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{Nav Durga Mandir Visama}}

Nav Durga Mandir
Nav Durga Mandir, also known as Visama Mandir or Ram Bharat Maharaj Mandir is a temple dedicated to the worship of Amba devi or Amba mata and her siblings. The temple is located in a semi urban settlement named Visama Feeder Road which is why the temple is also named Visama Mandir (mandir meaning temple or place of worship in Hindi)

History of the founders
The temple was founded by late mr Ram Bharat Maharaj and mrs Keola Pati Maharaj in the year 1974. The main goddess of the temple which is Amba devi, is the “kuldevi” or the family goddess of the Maharaj Family. The gotra of the Maharaj Familiy is shandilya gotra according to which their kuldevi is Amba mata. The maharaj family are the descendants of the indian indentured labourers who had come to Fiji under the girmit contract to work on sugarcane plantations. However, mr ram bharat maharaj’s father mr Sankata Dass Maharaj was not brought as an indentured labrourer but as a cook at the then governor generals house. The family first settled in Vunivaivai settlement (a settlement neighbouring Visama settlement), then in Nukumoto settlement and lastly in Visama settlement. Due to being a lady devoted to the worship of the divine mother, mrs maharaj intended to build a temple dedicated entirely to mother amba and so in the year 1974, with the help of her husband, brothers-in-law and her six sons, she was able to construct a temple for her worship to amba mata. Mr and mrs maharaj had six sons and nine daughters.

The statues in the temple
The temple currently has big statues numbering up to eleven. The main statue which is worshipped as the main one is placed in the middle. The temple also accommodates the statues of lord hanuman, lord dee baba or sangini baba, mother kali, mother Shakti, mother durga, lord ganesh, lord Krishna, mother ganga, mother laxmi, and lord shiva. The main statue of amba mata is placed in the middle. The staues are approximately 43 years old and each has their own history. In front of the main amba mata statue is placed the staue of a small amba mata. This statue was the first statue that was worshipped in the temple. It had been brought from a mandir located in Ba town in the Fiji islands.

Hanuman statue
The hanuman statue is given much reverence at the temple. Since lord hanuman is always found walking in from of amba mata, a special prayer is always offered to him before any pooja conducted at the temple. The hanuman statue is about 1.5 metre tall. On every occasion, a hanuman roth katha is offered to hanuman. Since lord hanuman is a “baal brahmchaari”, only the men are are allowed to change the clothes of the statue. An annual roth katha is offered to hanuman ji at the temple at the time of the annual pooja, navratri pooja, Krishna janmashtami, and ramnavmi.

Dee baba statue
The statue of dee baba also plays a sigficant role in the temple. Dee baba is considered to be the brother of amba mata, kali mata and other devis worshipped at the temple. The history of dee babas statue is vey unique. Once when amba mata’s statue was being installed, mrs maharaj had forgot to invite devi ganga and shiv. This had resulted in heavy rain throughout the process from ba to the temple. Then, remembering her fault, mrs maharaj pacified the deities by getting their statues made for the temple as well. This had resulted in the construction of dee baba’s statue as well. Every year, an annual pooja is dedicated to dee baba on which several rituals are performed and several delicacies, mainly food, are offered to baba. The statue is about 1.10 metres tall.

Shakti mata and durga mata statues
The temple is so well known that a man from India had approached Fiji to install two more statues in the temple mainly Shakti mata and durga mata statues. The statues are made of marble stone are a task for people to lift. The statue of Shakti mata is 75cm tall while the statue of durga mata is about 90cm tall. The statue are usually lifted off their place during the time of devi bhagwat puran at the temple.

Amba mata statue
The amba mata statue, which is the main statue of the temple is located in the midst of all the other statues in the temple. The statue is about 1.10 m tall.

Ganga mata statue
The temple possesses a 90cm tall ganga mata statue which was made to pacify the anger of the goddess when mrs maharaj had forgot to invite maa ganga to the installation process of amba mata’a statue.

Other statues
The temple also accommodates the statue of kali mata, ganesh ji, lacthmi mata and Krishna whose histories are unknown.

Dressing and care of the statues
The statues are cleaned, dressed and cared for by the maharaj family till date. Particularly, mr and mrs maharaj’s second eldest family looks after the temple and dress the statues up. The statues wear normal clothes .i.e they wear normal full length saris and clothes as humans do. Once a year during the annual pooja of the temple, the inner clothes of the deities which is their under garments are changed since it is considered inauspicious to fully undress the dieties every now and then.

Outside the temple
The main statues are placed and worshipped in a special chamber in which many certain rules are placed. Apart from this, five shrines are also made in the shed surrounding the chamber. The five thaan or shrines belong to the govardhan hill, shiv ling, amba mata, dee baba and kali mata. Diya is lit daily on theses shrines.

Daily worship
Apart from holding and hosting several festival and ceremonial pooja at the temple, a set of daily worship is offered at the goddess. The procedure includes the cleansing of the temple, lighting diyas at the shrines, offering jal or water followed by mangal aarti. The mangal aarti is performed daily in the morning and afternoon.

Other prayers and festivals
the temple also holds ceremonies for festivals such as ram navmi, shiv ratri, Krishna janmashtami, navratri pooja etc. annual pooja and navratri pooja the temple is also known for its special pooja known as “bada pooja” meaning big pooja or “saal pooja” meaning annual pooja. During this period, strict fasts are observed. A special day especially Sunday is taken out on which a flag is raised to honour the kuldevi. This is followed by havan and parikrima pooja in which the big statues of the gods and goddess inside are taken out and rotated around the main chamber. On the navratris, dhaar is dropped daily at the temple. A durga paath pooja is also offered and the nine flags of the amba mata shrine are worshipped. This is accompanied by the feeding of the nine little girls and feeding the entire crowd at the temple.

Prayers on Fridays
Every Friday is dedicated to amba mata and dhar is dropped in at the shrines and a special place dedicated to amba mata. The dhaar is made of many spices and liquids grounded and mixed together.

Annual dee baba pooja
Just as an annual pooja is dedicated to amba mata, a similar pooja is dedicated to dee baba after eight days of the annual pooja of amba mata. During this time, dee baba is thanked and offered food, and offerings and dhaar.

Shivling at the temple
. The temple also has a huge shivling which is worshipped daily. It is said that the shivling had once begun to grow. The shivling is one of its kind and rare to be found in the country. It has a pair of naag raj statue and baby Ganga mata with it as well. Special worships are offered on every shiv ratri.

Rules of the temple
The temple has specific rules and regulations which are necessary to follow and as it is said that the violation of these rues may cause harm. Some rules include: •	Not keeping salt or articles or food made of salt in the main chamber •	Not offering dhar when one has consumed salt •	Sacrificing the right amounts of material at the right place. •	Etc •