Do you know these 6 aspects that characterize the Cult of Eggun?

The Cult of Eggun in the Afro-Cuban religion, Santería or Regla de Osha, is very powerful, the dead keep a sacred space in each religious practice, they are venerated with respect and humility.

In the Yoruba Pantheon The so-called Eggun or Eggunes are the spirits of the dead that are under the power of their orisha king: Oddúa.

The spirits that guide us on the earthly plane are beings of light that save us from many difficulties every day, we must thank and remember that every time we wake up it is a new blessing, an opportunity.

If we learn to act with gratitude towards these spiritual guides, our paths will remain open, illuminated, to travel with fewer obstacles, and in case they arise, face them with wisdom and evolution.

Some characteristics of the Eggun and their cult

We share 6 aspects that every religious should know, since they characterize the cult of Eggun in Cuba and other places in the world where they are venerated.

1. Who are the Eggun in the Yoruba religion?

The concept of Eggun refers to the spirits of the ancestors, these can be deceased relatives of our blood family, spirits that approach us to take care of us, even if they are unknown, or also deceased that were initiated by the same godfather that the living believer has. .

The Eggun are beings that somehow protect and care for us on earth, we owe ourselves to them and our respect must be unconditional, and even if we don't see them remember that thanks to their protection we are saved every day.

2. The ancient Cult of Eggun in Cuba

According to the book, Los Orishas en Cuba, the cult of Eggun has not been established in Cuba in the same way that our ancestors practiced it as a result of syncretism and cultural and religious mixtures, but it is present in all rites as part of the tradition of respect for elders and ancestors, since they are the custodians of the secrets of knowledge.

3. The sacred ceremonies to the Eggun

Iku lobi ocha Have you heard this phrase?

It means: “the dead gave birth to the saint” and it is one of the main phrases of the Yoruba religion referring to the spirits, it tells us that in all the houses of saints the first greetings and ceremonies should be directed to the ancestors, seen as the egguns of that house.

For this reason, at the beginning of any prayer or ceremony, the egguns or African ancestors are named, and then the relatives or acquaintances, in the form of respect and veneration.

4. Offerings for Eggun

Various religious elements are offered to the spirits of the dead in Santería (Rule of Osha), depending on the ceremony or the need to connect with their energy and power.

E.g.Depending on what they ask for or what they like, they are offered animals such as rooster and ram, they are also given flowers, usually roses or marpacificos, a very common flower in Cuba, especially easy to get.

Equally, offerings are put to them as:

Cascarilla,
fruits such as coconut (chopped into nine pieces),
foods such as buttered bread and yellow rice
beverages such as coffee with milk, sugar water, clear water,
cigars, tobacco and aguardiente,
specific foods such as a pig's head included in an ajiaco,
various types of sweets, especially homemade.

In case they were spirits that we knew in life, many devotees offer them what they liked to eat when they were alive to pamper them and give them light.

You can read: Do you know what is the cascarilla? How to prepare it? Click here

5. Consult the Eggun

There are several ways to consult the Egguns and communicate with their energy, for example, it can be done through the Eleguá snail to answer our questions.

But they can also be contacted through a spiritual mass and the assistance of a medium. Likewise, the oracle of the coconut can be used to consult them.

6. The pagugu or dead man's cane. What is it?

The pagugu is a cane over a meter long, in Santeria this stick consecrated to Eggun is used as a way to venerate them, respect them and as a tool of power in many Yoruba ceremonies and practices.

For example, in the ceremonial songs and dances, people dance with the pagugu in their right hand and beat the ground to the rhythm of the batá drums.

Through the pagugu we can also communicate with the deceased, because its power connects and calls the spirits.

This religious instrument is placed next to the Eggun tile, another element of Yoruba power that is usually placed outside the house.