Dakuwaqa

In Fijian mythology, Dakuwaqa (Dakuwanga) is a shark-god.

Myths & Legends
He was greatly respected by fishermen because he protected them from any danger at sea and sometimes protected them from evil denizens of the sea.

He was once going inland to conquer Kadavu Island through the river when another goddess challenged him in the form of an octopus. 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.

In the book Pacific Irishman, the Anglican priest William Floyd records when his ship was almost capsized by a great shark while off the coast of Levuka. The local sailors poured kava (a bitter drink) into the sea, which calmed the shark:

"When I came to Fiji the famed fish-god, the Dakuwaqa, was very much a reality. ... A great fish, which [the captain] described as near 60 feet in length, brown-spotted and mottled on its back, with the head of a shark and the tail of a whale, came up under his ship, almost capsizing it. The crew, instantly awake and concerned... pour[ed] a strong libation of kava into the sea, which, it would seem, was just the right idea for placating fish-gods; the monster slowly submerged, the breeze gradually gathered the cutter away, its keel dragging along the monster's back, making the skin pale."

Appearance
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.

Modern Depictions

 * American writer Jeff VanderMeer wrote a story about Dakuwaqa that can be found in his book, the Third Bear.


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


 * Dakuwaqa is the father of the famous villain "King Shark" of DC Universe.