Ellegua
Encyclopedia
In Yoruba mythology
, Ellegua is an Orisha
(spirit) associated with "opening the ways", or crossroads. Often depicted as a child or a small man, he is a playful; a trickster and a strategist amongst the divinities.
Worshippers often have a cement head with a metal spike in the top, and cowrie shells for eyes and mouth, as a representation of Ellegua which receives offerings and protects in return.
Santería
practitioners often have an Ellegua head behind their front door as he is said to protect the entry way and prevent harm from entering the dwelling.
Receiving a consecrated Ellegua head is part of the Santería initiation known as Los Guerreros (the Warriors).
Ellegua is said to like candy, toys, and coconut as offerings, or anything children would enjoy. In return he helps people overcome various problems.
In the Ifá
tradition practiced by the Babalawo
, ellegua is used to open the way for the of prophesy orunmila
.
It is said that Ellegua is a manifestation of Eshu
, a primordial force that spawned out of a rock. The mother of Ellegua is said to be Oya
.
Ellegua's fills a similar role in Santería as Papa Legba
in Vodou.
Yoruba mythology
The Yorùbá religion comprises the original religious beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people. Its homeland is in Southwestern Nigeria and the adjoining parts of Benin and Togo, a region that has come to be known as Yorubaland...
, Ellegua is an Orisha
Orisha
An Orisha is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system....
(spirit) associated with "opening the ways", or crossroads. Often depicted as a child or a small man, he is a playful; a trickster and a strategist amongst the divinities.
Worshippers often have a cement head with a metal spike in the top, and cowrie shells for eyes and mouth, as a representation of Ellegua which receives offerings and protects in return.
Santería
Santería
Santería is a syncretic religion of West African and Caribbean origin influenced by Roman Catholic Christianity, also known as Regla de Ocha, La Regla Lucumi, or Lukumi. Its liturgical language, a dialect of Yoruba, is also known as Lucumi....
practitioners often have an Ellegua head behind their front door as he is said to protect the entry way and prevent harm from entering the dwelling.
Receiving a consecrated Ellegua head is part of the Santería initiation known as Los Guerreros (the Warriors).
Ellegua is said to like candy, toys, and coconut as offerings, or anything children would enjoy. In return he helps people overcome various problems.
In the Ifá
Ifá
Ifá refers to the system of divination and the verses of the literary corpus known as the Odú Ifá. Yoruba religion identifies Orunmila as the Grand Priest; as that which revealed Oracle divinity to the world...
tradition practiced by the Babalawo
Babalawo
Babalawo is a Yorùbá chieftaincy title that denotes a Priest of Ifá. Ifa is a divination system that represents the teachings of the Orisha Orunmila, the Spirit of Wisdom, who in turn serves as the oracular representative of God...
, ellegua is used to open the way for the of prophesy orunmila
Orunmila
In the Yoruba religion, Orunmila is the Yoruba Grand Priest and custodian of Ifá. This source of knowledge is believed to have a keen understanding of the human form and of purity, praised as being often more effective than remedies; his followers and priests are known as Babalawo.- Mythical...
.
It is said that Ellegua is a manifestation of Eshu
Eshu
Èṣù is both an orisha and one of the most well-known deities of the Yoruba mythology and its related New World traditions.He has a wide range of responsibilities: the protector of travelers, deity of roads, particularly...
, a primordial force that spawned out of a rock. The mother of Ellegua is said to be Oya
Oya
In Yoruba mythology, Oya , is the Undergoddess of the Niger River. Oya has been syncretized in Santería with the Catholic images of the Virgin of Candelaria.-Aspects:...
.
Ellegua's fills a similar role in Santería as Papa Legba
Papa Legba
In Haitian Vodou, Papa Legba is the intermediary between the loa and humanity. He stands at a spiritual crossroads and gives permission to speak with the spirits of Guinee, and is believed to speak all human languages...
in Vodou.