Kobayende
From Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers
| |||||||||||||||||
Artist - Dr. E.
Kobayende (also known as Pata Llaga, Cobayende, or Tata Nfumbe) is the mpungo who rules over disease, healing, and the spirits of the dead. He is associated with plagues and infectious diseases.
Pata Llaga, Kobayende's common Spanish-language name, means "Leg Wound," a reference to the sores that cover his legs and body. Pata Llaga is wise, old, and trembles from the pain that his sores cause him. When honored and respected, he can bless followers with miraculous cures, but when offended he can summon tremendous plagues that cause boils to break out all over the skin. His colour is purple and his ritual numbers are 7 and 17. Animal sacrifice is used to propitiate Kobayende within the Congo-derived religions. Altar offerings for Pata Llaga include mixed legumes, toasted corn, and white wine. They are usually left in the wilderness.
In the syncretic practices of Palo Monte, in which mpungos are associated with Catholic Church saints, the representative of Pata Llaga is Saint Lazarus. Because of their shared traits, Pata Llaga is sometimes syncretized with the orisha Babalu Aye of the Santeria and Lukumi traditions. Hoodoo psychic readers, spirit workers, and root doctors who are adherents of the Palo Religion and who petition the mpungos on behalf of clients may petition Kobayende for blessing, healing, protection from evil, cleansing, uncrossing, spirituality, wisdom and success.
Credits
This page is brought to you by the AIRR Tech Team:
- Author: Dr. E.
- Contributor: catherine yronwode
- Image: Dr. E.
