ᐈ Elegua 【Who is it, its History, Prayers, 21 Paths and More】

The Yoruba religion is very extensive, it has more than 400 deities within its cult. However, at present, there are a few that remain as main ones. The deity that will be discussed today is one of the most important. So if you are interested in knowing everything about eleguáyou have come to the right article.

Eleguá: who is

We will begin by defining your person. Who is Eleggua? you may wonder. This is an Orisha belonging to the Odé group. Better known as The Warriors. It is also made up of other saints such as Ochosi, Oshún and Oggún. But Eleguá is the main one of them all.

From a natural point of view, the experts will tell you that Eleguá is among us. Specifically in the rocks of the universe. Furthermore, its power is such that is the main messenger of the Almighty God, Olofin. And it is said that he came down to earth accompanied by the creator, that is, Obatalá. So his age is an important factor.

He is known for being the main interpreter of Diloggún. And this resides in most houses that have the Ilé. In order to protect who owns it from all evils. Pull the strings of fateso people turn to him when their paths are cut short.

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It has the ability to bring happiness to people or not. That is why it is important to always keep it happy and well cared for. On the other hand, it covers the doors of the great savannahs and the immense plains. Thanks to her immense trajectory as an Orisha, Eleguá has won the position to always be the first to be served, above all the other Orishas.

This is because his figure is very important within Santeria. Inclusive, It is a fundamental role within the oracle of Biangue, also known as Adioto. His representation in the world is like that of Obatalá, in the form of Coco.

Your day

The day for all Orishas is taken very seriously in the Yoruba religion. Both for the Orishas and for their faithful children. This is because on this date there is a special bond. It allows you to pray to him in a more direct way. Or otherwise, offer various things pleasing to the saint.

the day of eleguá It is June 13, thanks to the syncretization with the saint of San Antonio de Padua. On this date the most faithful pilgrims and the children of Elegguá pray to him. The prayers are aimed at exalting his figure and asking him for different types of blessings.

In turn, the dances are a classic of the celebration. There are various dances and rituals dedicated to Eleguá. All are made from deep love and faith that those guided by their father Orisha have. Among the elements offered for the enjoyment of the saint, are:

History

The story of Elegua It has a lot to do with how and why the tradition of placing coconuts behind doors arose. The story tells that a long time ago, a young Eleguá was walking around his home. Suddenly, a coconut bursts into his path and he stopped to hold it.

The young Orisha noticed that a burning light emanated from the coconut and that it had facial features. Everyone made fun of this comment and they did not believe him. They began to treat the object as a toy. One day Eleguá approached the coconut, after hearing a whisper. An unknown voice emerged from the coconut, offering him protection. On the condition that he would take care of him from those who wanted to hurt him.

Eleguá offered to take care of the coconut above all else. And so she took him to his house. Once there, again everyone made fun of him and the fruit. The King’s Helper advised him that it was best to forget that story. And that the best thing was to hide the coconut so that it would not receive more mockery. This deeply saddened the saint, even dying of sadness. This fact shocked the people so much that they blamed the coconut.

The king destined to investigate the fruit and a fortune teller confessed that the death of Eleguá was a revenge. This came from the genie that resides inside the coconut and that his revenge was for all the ridicule he received against him. Since then, everyone in the kingdom has revered the fruit as if there were no tomorrow. The respect was so deep that even today it must be so.

The coconut must have, iris, mouth and ears. This is so that you can communicate in a simple way. Back then, he began to recriminate all those who made fun of him. Since then, currently a coconut with the same characteristics should be placed in homes. So that with his powers he can protect that faithful follower who possesses him.

Elegua, is it bad?

This debate has arisen through time due to the history of Eleguá. The truth about this answer will depend on your perception of things. That is, for you his actions can be both good and bad. However, we will explain a bit of both to make it easier for you to reach a conclusion.

Throughout Santeria history, the figure of Elegguá has not seen himself as a sanctioner with his children. Or failing that, as a negative and evil figure within the cult. In fact it has been quite the opposite. An example of this is the many blessings that he bestows on his children every year.

In addition, since his arrival in Cuba from Africa, he has done nothing more than help his guides. What this Orisha is capable of is to emerge when situations are complex. That is, both in good times and in bad he can appear. However, the perception you have about him will be conditioned in case you are in good condition or not.

On the other hand, many people have been thrown out of religion by him. Given that He opens the door of destinations, and just as he opens them, he also closes them. However, this decision is not taken lightly. Which means that those people who were removed, most likely it was for something. Normally it is due to faults or breaches of basic norms and rules of Santeria.

It is for all this that Eleguá can be seen with good or bad eyes. It all depends on whether a good Orisha represents a protector for you, or if, on the contrary, you believe that he is evil.

Prayer to Eleggua

Prayer in all religions is taken into account as a sign of veneration and respect. Through this action we can become more spiritually involved with the deity. For the above, the prayer to Eleguá it is taken very seriously by santeros and by the children of the Orisha.

In general, prayer has various purposes. One of them may be to ask the deity to open the routes or paths. Likewise, it is common to see requests regarding love, domination and well-being. These prayers are practiced during times of the day when there are not many people in your home. Since you must establish a good bond with the Orisha, and for this you will need certain elements.

He gets into the habit of keeping objects such as: three (3) candles, one white, one blue and one green; honey and a representative figure or image of Eleguá. It should be noted that this must be done under a religious narrative. That is, you must maintain a total and open faith that the Orisha will solve your problem.

The prayer that is performed in a general way to Eleguá begins as follows:

«Oh, great Orisha Eleguá, you who can do everything. I am forced to resort to your presence today so that you can solve what worries me. I (say full name) ask you to (specify the request). I know that you will not leave me adrift, my father Eleguá. Ashe».

The candles must be placed near the altar dedicated to Eleguá. In turn, these must be lit for an estimated period of 15 minutes during the prayer dedicated to the saint. Later you can proceed to turn them off. You must repeat this laborious process for the next few days until all the candles are completely consumed.

Who is Elegua in Catholicism?

As already mentioned, the syncretization within Santeria is due to the process of slavery. That is, during the transfer of Yoruba as slaves. These were taught the Catholic deities. However, they took traits from these religions and kept their beliefs secret.

So many of the Yoruba saints are actually very similar representations of the Catholic ones. This is the case between Santo Elegguá and the Holy Child of Atocha. As well as with the deity of San Antonio de Padua. Both share similar powers, prayers, and abilities.

People dedicate prayers and prayers in his name. In order to receive blessings and respect from her father Orisha. When they feel that situations are beyond their capabilities. They go to the Orishas to ask for help.

Offerings to Elegua

Like the prayers the offerings within santeria have various reasons. Depending on your procedures and the Orisha, he will grant different blessings. Offerings to Eleguáthey can be of a loving style, on the roads or for enemies.

In general terms, the corresponding offerings to Eleguá have to do with paying homage to him. In this sense, you can observe many elements that are especially liked by the Orisha. For example, white candles abound when offering.

The brandy cannot be missing eitherr, since the saints are party-goers many times. In addition, they connect with the good vibes of the environment, and without a doubt a few drinks will give it a lot of atmosphere. Honey candies or simply sweets are also to your liking and can be offered.

The main course of the offerings is taken by the sacrifices. These are varied and have various objectives. Mainly animals are sacrificed, such as goats, roosters, mice or chickens. Sometimes the pigeons are also accepted but it is not usual for Eleguá. You can complement these offerings with a good cigar.

Fruits and vegetables are not a small thing, you can generally find foods or plants like those on the following list:

Offerings to Elegua for Money

The following offering is intended for Eleguá to grant you what you ask for. Your desires should fall under the need narrative with respect to money. Keep in mind that the Orisha can easily tell if you are lying or not. The offering of money for Eleguá it requires a number of items that you need to collect.

In principle, you will need pepper, coconut, candles, white bags and seven coins of any denomination. You must start by dividing the coconut into seven parts, then you take the pieces and dip them in honey. Once you have done this, you continue to sprinkle pepper. You must then place on top of each piece one of the seven (7) coins.

After this, you place everything in the bag and seal it. This must rest for at least seven days at the main entrance from your home. On each of these days a candle should be lit in her honor. You can also complement with…