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Who is Eleggua?

Published : 08/04/2019 - Categories : Orishas

Eleggua is one of the seven fundamental gods of the Yoruba Pantheon.

Because of his great importance, he is first to be called in every religious ceremony and the last to say goodbye. It is the first protection since it is he who opens the way to continue in religion. The uninitiated or aleyos must receive it or consecrate it as first. It is the view that follows a path, becomes a fearsome and fierce warrior when he joins Oggún and Ochosi, nothing stops him. Eleguá is one of the first Oshas or Orishas that is received. He is the first of the group of four warriors (Elegguá, Oggún, Ochosi, and Osun), and won with Olofi, Obbatalá and Orula sufficient privileges to be the first. Eleguá came to the earthly plane accompanying the Osha Obbatalá. He is considered the fundamental messenger of Olofin.

He lives in most cases behind the door, taking care of the ilé of who owns it. Absolute owner of the roads and destiny, he is the one who closes or opens the astral for the happiness or unhappiness of human beings. You should always count on him to do anything. He is the doorman of the savannah and the woods

It is an Osha that settles, goes to the mat on the day of Osha itá and speaks for the diloggun. The main sign of the Olosha is determined by his conversation and that of the guardian angel. He is also the main interpreter of the letters of the oracle system of the diloggun and plays a fundamental role in the subsystems of the oracle of Biangue or Aditoto. It is delivered by Babaloshas and Iyaloshas. He has been the only one who has gone and returned from the world of Ará Onú. He won enough privileges from Olofin, Obbatalá, and Orunmila to be the first to be served. His hand of snails is the largest since it consists of 21, these are also the number of their paths. It belongs to par excellence with Obbatalá the oracle of the coconut (Obí).

Elegguá is the son of Okuboro and Añagui, the kings of the Egbá region. Its original name comes from the Yoruba Esu Elegbara (prince messenger of those who lives in Egbá). It is also said that he was the son of Obbatalá and Yembó, brother of Shangó, Oggún, Osun, and Orunmila.

He speaks for all the Odu by this belonging to him, but fundamentally he does it for Oddi, Okana Sode, and Ojuani Shogbe.

Eleguá sits on an otá (stone), otá conchífera, reef, otá with load, snail cobo with load, a dry coconut or mass with the load. It is placed in a flat vessel. Its attributes are:

  • The jingle bells
  • 1 Guava doodle
  • 1 mouse trap
  • Coins
  • Child toys (balls, pitos, rattles, tops, kites)
  • Guano or straw hat
  • 1 Maraca painted with its colors.
  • Door keys
  • Gold nuggets
  • Silver coins.

Their elekes (necklaces) are of alternating red and black beads.

Goats, roosters or chickens, chicks, guinea pigs, black or red mice are immolated.

His taboos are the pigeons and the guinea because they weaken him.

Their ewes are Abre Camino, Sabe Lección, Croto, Algarrobo, Almácigo, Berro, Albahaca, Ají chileno, Ají guao guao, Alamo, Atiponlá, Almendra, Pata de gallina, Ceiba, Curujey, Chichicate, Bejuco guaro, Jobo, Peonía, Peregún, Maravilla, Pica Pica, Raspa Lengua, Siempreviva, Rompesaragüey, Verdolaga, Travesura, Zarza blanca, Pendejera, Piñón botija, etc.

When Elegguá comes down, he will run and get behind the door. Then he will jump and contort, making funny faces and playing like children. Some of their movements can be very erotic. He will tease the audience and may disappear from view to appear at the least expected moment. A characteristic step is to stand on one foot and spin quickly. You will always be given a scribble, you will use it to mimic the opening of a path through dense vegetation. The other dancers will imitate their movements, individually or in groups against the hands of the clock.

He is greeted by giving 3 touches on the ground in front of him. Elegguá resides at the door, which marks the border between two worlds: the internal (tranquility of the home) and the external (danger and perversity).

When we pray we ask for Health (Didara), Luck (Oriré), Money (Owó) and Prosperity and we pray:

<< ... Owner of all 4 corners, mayor of the road, my father, take away the bad so that he can walk with health, that there are no sick people, that he has not lost, that there is no revolution, that there is no death, in everyone's name, I thank you my father Elegguá.
(Elegguá laroye asu comaché ichá fofá guara omi tuto, ana tuto, tú tu babami cosi ikú, cosi aro, cosi ofó, arayé, cosi achelú, cosi éun afonfó molei delo omodei.)..>>

When presenting Elegguá, offerings should be listed aloud. It is soba with corojo butter (Epó), honey (Oñi), toasted corn (Aguadó), jutía (Ekun) and smoked fish (Ellá guí guí). Immediately 3 peppercorns are taken (Atare) and brandy (Oti) is blown and a few puffs of tobacco smoke (Hasha) are thrown and left on its side. A candle is lit (Atana).

Echú elewa oga gbogbo namirin ita alagbana baba mi nulo na buruku nitosi le choncho kuelú kuikuo oki kosi ofo, kosi eyo, kosi ku, kosi ano ni orukó mi gbogbo omonile fú kuikuo odueve, baba mi elewa.

Greeting: I refresh you to open the road with the permission of my elderly parents, I play the maraca so that you open the door for peace, prosperity, evolution, professional activity, money, love, stability, health, firmness, happiness, abundance, harmony, wisdom and good luck, for me and for all my family and friends. Also counting on my guardian angel, godfather and all the representatives of the Yoruba pantheon.

It is said that Elegguá has 21 roads, although some argue that they are 101 or more. In each of them he has a different characteristic or responsibility related to the place of the house or the nature where he lives. Some of them are named below.

  • Elegua Abaile
  • Elegua Afrá
  • Elegua Agbanukué (Agbanuké).
  • Elegua Akéru
  • Elegua Agongo Ogo
  • Elegua Akesan
  • Elegua Alá Le Ilú
  • Elegua Alá Lu Banshé
  • Elegua Alaroye Akokelebiyú
  • Elegua Awó Bara
  • Elegua Elufé
  • Eshu Lode
  • Eshu Igide
  • Eshu Kaminalowá
  • Eshu Akarajéu
  • Eshu Aselu
  • Eshu Ijelú
  • Eshu Alalúbanse
  • Eshu Diki
  • Eshu Dare
  • Eshu Bara Dage
  • Eshu Afrodi
  • Eshu Abanunkue
  • Eshu Abalonke
  • Eshu Aberu
  • Eshu Aganika
  • Eshu Agomeyo
  • Eshu Agongo Olo Onya
  • Eshu Agongo Ogo
  • Eshu Alaguana
  • Eshu Anaquil
  • Eshu Ananaki
  • Eshu Aroni
  • Eshu Beleke
  • Eshu Batiye
  • Eshu Biri
  • Eshu Echenike
  • Eshu Ekileyo
  • Eshu Grillelu
  • Eshu Ekuboro
  • Eshu Loboni
  • Eshu Laroye
  • Elegua Laye
  • Elegua Okada
  • Elegua Sokere
  • Elegua Aye
  • Elegua Elefe
  • Elegua Manzaquillo
  • Elegua Elegbara
  • Elegua Odara
  • Elegua Agogo
  • Elegua Awala Boma
  • Elegua Oro
  • Elegua Opin
  • Elegua Alaketu
  • Elegua Isheri
  • Elegua Gogo
  • Elegua Wara

Form a trilogy with Oggún and Oshosi.

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