Papa Legba

Legba, and Papa Legba is a spirit or saint ( Loa ) in the African and Caribbean religion of Voodoo and plays a central role in the rituals of voodoo one. The cult originated in West Africa, then spread but more in South America and the Caribbean than in Africa itself in recent years, he experienced there a renaissance.

Function

Legba is the guardian of the crossroads. During the lifetime of people he opens him the opportunity for contact with the world of spirits ( Loa ) or the deceased. At the time of death he paves the way of man to the Loa.

The Veve ( voodoo symbol ) of Papa Legba is therefore always represented as an equilateral cross, with a wealth of complex ornaments, also resembles a sort key. The vertical bar of the Cross describes the path from above (God) down to the Loa. The horizontal bar describes the path of man. In the middle of the cross man and Loa encounter. Furthermore, a walking stick is shown on the horizontal bar, which is due to the fact that Papa Legba paces this his ways. Often the symbol of the flash is added on the right side yet.

Parallels to other religions

Christianity

In the course of Christianization in the distribution area of Voodoo, the Christian Holy Faith mixed with the old belief in the spirit world of the loa. This led to a superposition of some Loas with Christian saints to whom a similar effect field was awarded.

Papa Legba is since that time strongly associated with Peter, who also is the guardian of the path to God, that the gates of heaven in the Christian faith. A particularly strong parallel is the Veve, which as mentioned above is very similar to a key, which indeed is an attribute of St. Peter. In addition, pictures and statues of St. Peter in voodoo rituals are used as the embodiment of Legba since that time very often. Peter graces so that almost every voodoo altar, and it plays a central role in the rituals (see below).

Other natural religions

Papa Legba is also known under the name " Kalfou " or " Carafour " (French " Carrefour " = intersection, probably also plays on the mediator to ) known, and Candomblé and Umbanda in under the name of Eshu.

Importance in the ritual

As the guardian of the crossroads or the gates of heaven, it is for Papa Legba compounds, ie to establish contacts between the human world and the spirit world, that is, a spirit the way to the reality of the people to pave ( necromancy, possession ), or the spirit of a people of insight to grant to the spirit world ( prophecy, vision ). Papa Legba is involved in almost all voodoo rituals, will be summoned as the first of the loa and serves as an intermediary. You sacrificed him - unlike many other spirits and deities of voodoo - no living beings or blood, but only cereals and beverages such as coffee, rum, tobacco or cigars. He is regarded as extremely tough and for the administration of these gifts he offers man his outspoken intermediary services. In the incantations of such rituals, he is almost always asked, he would " open the door ". This refers to the crossroads with the spirit world or the Christian heaven's gate.