Shree Vishnu Temple, formerly known as the Atithi Sewa Samiti Sanatan Dharam Sabha, located along Lautoka’s Vitogo Parade was initially built to provide for sleep-over visitors and guests travelling to Lautoka since there were very few hotels or guest houses around 1945.
Pundit Hitendra Kumar Shastri, who has been the resident priest of the temple since 2007, said the temple has come a long way since its initial establishment.
He said to overcome the accommodation issue, the founders had a vision and worked towards the establishment of Atithi Sewa Samiti Sanatan Dharam Sabha.
“In 1946, a piece of land was bought for £600 by the committee from Sheik Said to build the temple,” Mr Shastri said.
“Pundit Ram Bodh Sharma donated £150 to meet part of the costs while the balance of £450 was loaned from a lawyer, which was later paid back through donations from members and others.”
He said in 1956 Pundit Davendra Vijay from India officially opened the new temple building.
“Three years later an extension was made to the existing building and in 1960 a hall was built in front of the new temple, which was further extended four years later.”
Mr Shastri said in 1966, Meghji Arjun donated the marble idol of Lord Vishnu which was brought from India for £150.
“On Sunday, September 4, 1966, the marble idol was installed (sthapana) in the special prayer house of the temple in the presence of Pundit Shreedhar Maharaj of Suva.
“In 1967, an ashram was built for the resident priest of the temple adjacent to the temple building. Further extensions to the temple were done two years later to accommodate the commencement of a kindergarten school in 1970.”
Mr Shastri said according to records, the late Hari Chand Akhil of Lautoka gave the idol of goddess Lakshmi and Lord Shiva for the main Pooja room and later on the Shiv Linga and Nandi were donated by Mr and Mrs Thakorlal of Lautoka.
He said the Ganesh Murti was given by Mr and Mrs P Kishore of Lautoka while the Hanuman Ji Murti was gifted by Mr and Mrs Ram Charan of Lautoka.
“The current Shiv Temple was constructed in 1979 by the then Vishnu Temple Mahila Mandal.”
Mr Shastri said Pundit Tota Ram Sharma, who was the first full-time resident priest of the temple, played a crucial role in the growth of the temple. “He served the temple for more than 25 years and over the years trained a number of priests and contributed immensely towards the making of the temple to its present state.
“After Pundit Tota Ram Sharma, Pundit Suman Sharma looked after the affairs of the temple and it was then that I joined in as the resident priest in 2007.”
Some of the important Hindu festivals being celebrated at the temple include Maha Shivratri, Ram Navmi, Hanuman Jayanti, Krishna Janamashtami, Shree Ganesh Utsav, Navratri, Govardhan Pooja, Tulsi Vivah, Purushottam Maas and weddings. Mr Shastri said Hindu devotees from overseas also visit the temple.
“If anyone prays with a pure heart here at the temple, their wishes are always fulfilled.
The temple has also served as a shrine for many girmitiya in the Lautoka area who stayed back and made Fiji their home.”
