Ngen

Lesserwell-documentedMapucheMapuche territories (southern Chile and Argentina)

In Mapuche cosmology, the ngen (Mapudungun: 'owner') are spirits that manage, govern and arrange different features of nature; they are custodial proprietors of particular natural domains and are to be respected and offered to when humans seek resources from nature.

Origin

According to Mapuche accounts cited in the available sources, the ngen were created by Pu-am (described in the source as the representation of the universal soul) so that they would assure the order and the laws of admapu (the rules of Mapuche tradition). The ngen were instituted to prevent commotion such as that mentioned in mythic time involving the pillan.

Appearance

No single fixed form is prescribed; the ngen take on forms based on humans, animals, and plants and are named according to the domain they govern. The sources emphasize domain-linked embodiments rather than a uniform iconography.

Abilities

The ngen 'manage, govern and arrange the different features of nature' and at the same time are those that nature takes care of and protects. They function as localized custodial powers or owners of specific natural domains (earth, water, hills, forests, animals, medicinal herbs, stones, paths, etc.). They receive orders from Pu-am and from Antü (a powerful pillan spirit). Humans who need to obtain something from nature must respect and give an offering to the specific ngen spirit.

Weaknesses & Wards

Weaknesses

None recorded.

Wards

  • ritual
    Respect and offering to the specific Ngen (admapu)
Entity Network
PPillanNNgen
related
Related Entities
Pillan
Ancient

Pillan

Powerful, respected male spirits in Mapuche cosmology associated with the realm of good (Wenumapu) and with volcanoes on Earth; they are moral enforcers and benefactors who receive communal ritual attention (ngillatun) and may punish (or allow the wekufe to punish) with drought, flood, earthquakes, or disease. Antü is named as the most powerful Pillan, and female counterparts called Wangulen accompany them.

Community Record

Sources
  1. [1]
    Ngen (Wikipedia). "In Mapudungun, the word ngen means 'owner'. The Ngen are those that manage, govern and arrange the different features of nature; but also those that nature takes care of and protects... The Ngen were created by the Pu-am (the representation of the universal soul), who wanted the Ngen to assure the order and the laws of admapu (rules of the Mapuche tradition); and they prevent commotion such as the one caused by the battle of the pillan before the beginning of time... If a Mapuche needs to obtain something from nature, they must respect and give an offering to the specific Ngen spirit. The Ngen take on forms that are based on humans, animals, and plants. Each type of Ngen spirit receives a specific name."wiki
  2. [2]
    Ngen (Wikidata). Wikidata entry labeling ngen as guardian spirits in Mapuche mythology.wiki
well-documented