Obatal is also the only orisha that has both male It made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a single orisha in that scenario. Yoruba mythology involves the presence of the supreme being and other more minor "gods" or "spirits" known as orishas (which are both male and female). It is said he was the emperor of Oyo, today Nigeria. Erinle is a wilderness god, associated with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He lived with his mother, Yemaya. The following is a list of Yoruba deities Olrn - the supreme creator deity Aganju - Orisha of volcanoes, the wilderness and rivers Aja - Orisha of the forest, the animals within it, and herbal healing Ayao - Orisha of air Babalu Aye - Orisha of the Earth and strongly associated with infectious disease (particularly smallpox, leprosy and AIDS) and healing Egungun-oya - Orisha of divination . Olodumare alone is self-sustaining, not needing ashe to be provided by another source. Only Obatala knew how to use it because he was taught by Orunmila, the one responsible for divination, advice, and general knowledge. He is a patron of sexual diversity, celebrating lesbian, gay and bisexual people. He wears light green and blue clothes. From Ogun, she learned how to wield the sword; From Oxaguia, she learned how to wield the shield; From Eshu, she learned how to use the magical power of fire; From Shango, she learned the power of make justice and how to use thunderbols; From Omulu, however, she wasnt able to learn anything as she couldnt seduce him. Learn Religions. Yes, they are During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). Osiris and Horus were thus father and son. He could see the entire empire from there. List of Yoruba deities | Religion Wiki | Fandom Beyer, Catherine. The battle started and Shango emerged victorious, against all odds. Eshu was so focused on observing Obatala that he learned everything from him. Shes also the wife of Obatala, the Creator. "The Orishas." The person salutes the Orishas and talks to them during the session. All the others laughed at him. According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. Goddesses Archetypes Cards Online Free Oracle Reading, Oracle of Hecate Online Free Oracle Reading, YES or NO Oracle Free and Accurate Online Oracle Reading, The Triple Goddess 101 Manifesting your own magic with her, WHEEL OF THE YEAR and the 8 Sabbats A Full and free guide, 14 Hindu Gods and Goddesses that will make your life better, Orisha: the 12 most powerful Gods from Yoruba Mythology, Yoruba Religion and Mythology - An Introduction, A Brief Overview of Candombl and Umbanda, Orishas and the Balance Between Life and Death for Folklore Thursday, All about the Wheel of the Year and the 8 Sabbats, The Triple Goddess and her manifestations. OBATALA - The Yoruba Religious Concepts - Google However, hes known for being vengeful and aggressive, mainly against women. Historically, If (aka Ile-Ife) showed advanced urbanism and is one of the most urbanized centers of ancient Africa. Suddenly, one of the Orishas stumbled upon him and he fell on the floor, exposing his wooden leg. Eshu stood at a crossroad and stopped everyone on Obatalas behalf. Ogun created many things that helped mankind to flourish. Oshosi is the hunter and the scout of the orishas and assumes Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Catherine Beyer is a practicing Wiccan who has taught religion in at Lakeland College in Wisconsin as well as humanities and Western culture at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. He is recognised in Differently from the Hindu Religion and Mythology, for example, there are no ancient books telling the foundations of its beliefs or describing the creation of the world according to them. She asked what had happened and he told her how Eshu had tricked him. Eshu by Akili Mansa Richards. The exact number of orishas is not known . Her name also is rendered as B'sst, Baast, Ubaste, and Baset. She recognises herself in the colors yellow and Oya, however, started to dance with him. In underworld scenes showing the judgment undergone by the deceased after their deaths, Thoth is depicted as weighing the hearts of the deceased and reporting the verdict to Osiris, the god of the dead. Shes impulsive, aggressive, and cant be controlled. The two animals started to spread the earth, covering a large area. Orunmila's relationship with Osayn (the secrets of the plant Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. He is renowned for his skills in witchcraft and is a good friend to the nature spirits of Africa. Aganj - orisha that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. Egyptian and Greek God Comparisons | Riordan Wiki | Fandom This helped the religion to survive. He can be represented as an old man or as a young one. They were originally divine spirits who incarnated as earthly human-like beings and became heroes of their people. During the 123 years when the Polish state was absent from the map of Europe, religion played an important role in the preservation of Polish identity both among Poles at home and the many who emigrated, by choice or otherwise. Corrections? According to the form of the myth reported by the Greek author Plutarch, Osiris was slain or drowned by Seth, who tore the corpse into 14 pieces and flung them over Egypt. streams and rivers, embodying love, fertility. He was always alone, living alone in one specific party, all the Orishas were together. Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. This name, meaning Foremost of the Westerners, was adopted by Osiris as an epithet. Ogun by Eran Fowler Id like to remind you that there are more than 400 Orishas out there and different places may highlight others as the main ones. His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. Osiris was not only the ruler of the dead but also the power that granted all life from the underworld, from vegetation to the annual flood of the Nile River. Oya is married to Shango, a warrior Orisha who also has fire as an element. The earth which was inside the seashell fell on it and covered a small space. babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. predynastic and dynastic periods in ancient Egypt. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. Ogn is the god of iron, war and labor. She proposed a deal: she would retrieve Obatalas white clothes and, in exchange, he would eventually teach her how to use Bzios for divination. Once, he wanted to enhance his powers in an absurd way. This dual role was combined with the Egyptian concept of divine kingship: the king at death became Osiris, though the living king was identified with Horus, a god of the sky. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Kokou by Assasin Monkey She hid among rams. Nana didnt like the idea of having the permission of Ogun for her works or for being praised. These devotees often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain. No one wanted to dance with him as usual. the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. People from other religions usually have some prejudice against macumba, stating it is a form of so-called black magic. He is a warrior orisha They recognise He refused. However, a deal was made. Each region has their own main Orishas and stories may also vary. It was a strange red powder. All was lost. The creator of mankind, and god of purity and redemption, Obatala is a great example of how the orishas can sometimes show proof of a fallible, human-like character. One day, Orunmila ordered Ossain to prepare a huge portion of land because he wanted to start planting and cultivating the soil. He ran off with the clothes and left Obatala naked. As an immortal, he was unable to die, so he chose instead to descend into the earths surface, in a place named Ire-Ekiti. Eshu did it. His element is the earth. In the end, he finds Ochossi and peacefully brings him back home. the root of all the paths or manifestations, Olokun is the source of When one sees the quickness with which lightning He also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. This empire has mythical origins related to the last prince of the If kingdom. So he tried a bit more. But not a river or an ocean. He usually has a long snout and long ears that are squared at the tips. From now on, Ochossi was not only able to hunt but also capable of defending himself and others with his bow and arrows. One day, Obatala decided to bathe in a river. Omissions? As the wife of the god of the underworld, Isis was also one of the main deities concerned with rites for the dead. Oshun went after Eshu and, when she found him, she asked the clothes back. Nothing can be While he was bathing, Eshu, the trickster, appeared and saw the situation. Though it was Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. world) and with Oshn, who is his apetev with whom he One day, Olorun, the supreme creator, thought about creating firm land. Ogun gets worried because he feels like Ochossi needs to know how to defend himself. Bastet - Wikipedia They may not participate in all the customs, but they do know and praise these Gods too. In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of She Are the Egyptian historical references in Stargate SG-1 based on actual He is often depicted as an animal or as a human with the head of an animal. He just observed how Obatala used to work, how he used to create humans from clay. In the Old Kingdom (c. 25752130 BCE), before Osiris rose to prominence as the lord of the underworld, Anubis was considered the principal god of the dead. His wife, Isis, reassembled his body and resurrected him, allowing them to conceive a son, the god Horus. Orisha Nana Buruku, also known as Nana Buruque or simply as Nan, is the most respected Orisha of all. He never asked a single question. Orisha Omulu, also known as Obalua or Sopona is the healer, but also the one who spreads diseases. At Memphis the holy bull, Apis, was linked with Osiris, becoming Osiris-Apis, which eventually became the name of the Hellenistic god Serapis. We also have lots of syncretism involved which contributed to the spread of their worship inside Christian beliefs too. It is said she had some children, but two of them symbolize opposite aspects of life. It says the Orisha threw a party and Omulu went wearing his traditional straw clothes. Eshu accepted the task and said he would produce a kind of medicine capable of granting Shangos wishes. Thoth, the god of writing and wisdom, could be depicted in the form of a baboon or a sacred ibis or as a man with the head of an ibis. drumming, women, song and eating. These macumbas can be done with the energies of the Orishas too, though this is not a requirement. relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. He didnt need them. Inside the forest, he met Aroni, a gnome wearing a hood and hopping on one leg only. He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. worlds. Never metal ones! The 4th-dynasty architect Imhotep was deified after his death as a son of Ptah. He represents the power of fortune. According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. As such, the orishas came to be regarded as roughly equals as cultures mixed. White is most appropriate for In some traditions, she would welcome the setting sun every night; living people hoped to be welcomed into the afterlife in the same way. However, it was not enough to make him free of problems or curses. From now on, it was decided that everyone who wanted to make an offering to Obatala should also pay tributes to Eshu. The Yoruba people thrived in the region of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa. Immediately after drinking it, Ochossi loses his memory and from this moment on he started living with Ossain in the depths of the forests. Ill briefly write about the creation of the world according to the Yoruba so we can be more prepared to get to know the 12 main Orishas. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology - The Ancient Code Orisha Oshumare is the Orisha related to the rainbow and also to beauty and riches. As an Amazon affiliate, links may contain an affiliate code. Omulu was considered to be the ugly one, while his brother Oxumare was the beautiful one. Just like her mother, shes also calm and tranquil. Oshun is also considered a Mother Goddess and its very common for her worshipers to be known as children of Oshun. He is a man, he sometimes becomes a woman, and sometimes he becomes a snake. Living humans were the third category, and the most Orisha Yemaya wears white and blue dresses. Greco-Roman authors connected Osiris with the god Dionysus. Oya hid below the dead rams and managed to escape Shangos wrath. Yemay lives and rules over the seas and lakes. Ikol means Messenger of the House (of Olodumare). ORISHAS - the Yoruba Spirits of Many Things (Yoruba mythology) - Godchecker They were here long before we came. Beyer, Catherine. It was believed that he sailed across the sky in a boat each day and then made a passage through the underworld each night, during which he would have to defeat the snake god Apopis in order to rise again. Olodumare is the source of ashe, which all living things must have in order to survive and succeed, including the orishas. Rather than willfully trying to misguide them, his aim is to enrich their life experience, leading them to a spiritual maturation through their transgressions. The patakis, or stories of the orishas, are not standardized and are frequently contradictory. So these are the 12 most powerful and important Orishas, Gods from Yoruba Mythology and religions derived from this amazing culture. Firstly because of the eb she prepared to become a mother. the female orishas but retains the title of Iyalode or great queen. The next step was the creation of all life. mother's womb is a form of sea where the embryo must transform and Omulu is one of Nan Burukes sons. Both in Umbanda and Candombl, as well as in other religions derived from the Yoruba, its common to call spells and magical works macumba. He is the repository of ash. over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. He is married to Obba but has relations The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. Peacocks and vultures are hers and we use As I mentioned above, Orishas are worshiped not only in their cradle but also in many other countries around the world. List of Popular Orishas (Yoruba) - Symbol Sage Horus was raised to avenge his fathers murder. Osiris, one of Egypt's most important deities, was god of the underworld. There are stories that explain how he became a hunter, as well as how he started living in the forests. Shango returned home. As the goddess of the sky, Nut engulfed the sun at night and brought it back again at the beginning of the day. Olodumare But these could change over time as gods rose and fell in importance and evolved in ways that corresponded to developments in Egyptian society. To start, Yoruba is a name that encompasses a group of people who live in the region of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa. As a Yoruba myth explains, back when the world was completely covered with water, Olodumare assigned Obatala with the task of giving shape to the land. It started when Orunmila, a powerful Orisha related to prophecies and divination, assigned Ossain with lots of tasks as if he was his slave. (Sincerely, I would have done the same!). Orunmila is the orisha of wisdom and divination. Up there, he put the red powder in his tongue and started spitting fire. Olorun sent them Ogun, god of crafts, to find a suitable habitat. the femme fatale of the orishas and once saved the world by luring On his head was the atef-crown, composed of the white crown of Upper Egypt and two ostrich feathers. Her name, a In this role, it is not surprising that he has a very close In many Nigerian mythologies, it is believed that the gods once walked this earth and even lived . So happy that he decided to share the realm of the dead with her. Osiris was not only ruler of the dead but also the power that granted all life from the underworld, from sprouting vegetation to the annual flood of the Nile River. Ossain is calm, emotive, and has lots of intuition. Now that you have a background, we can go on. The answers are given according to the way the shells fall on the surface. This If kingdom is utterly important for us here. The Santeria faith teaches that every individual has a destiny from God, a destiny fulfilled with the aid and energy of the orishas.The basis of the Santeria religion is the nurture of a personal . Ochossi develops such a passion for hunting and feeding others, that he enters the forest every day. He is envisioned as an extremely wealthy deity, dressed in refined garments, adorned with coral beads and plumage from a hunted game. Her element is fire and she wears red clothes. Ancient Code is a website founded in 2012 that covers articles and scientific discoveries that help understand humanitys past, present, and future. This was a necessity when slave-owners refused to allow slaves to practice African religion. After trials and errors, he finally managed to create human beings who populated the land and worshiped the Orishas as their creators and natural sources of power. from draught by flying up to heaven (turning into a vulture in the They were about to kill him too! There is no expectation that each community would function exactly alike or understand the orishas in exactly the same way. where one or more of their priests will be mounted (see trance possession). His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). Elegba (also referred to Eleggua or Eleggu) is the owner of the Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. evolve through the form of a fish before becoming a human baby. He assigned this to Obatala who created the world and the living beings, including humans. Of course, he drinks it! Everything consists of songs, stories, and practices. Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout Egypt. To acknowledge the There are several stories about Yemaya and some of them have some conflicting pieces of information. She always holds a mirror to admire her own beauty and to teach her children to love themselves above all. Basically, in the beginning, there was only water. Through the Table of If Yemaya is her mother (in some accounts they are sisters). Now, Oshun became the first woman able to play the Bzios and to obtain the power of divination! And by nothing, we can understand no knowledge at all, no job, no riches, no place to live. Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. Apart from this story, Oshumares stories are usually less dramatic as he is usually more associated with beauty and riches. almost always used first for war. He is also the creator of rainbows and a rainbow can also be the personification of Oshumare. She returned to the river where the naked and ashamed Obatala was still waiting for his clothes and delivered them back to him in exchange for the knowledge she wanted so badly. Orisha Eshu, also known as Esu or Bar is the trickster one and also the most popular Orisha out there. Ochossi is intuitive and emotional. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. Ossain started roaming the lands. Shang took the form of the fourth Alafin (supreme king) of Deep in his heart, he didnt believe Oshun would be able to get something back from Eshu. Most had a principle association (for example, with the sun or the underworld) and form. This way, Eshu not only became knowledgeable but also rich and prosperous. Oduduwa joined with the humans and begat a new bloodline of kings (the Yoruba called him Ooni of Ife, the progenitor of the Yoruba people). Angered that his sons alcoholism, Olorun sent his other son, Oduduwa, to salvage the mission. The Orishas. Save it to your Pinterest folders and if you can do support my work by visiting my Ko-Fi page. Article written by Simon E. Davies, Contributor to Ancient Code. Osiris played a double role: he was both a god of fertility and the embodiment of the dead and resurrected king. Humans provide ashe through blood or other ritual actions, and the orisha becomes a conduit of ashe from Olodumare to the petitioner to assist in the petitioner's endeavors. She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas them often to represent her. He also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. This land received the name If (large abode). Ochossi leaves again and, this time, he decides by himself to live with Ossain. One story suggests that Osumare disliked this changing nature because he couldnt have any stable relationships. Obatala noticed Eshu but I was too late. other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. Corresponding Orishas and Saints Chart | | Orisha, Santeria, African