.....and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images
resembling mortal man
and birds
and animals
and creeping things.
Romans 1:23 ESV
"In Fijian mythology, the deity of the sea known as Dakuwaqa is regarded as a shark-god. He was very popular with the fishermen because he would protect them from sharks and other dangerous creatures at sea.
He is often described as a muscular man with an upper torso that’s usually associated with a great white shark but he can also alter his appearance due to his abilities of shape shifting.
According to some legends, before he became known as Dakuwaqa, he was the leader of the village’s gonedau or fishermen’s clan and was referred to as Cakaubalavu. During fishing trips, the clan prepared a special dessert known as qalu, which was made from banana leaves and coconut milk syrup. This was part of the ritual performed when fishermen go out to sea.
After returning, Cakaubalavu and his companions learned that the qalu that they prepared had been eaten. He then went into a fit of rage and turned into a shark after diving into the sea and overturning thrice. He vowed to leave Beqa with his fellow fisherman in order to look for other land and became the god that we know of today.
In the pivotal encounter with the octopus near Kadavu, Dakuwaqa's aggressive assault triggered massive waves, but he ultimately begged for mercy and vowed to safeguard the island's people from shark attacks, a promise that transformed his role from conqueror to benevolent protector.
Dakuwaqa engages in notable rivalries with other sea deities, particularly in tales emphasizing the enforcement of maritime boundaries and the balance of power in oceanic realms."
Mythlock/Gtokpedia
"In Fijian mythology, the deity of the sea known as Dakuwaqa is regarded as a shark-god. He was very popular with the fishermen because he would protect them from sharks and other dangerous creatures at sea.
According to some legends, before he became known as Dakuwaqa, he was the leader of the village’s gonedau or fishermen’s clan and was referred to as Cakaubalavu. During fishing trips, the clan prepared a special dessert known as qalu, which was made from banana leaves and coconut milk syrup. This was part of the ritual performed when fishermen go out to sea.
After returning, Cakaubalavu and his companions learned that the qalu that they prepared had been eaten. He then went into a fit of rage and turned into a shark after diving into the sea and overturning thrice. He vowed to leave Beqa with his fellow fisherman in order to look for other land and became the god that we know of today.
In the pivotal encounter with the octopus near Kadavu, Dakuwaqa's aggressive assault triggered massive waves, but he ultimately begged for mercy and vowed to safeguard the island's people from shark attacks, a promise that transformed his role from conqueror to benevolent protector.
Dakuwaqa engages in notable rivalries with other sea deities, particularly in tales emphasizing the enforcement of maritime boundaries and the balance of power in oceanic realms."
Mythlock/Gtokpedia