headlines locally and internationally.
The temple at Nagigi 12 kilometres northeast of Labasa Town has its own unique story. Inside it is a big rock which worshippers say has been growing over the years.
The snake temple was almost filled from floor to ceiling with the huge, natural rock — which quite clearly resembled a giant cobra with its head upright and its hood spread wide.
The story of this rock is known by many people especially to Hindu believers from Vanua Levu. This rock is of significant importance in their lives because it is their God that they have worshipped for many years.
According to Chandrika, 70, he was just a child when he used to put garlands on the rock every day which was just his size then. As the years go by, they have had to use a ladder to decorate the rock with garlands.
This temple, probably the largest in the Northern Division, has been visited by so many people because of the story behind it.
Pundit Anil Maharaj, the priest in charge, said 10 years ago they had to move the roof a bit higher because the rock kept growing.
What used to be a normal garlanding of the snake god is no more because devotees now have to use a long bamboo pole to garland their god.
Pundit Maharaj shared they were always amazed by the number of people from Fiji and around the world who turned up in numbers to visit with their prashant (offerings) because they wanted to be blessed by the snake god.
The priest also explained that according to their holy books, people’s desires are fulfilled when they pray to God and they should inform God when they really need help.
The Nagigi Mandir is open from 6am to 6pm, seven days a week, and everyone is welcome to witness the growing rock.
On the other side of Vanua Levu, near Savusavu Town, an amazing story of the snake god also sprung up in the past two years and worshippers in Nukuloa, Savusavu said it was revealed to them in a dream.
The president of the Naag Deo Sthan Temple in Savusavu, Sami Viswa Nand, said approximately two years ago one of their elders had a dream that their God was in this rock opposite Copra Millers Fiji Ltd outside Savusavu Town.
It was this dream that prompted them to construct a shelter around the rock and to date, the rock is still growing and there is no plan to build a permanent shelter because of the fear they might have to keep changing the roof every now and then.
“Since we started praying two years ago, we could see the head growing,” Mr Nand explained.
“This has been the case for some times now and we feel every blessings coming our way because our God is with us and we offer our prayers to him every day.
“In our belief, the snake god heals the sick and meets our needs when we offer him our prayers.”
The temple, although a temporary one, has been visited by people locally and even those from Australia, Canada and other parts of the world who have come to offer their prayers to the snake god and others who just wanted to drop by for a visit.
Mr Nand said it was a blessing to know their god was all around them and could turn to it when they were in need.
