{{about, Mapuche mythology, other uses, NGEN (disambiguation) In Mapuche mythology, Ngen or " Ngen-ko " are spirits of

nature Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...

of the

Mapuche The Mapuche ( , ) also known as Araucanians are a group of Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia. The collective term refers to a wide-ranging e ...

beliefs. In

Mapudungun Mapuche ( , ; from 'land' and 'people', meaning 'the people of the land') or Mapudungun (from 'land' and 'speak, speech', meaning 'the speech of the land'; also spelled Mapuzugun and Mapudungu) is either a language isolate or member of the s ...

, the word ''ngen'' means "owner".

Legend

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 The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

), 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. The Ngen receive orders of the ''Pu-am'' and of Antü (the most powerful ''pillan'' spirit). 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. *'' Ngenechen'' (''Ngen-che''): spirit or deity who governs human beings *''Ngen-mapu'': owners of the Earth *''Ngen-wingkul'': owners of the hills or volcanos *''Ngen-kütral'': owner of the fire *''Ngen-ko'': owners of the water *''Ngen-kürüf'': owners of the winds *''Ngen-mawida'': owners of the forest *''Ngen-kulliñ'': owners of the animals *''Ngen-lawen'': owner of the medicinal herbs *''Ngen-kura'': owners of the stones *''Ngen-rüpü'': owners of the paths created by nature or the footsteps of wild animals

References

*Alberto Trivero (1999), Trentrenfilú, Proyecto de Documentación Ñuke Mapu. (in Spanish) * María Ester Grebe (4 February 2005), Los espíritus de la naturaleza en la religiosidad Mapuche, Mapuexpress Informativo Mapuche.(in Spanish) Mapuche deities Mapuche mythology Nature spirits