Eshu
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Eshu represented in concrete with his features made with cowrie shells. This form of Eshu is used for devotional purposes. |
In
Yoruba mythology,
Eshu (other names include
Elegua,
Eleda and
Elegba) is an
Orisha, and one of the most respected deities of the tradition. He has a wide range of responsibilities: the protector of travelers, god of roads, particularly crossroads, the deity with the power over fortune and misfortune, and the personification of death, a psychopomp. Every
magical ceremony or ritual began with an offering to Eshu; failure to do so guarantees failure in the intent of the ceremony
[Eshu at Pantheon.org]. Eshu is revered within the
Orisa-
Ifa system of the Yoruba as well as in syncretic faiths like
Santeria/Lukumi developed by the descendants of enslaved West Africans in the Americas, where Eshu was identified with
Saint Anthony or
Saint Michael[Eshu compared to various deities from world mythology], depending on the situation. He is identified by the colours red and black, or black and white and his
caminos, or paths (compare:
avatar) are often represented carrying a cane, shepherd's crook, as well as a pipe.
Eshu is a
trickster-
god, and plays frequently tempting choices for the purpose of causing maturation. He is a difficult teacher, but a good one
[Is Esu the Bad Guy?]. As an example
[What Really Is Esu?], Eshu was walking down the road one day, wearing a hat that was
red on one side and
blue on the other. Sometime after he departed, the villagers who had seen him began arguing about whether the stranger's hat was blue or red. The villagers on one side of the road had only been capable of seeing the blue side, and the villagers on the other side had only been capable of seeing the red half. They nearly fought over the argument, until Eshu came back and cleared the mystery, teaching the villagers about how one's perspective can alter a person's perception of reality, and that one can be easily fooled. In other versions of this tale, the two tribes were not stopped short of violence; they actually annihilated each other, and Eshu laughed at the result, saying "Bringing strife is my greatest joy".
The cult of Eshu is widespread in the New World, as well as in Africa, and he is worshipped under many different names and attributes
[Names and worship of Esu]:
Exu: Although connected with the Orisha Eshu or Eleggua of the
Yoruba based traditions of
Candomble and
Santeria, the Exus of
Quimbanda are in fact spirits of the dead
[Casa Exu dos Ventos - Quimbanda Temple].
Ellegua: In
Santeria, Eleggua is the trickster child-god
Legba: In
Vodou,
Papa Legba is the intermediary between the divine and humanity, while
Kalfu is his
Petro manifesation.
Lucero: In
Palo Mayombe, Lucero
(also Nkuyo\Mañunga\Lubaniba) is the deity of balance and guidance through paths.
*
Attributes and Music of Eshu*
Cleansings and Ewe Orisa Esu (Sacred Herbs of the Orisa Esu)*
Two webcomics depicting Eleggua as a superhero
