Elegua He is the first of the Orishas to be received and is highly revered in the Yoruba religion, as the one who holds the key to happiness and fortune. He is the first of the group of four warriors (Eleggua, Oggún, Ochosi and Osun), and in nature it is symbolized by the rocks.
For this reason, he lives in that sacred figure in the majority behind the door, taking care of the ilé (house) of who owns it and is venerated, for being the absolute owner of the roads and destiny.
In Yoruba religion Eleggua It sits on an otá (stone), conchífera otá, reef, loaded otá, loaded cobo snail, a dry coconut or loaded dough and it is placed in a flat vessel, lives behind the door of the homes , where he takes care of the limits of the interior and the exterior, of the positive and the malevolent.
But the story of Eleggua It shows why this powerful little Orisha opens the roads and takes care of the houses. It is a story of the utmost importance for all those who profess the Yoruba religion, a beautiful story that we must know.
The millenary history of Eleguá
This millennial pataki tells that once in the rich kingdom of an African monarch, a prince was born, his first-born son, whom they called Eleggua.
The boy was brave and very mischievous and ran after everything that caught his attention. So one day while he was walking along the seashore with his guardian, he saw an object shine next to a palm tree and ran to take it without asking.
His guardian could not prevent it, but he told the boy that it could be a dangerous object, as he had two intense lights in the place of his eyes and a white cloud came out of his mouth.
The Obí (coconut), the protector of Eleguá
However Elegua full of curiosity he carried the object and discovered that it was the fruit of a coconut tree. In a little while he heard a voice saying to him:
"Take care of me and free me from the moths and worms that will want to eat me over time and if you protect me, I will give you health and prosperity."
The boy was fascinated and promised the coconut to take care of him.
When he arrived at the castle, he showed the coconut and told his story to his father and to the entire court. But there everyone made fun and passed the coconut from one side to the other without Elegua could avoid it, they also advised his father to hide it so that the little one would not ask about him again.
That same day the boy fell ill, and only three days later he died without any doctor preventing him. The court and all the people mourned the death of the prince.
Thus, a soothsayer came to court who said that a good genius lived locked in the coconut, but he had been offended and that is why the prince had died.
The repentant king commanded to venerate the coconut and ask for its forgiveness and protection, but the coconut's eyes did not shine anymore.
The soothsayer intervened again and said that they should put eyes, mouth and ears on him so that he would listen and speak.
So they embedded some snails in the place of the eyes, two shells in the ears and they put a mouth on it. Thus the genius listened, saw and finally spoke and transmitted all his wisdom to those people. He forgave them and protected them ever since.
They named the coconut Elegua in honor of the prince, and since then he was worshiped and consulted with respect as the one who opens all roads to humanity.
Advice and works to Eleggúa to open the roads
Addimú to Elegguá and Oshún: Attracts spiritual and economic prosperity
