Nguruvilu - Citizendia

The Nguruvilu "fox snake" (also: Guirivilo, Guruvilu, Ñuruvilu, Ñirivilu, Ñivivilu, Ñirivilo o Nirivilo; from Mapudungun ngürü "fox" and filu "snake") is a creature found in the Mapuche mythology of Chile. Mapudungun (from mapu 'earth land' and dungun 'speak speech' is a Language isolate spoken in central Chile and west central Argentina The beliefs of the Mapuche and their mythology stories about to the world and creatures born of the extensive and old religious beliefs next to a series of common legend and myths that Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the

Legend

The Nguruvilu originates from the native Mapuche people. The Mapuche are the indigenous inhabitants of Central and Southern Chile and Southern Argentina. It is a river-dwelling creature and looks much like a a strange fox, with a long body, similar to a snake, and a long tail with fingernails that it uses like a claw; but it's a water-being. A fox is an Animal belonging to any one of about 27 Species (of which only 12 actually belong to the Vulpes genus or 'true foxes' of small A snake is an elongate Reptile of the suborder Serpentes Like all reptiles snakes are covered in scales. Nguruvilus live, and are the cause of dangerous whirlpools which kill people who try to cross rivers. The creatures make the water shallow on either ford, to encourage people to try to cross it making it seem safe. However, the only safe way of crossing a river with a Nguruvilu is by boat. The only way to get rid of a Nguruvilu is to get a machi "shaman" or a good kalku "witch". A machi is a Shaman or (usually a good Witch in the Mapuche culture of South America; and is also an important character and the Mapuche Kalku or Calcu, in Chilean folklore and the Mapuche mythology, is a sorcerer or Shaman, usually but not necessarily an evil one Witchcraft, in various historical anthropological religious and mythological contexts is the use of certain kinds of Supernatural or magical powers The kalku is to be offered gifts in return for the service of Nguruvilu removal. The kalku (who may be male or female) wades through the river until he or she reaches the whirlpool and henceforth dives in. Afterwards she swims to the surface having captured the Nguruvilu in her arms with her powerful magical abilities. She then proceeded to threaten the creature with a sharp long knife or cuchilla (Spanish for knife) and threaten to mutilate the animal if it ever harms another person trying to cross the waterway. The Kalku then releases the Nguruvilu back into the water. It is important that this act is witnessed by everyone from the area. Then usually a great celebration is held and no one must fear crossing the waterway ever again. The whirlpool or whirlpools shrink and then disappear, and the fords become even shallower, making the crossing safe enough even for the frailest old woman or youngest child. It is believed the creature moves its business elsewhere, probably to torment the peoples downstream at the next popular river crossing. There is a common bedtime story about the kalku and the Nguruvilu which was included in the book Folk Tales From Chile. Folk Tales from Chile is a compilation of Chilean folklore and children's bedtime stories written by Brenda Hughes and illustrated

Legend

See also