The kultrún (also written kultrum) is one of the most sacred symbols and ritual instruments of the Mapuche people of southern Chile and Argentina.  It is both a ceremonial drum, traditionally played by the machi (spiritual healer or shaman), and a cosmological symbol, representing the Mapuche worldview.

Symbolic Meaning of the Kultrún

1. Representation of the Universe

   • The kultrún is a round drum, its circular shape symbolizing the earth, the cosmos, and the cycle of life.

   • The drumhead is usually painted with a cross that divides it into four quadrants, which represent the Meli Witran Mapu (“land of the four corners”), the Mapuche conception of the world.

2. The Four Directions

   • Each quadrant corresponds to a cardinal point: North, South, East, West.

   • These directions are also linked to winds, seasons, spirits, and ancestral forces.

3. Balance and Harmony

   • The circle and the cross together embody the balance between nature, humans, and spirituality.

   • The kultrún unites the earth (Mapu) with the sky (Wenu Mapu), symbolizing the connection between the material and spiritual worlds.

4. Feminine Energy and Fertility

   • The hollow body of the drum is seen as a womb, symbolizing fertility and the feminine principle.

   • This is one reason the machi (often women, though not exclusively) are its guardians.

5. Sacred Tool

   • In ceremonies like the nguillatun, the kultrún is used to call upon spiritual forces, healing, protection, and guidance.

The kultrún is not just a drum — it is a cosmic map, a sacred womb, and a bridge between worlds, embodying the Mapuche vision of life, nature, and spirituality.