Dakuwaqa

In Fijian mythology, Dakuwaqa (Dakuwanga) is a shark-god.[1] He was greatly respected by fishermen[2] because he protected them from any danger at sea[3] and sometimes protected them from evil denizens of the sea.[4]

He was once going inland to conquer Kadavu Island[5] through the river when another goddess[6] challenged him in the form of an octopus.[7] After a great battle, the octopus won by pulling out his teeth and her 8 arms which enabled her to hold off the massive attack of Dakuwaqa, forcing Dakuwaqa to promise to never attack Kadavu again. That is how Dakuwaqa became the god and protector of Kadavu. Dakuwaqa can also change shape into anything, but his real form is that of a muscular Fijian man with the upper torso of a shark.[8]

In the book Pacific Irishman,[9] the Anglican priest William Floyd records in Chapter 1, Creation:

“ When I came to Fiji the famed fish-god, the Dakuwaqa, was very much a reality. The Government ship, the Lady Escott, reached Levuka with signs of an encounter with the great fish, while the late Captain Robbie, a well known, tall, and very erect Scot, even to his nineties, told of the sleepy afternoon as his cutter was sailing from his tea estate at Wainunu, under a very light wind, with most of the crew dozing. ”
This stone sculpture depicts Avatea, who is similar to Dakuwaqa

In popular culture

American writer Jeff VanderMeer wrote a story about Dakuwaqa that can be found in his book, The Third Bear.[10]

Dakuwaqa is featured and recreated in the third episode of the TV miniseries Beast Legends.

See also

Sources

  1. ↑ Fijian Medicinal Plants by RC Cambie,J Ash
  2. ↑ Bed the turtle softly: legends of the South Pacific by Mary Edith Branham and Joel S. Branham. "Many are the stories about the shark-god Dakuwaqa."
  3. ↑ Deuba: A Study of a Fijian Village by William Robert Geddes
  4. ↑ The People of the Sea: Environment, Identity, And History in Oceania. Author: Paul D'Arcy. Please see this page. "His Fijian crew addressed the creature as Dakuwaqa, and promised it kava if it did not harm them. Dakuwaqa had a history of fierce retribution against seafarers who did not respect him, but had rescued his worshippers from trouble at sea."
  5. ↑ Fiji by Dean Starnes,Nana Luckham. Featuring more diving information than many other guides, this work also includes options for sustainable travel, comprehensive trip itineraries.
  6. ↑ She is everywhere! : an anthology of writings in womanist/feminist spirituality by Mary Saracino. According to Mary Saracino, the great octopus was a goddess.
  7. ↑ Dakuwaqa The Shark God. "One of the best known gods in Fijian legends is the fierce sea-monster Dakuwaqa. He was the guardian of the reef entrance of the islands, fearless, headstrong and jealous. He frequently changed himself into the form of a shark and travelled around the islands fighting all the other reef guardians."
  8. ↑ The Fierce Sea God
  9. ↑ Pacific Irishman
  10. ↑ The Third Bear
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