Obatala created trees, animals, and many other things. There are three different ways you can cite this article. Orisha Yemaya wears white and blue dresses. Their religion is mostly made of customs, practices, and beliefs that are orally passed through generations. She tried a bit. This wouldnt have been possible without bodies of water snaking through lush, dense forests, bringing much-needed vitality to all who benefit from it. Whichever way she is depicted, she is always shown to be a motherly being with nothing but divine power at her fingertips. To move contrary to it creates discord, so believers look for insight as to their destiny and what they might currently be doing that runs contrary to that. This land received the name If (large abode). Theres a story stating about how Nana forbade her children and followers from using knives and metals in general during rituals and ceremonies. They are similar but not quite the same. In fact, her name comes from Orisun, which was referred to as being the source of the Niger River. General African myths deal with confusion by introducing a force that counters it. Working toward one's destiny is to promote harmony. When she offered mud, he was finally able to create perfect human beings. Other sources suggest that the number is "as many as you can think of, plus one more - an innumerable number". And among the Yoruba people, they are referred to as Orisha. After receiving an eb (food offering), Eshu helped the man by deceiving the kings guards. Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orisha. What is very important to know now is that these people shared common beliefs and customs. He is often noted as being the master behind shaping every child when they are within the womb. In some myths, the orishas were a race of primogenial divine beings, who lived among mankind but didn't yet have any powers. However, everyone would visit him, stay a few days, and go back home. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper, use: Syed Rafid Kabir, "12 African Gods and Goddesses: The Orisha Pantheon", History Cooperative, July 2, 2022, https://historycooperative.org/african-gods-and-goddesses/. He is the benevolent version of Loki in African mythology and a wandering trickster spirit generally concerned with probability and elusiveness. Other sources suggest that the number is "as many as you can think of, plus one more - an innumerable number". Obatala is also credited with sculpturing human bodies, more so with imperfections like blindness and other defects. So, who is the strongest Orisha? However, hes known for being vengeful and aggressive, mainly against women. Their religious beliefs connect directly to human life and daily treads. Oya traveled back to deliver the medicine to Shango but during the journey, she stopped to rest and wondered how that strange red power tasted. There's Ochn, who wears yellow and is associated with the Virgen de la Caridad (the Virgin of Charity). One day, Orung waited for his father to be absent and raped Yemaya. Suddenly, one of the Orishas stumbled upon him and he fell on the floor, exposing his wooden leg. The number of orishas varies among believers. During ancient times, a slap of thunder signaled the onset of danger, or the gods wrath hurtling down from the heavens. How many Orishas are there? Hes the one who provides food and protection for all people. Oya, however, started to dance with him. On top of the ocean, Yemaya rules over maternity in people's lives as she is the Mother of All. 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. There is also a more removed being known as Olodumare, who created the orishas but later retreated from his creations. There was no taste at all. [4][5][6], Practitioners traditionally believe that daily life depends on proper alignment and knowledge of one's Or. Yemayais maternal, dignified and nurturing, the spiritual mother of all. Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orishas. Orunla was present at the creation of humanity and the forging of souls. Yemoja Patron deity of women and the mother goddess. Nearly every culture associates rivers with something benevolent. 2. According to traditional beliefs, nearly all spirits linked to the crossroads are tricksters, and Elegbara is no exception. Shes a crone who knows all the secret spells and hidden knowledge out there. Oguns permission would not be requested to make offerings to Nana. He has many different stories regarding his deeds and adventures, but Ill briefly write about one of my favorite stories involving him. Shango will bring justice through lightning and protect his followers against evil. In the pantheon, Oshun was Shangos favorite wife, which greatly affected Oba. Spirit that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God) in the Yoruba religious system, "EXU: THE LANGUAGE AS A CROSSROAD IN BLACK DIASPORIC CULTURE", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orisha&oldid=1137622599, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Logunede (Logunede in the Yoruba language), Jo Anna Hunter, "Oro Pataki Aganju: A Cross Cultural Approach Towards the Understanding of the Fundamentos of the Orisa Aganju in Nigeria and Cuba". However, different cultures have different schedules for Orishas. Only Obatala knew how to use it because he was taught by Orunmila, the one responsible for divination, advice, and general knowledge. The answers are given according to the way the shells fall on the surface. Driven by the will to become Shangos favorite, Oba followed Oshun and sliced off her ear into his food. One sign is if you start having dreams about the . She is strikingly similar to Dionysus, the Greek goddess of wine and fertility. Eshu has over 200 manifestations depending on tradition. There are more than 1,000 lwa in Vodou, and they are grouped . Mischief is something that doesnt go unnoticed in African mythology in general. Oya wears a red dress and holds a sword in one of her hands. Underneath it, its said he wears black and red colors. Humans themselves dont have the power or knowledge to play alone. Oshun, who was passing by, found a naked and ashamed Obatala by the river. Olorun The Chief God and the Supreme Creator. How to Know When an Orisha Chooses You . Orisha Nana wears purple dresses. This is an ode to Oguns double-edged sword, representing two sides of justice. Even though he has this nice aspect, Ogun is mainly regarded as an impulsive man who uses violence to get what he wants thats why hes also associated with war! (2021, March 4). Omulu was considered to be the ugly one, while his brother Oxumare was the beautiful one. His element is water. He can be represented as an old man or as a young one. Different Orishas have different days of the week they dominate. Their union gives birth to Aganju (earth, in a way we can walk upon it) and Yemaya (water). Description . Yemaya is the orisha of lakes and seas and the patron of women and of motherhood. 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. Oshun went after Eshu and, when she found him, she asked the clothes back. He tried to punish her, but she fled. The ancestors did not die, but were seen to have "disappeared" and become orishas. Hes related to death and also to magic. You want Ogun and Shango to interact as they are rivals. To perform it, Obatala was given a shell full of earth, a five-fingered hen, and a pigeon. Beyer, Catherine. The deity is the most approached to assist in money matters. He took his clothes off and hang them on a tree. Yoruba tradition often says that there are 400 + 1 orisha, which is associated with a sacred number. Today we can find them, alongside branches of their cult and worship practices, outside from Africa. Just like a storm. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. Orishas understand themselves as. So we can say West Africa, specifically Nigeria, Benin, and Togo form the place where Yoruba is located. Ossain became known as a doctor! Hence, the material having a specific personality induced a sense of wonder and natural instinct among those who believed in its smithing magic. 4. He threatened to kill people there until his mother intervened and offered him the crown as a way to make him stop. Ill start with the male ones, the Orisha Gods as we can call them. Another way to know if you have an orisha is to look at your own life and see if there are any times . They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. He is also the creator of rainbows and a rainbow can also be the personification of Oshumare. People who can play Buzios are actually asking the Orishas for answers. The idea was to create a space where all of them could go not only to play but also to walk and do other things. Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Ares, and many more. Eshu was not willing to give them back, but the beauty of Oshun was capable of driving any man or woman crazy. He decided to stay alone in a corner, sitting down. Her Slavic god counterpart in Slavic mythology would be Stribog. His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. I write this page as a way to honor these forces. It was a strange red powder. Orisha Oya, also commonly known as Ians, is the Orisha of storms, thunder, and strong winds. Sharing a commonplace with other famous gods such as the Greek Zeus and the Norse Thor, his prowess remained dominant with a chaotic sky. 3. Obatala is the eldest of the Orishas. Obtala Deity of humankind, spiritual purity, and moral uprightness. He ordered all the sorcerers of the empire to produce some kind of magical potion for him, but all of them failed. All metals and weapons belong to Ogun, the blacksmith Orisha. The Orishas: Aganyu, Babalu-Aye, Chango, and Eleggua, The God of Wealth and Other Deities of Prosperity and Money, Satanic Infernal Names of Biblical and Hebraic Origin, The Story of Pele, Hawaiian Volcano Goddess, Maman Brigitte, Loa of the Dead in Voodoo Religion, A Look at Satan Through the Eyes of the Luciferians, M.A., History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. All my work here is free. Being connected to places such as hospitals where the borders of life and death are frequently grazed. All was lost. It is something that adds that bit of extra tanginess to a stew of divine righteousness. Soon after, she had 9 children, earning the name Ians. This healing power is said to be catered more toward people closer to death. The best source of ashe is in sacrificial blood, which is why animal sacrifice plays such a prominent role in Santeria. So he tried a bit more. One thing is for sure, though, every Orisha is unique and has a specific cosmic purpose assigned to their wake. Oshun is also Shangos favorite wife. Just like her mother, shes also calm and tranquil. The orishas exist in a way much like human beingsthey party, eat and drink, love and marry, and enjoy music. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. His colors are green, red, white and yellow. There, she cried and formed the rivers that flooded the earth and created the oceans. Since his abode was the skies, he separated them and himself from the Earth and hence controlled the world from a cosmic distance. As a result, they are all controlled within the domains of the Orishas. What Orisha colours does Oshin take? Orunmila, the Orisha of knowledge, omniscience, and wisdom, is the embodiment of destiny. In that sense, they work more like Western pantheons like those of the Greeks or Romans. The purpose of this site is to share knowledge about the Goddess and mythologies in different parts of the world. Hes followed by dogs. In any form, hes a wise one. Yoruba. Dialogue Institute, Dialogue Institute, 16 Sept. 2020, https://dialogueinstitute.org/afrocaribbean-and-african-religion-information/2020/9/16/yoruba . Animism refers to the belief that everything (and yes, LITERALLY everything) possesses a spiritual quintessence. She lives on the riverbed. Yemonja is the Orisha of the ocean. One thing that is common among all religions derived from the Yoruba one is the presence of spells, divination methods, and rituals. However, one thing is for sure. And what better tool to carry it out than the trusty old iron? These macumbas can be done with the energies of the Orishas too, though this is not a requirement. Shangos favourite offerings include copper, mugwort, conqueror root, lots of spicy food, red foods and red palm oil, liquor like red wine and rum, sugar, and cascarilla. Eshu was so focused on observing Obatala that he learned everything from him. The next step was the creation of all life. Ogun is the Giver of Iron in the Orisha Pantheon. While he was bathing, Eshu, the trickster, appeared and saw the situation. Oya is a strong warrior who rides to battle with Shango (sharing lightning and fire with him). And the demi-gods rule over the forces of nature and endeavours of humanity. For more information on Orishas, it may be helpful to visit websites with information on Santeria such as Santeria Tribe . In order to do so, Ossain should remove the native plants. This power is often connected to dances conveying threatening gestures in rituals dedicated to this thunderous deity. Lions, elephants, vast stretches of the jungle with venomous snakes, or an endless sea of sand stalked by nefarious scorpions. It says she wanted to become powerful and stronger than men. Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orishas. Its said there are over 400 different Orishas out there! This defense was a top priority in a hostile place like West Africa. . Therefore, among the 7 African powers, Eshus is one of the most significant, considering its relevance and reliance by virtually everyone. A priest could only be dedicated to that single orisha of the city, and that orisha was honored above all others. The others were dancing and drinking a lot. But if you come to see, there are the same gods, goddesses, and saints, but with different names, like Hades, who is, in our time, called Lucifer, the Devil. Shes also the wife of Obatala, the Creator. Smart! Both are fighters who protect their followers. In the end, he finds Ochossi and peacefully brings him back home. She caused strong winds that lifted Omulus clothes, revealing his appearance. Humans and orishas, however, provide ashe to each other through a variety of rituals. It is said she had some children, but two of them symbolize opposite aspects of life. The Orishas: Orunla, Osain, Oshun, Oya, and Yemaya, The Orishas: Aganyu, Babalu-Aye, Chango, and Eleggua, Satanic Infernal Names of Biblical and Hebraic Origin, A Look at Satan Through the Eyes of the Luciferians, Satanic Figures Across Multiple Religions, M.A., History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. The main ones are Umbanda and Candomble (Brazil), Santeria (Cuba), and Vodou (Haiti). There are more than 400 Orishas out there. You pay nothing extra for it and you help to keep the website alive! We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Many people, including Orisha and humans, used to visit Obatalas house. Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orishas. The person salutes the Orishas and talks to them during the session. He is forced to use a twisted tree branch as a crutch, which is a common symbol for him. She never ate lamb after these occasions. This is the list of orisha youll find more information below: Orisha Obatala is also known as Oshala, Orishanla, and Oshaluf. It's just spreading historical, mythological and magical information. Ogun becomes aware of the situation. 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. Hence the adherence to conventional religion. 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