from draught by flying up to heaven (turning into a vulture in the Fearing her sons safety, Yemaya seeks advice from a Babalawo (oracles in Yoruba culture are known as Babalawo and Iyalawo the first is for men and the latter for women) and he tells her to stop Ochossi from entering the depths of the forest because Ossain, the Orisha who ruled over the forests, could trap him inside. Olorun sent them Ogun, god of crafts, to find a suitable habitat. Luckily, Obatala exiled him to the wilderness, where he has lived as an outcast. The next step was the creation of all life. Misc/Uncertain of locality Orisha: the 12 most powerful Gods from Yoruba Mythology Also observe how the Orisha Nana Buruku, also known as Nana Buruque or simply as Nan, is the most respected Orisha of all. Her name, a Osiris and Horus were thus father and son. Interestingly, most of them share things in common in one way or another. Kokou by Assasin Monkey wife of Ogn. Using these sacred materials, he created fields, forests, hills, and valleys. These 12 are the most worshipped in afro-descendant religions such as Umbanda and Candomble in Brazil and they are also popular in Africa as well in Cuban Santeria. Orisha Oshun, also known as Osun, is the Orisha of Rivers and Love. Many countries in the Americas feature the Orishas in their religions. Santeros (Santeria priests) do not believe that the orishas and the saints are identical. Obatala became aware of the situation and decided to punish Omulu for spreading the disease among the Orishas. His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. He can be represented as an old man or as a young one. Ochossi and Ogun are brothers. She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas Shango learned how to control the fire and started using it to protect the ones who needed it. that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. The Orishas - Gods of Santeria - Learn Religions When humans die, they must return to her dwelling and become mud again. Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. As an immortal, he was unable to die, so he chose instead to descend into the earths surface, in a place named Ire-Ekiti. He lived with his mother, Yemaya. Basically, in the beginning, there was only water. Peacocks and vultures are hers and we use Everything consists of songs, stories, and practices. As the goddess of the sky, Nut engulfed the sun at night and brought it back again at the beginning of the day. over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. As the wife of the god of the underworld, Isis was also one of the main deities concerned with rites for the dead. colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and Olorun was responsible for having the idea of creating firm land. Osiris, one of Egypt's most important deities, was god of the underworld. Ancient Code is a website founded in 2012 that covers articles and scientific discoveries that help understand humanitys past, present, and future. path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world Now that you have a background, we can go on. The mold was moistened with the water of the Nile and sown with grain. The saint is a mask of the orisha, and it does no work the other way around. with quick wits, quick temper and is the epitomy of virility. There was a time when they conducted a power struggle against Olorun and tried to persuade him to abdicate for sixteen years. Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. Forever. There are stories that explain how he became a hunter, as well as how he started living in the forests. Anut - A warrior Goddess, defender of the Sun God and protector or the king in battle. 12 Most Popular Yoruba Gods and Goddesses - World History Edu No life existed in this water, though. As you already know, Ogun is a violent warrior. Although she controls storms, her main element is fire. As an Amazon affiliate, links may contain an affiliate code. Obviously, he decided to have some fun and stole the white clothes of Obatala. Eshu did it differently. ARTWORK: Obatala sentenced him to live there and not get closer to other Orishas or humans again. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. I write this because I was already literally attacked on Twitter because of these differences. A central feature was the construction of the Osiris garden.. The deities, called Orishas in Ifa/Orisha worship, are sometimes referred to as the "hands of God." They are heavenly intercessors in the lives of humans who may be engaged for blessings or . children have an innate ability for divination. Just like a storm. In isolation he learned humility, becoming Babal-Ay. Oya, however, started to dance with him. Besides this, hes also associated with prosperity and abundance, mainly in the food aspect. most often approach to aid us in money matters. Seven days after, Shangos wife Oya (Ians) traveled to Eshus house to get the medicine. They recognise The plantation was a success! Other stories tell that Ogum was married to Oya. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. Ogun is revered as a mighty god, called upon by warriors for strength in battle. The gods of the land keep the peace and the people in check. Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? His colors are blue and yellow. Everyone got surprised because he was looking handsome. creator of the world and humanity. Revisiting the Yoruba Ethnogenesis: a Religio- Cultural Hermeneutics of He took Eshus words seriously and entered his mothers castle in the shape of a terrifying snake. orisha rules their head, must go to the river and give account of what So he tried a bit more. Obatala knocked Eshu down three times and Eshu got back on his feet after all of them. uncountable. Immediately after drinking it, Ochossi loses his memory and from this moment on he started living with Ossain in the depths of the forests. He could see the entire empire from there. In some traditions, Aganju is seen as the father or brother of Shango, god of thunder and lightning. They recognise themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. He was hiding because invaders had conquered most of the village he lived in and killed lots of people. This way, Ossain was capable of identifying them easily. They teased him so much, that he stood up and danced a bit. 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/who-are-the-orishas-95922. She is also known for the colors of maroon, flowery patterns and nine Erinle by Mod Nomad Shes usually considered Yemayas sister, but some tales also describe her as Yemayas daughter. At Memphis the holy bull, Apis, was linked with Osiris, becoming Osiris-Apis, which eventually became the name of the Hellenistic god Serapis. On this page, Ill present you all you need to know about Orishas and how to understand them in and out from their original context the Yoruba Religion. His colors are green and yellow which reflect There is no expectation that each community would function exactly alike or understand the orishas in exactly the same way. Ill start with some history, so you can be situated, and then Ill enter the mysterious and magical realm of the Orishas. Yes, they are Never metal ones! way Yemay displays herself as truly the mother of all. He made some oxen appear on the roofs of cattle sheds. He has a warrior side She seduced Eshu, slept with him, and took Obatalas clothes back. Shango called Eshu, then. ORISHAS - the Yoruba Spirits of Many Things (Yoruba mythology) - Godchecker When one sees the quickness with which lightning He got a gourd and opened it, spreading a mysterious white smoke over Obatala. I hope you could get a clearer picture of them and now youre able to familiarise yourself with these forces. He is often depicted as an animal or as a human with the head of an animal. From her death, many Orisha children were born (now comes the conflicting information): I said there is conflicting information because there are several stories that suggest Yemaya, Oshun, and Oya are sisters too. name. unfolding of our lives. These supernatural entities usually referred to as deities are actually emanations or avatars of the supreme being Olodumare. With time, he felt like this was a curse imposed by his mother, Nan. The truth is that macumba is a collection of rites and spells that may be performed to attract, banish, bind or release energies, spirits, material goods, and whatever the practitioner desires. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. Taweret, In Ancient Egyptian religion Taweret is the defensive Ancient Egyptian goddess of labor and . Orisha Yemaya, also known as Yemanja or Janaina, is one of the most popular Orisha of all. In the New World, Africans from many city-states were thrown together into common slavery. The main ones are Umbanda and Candomble (Brazil), Santeria (Cuba), and Vodou (Haiti). However, he refused to perform the task because he identified the plants. Oshn is knowledge, for wisdom without knowledge is useless, and Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. 12 African Gods and Goddesses: The Orisha Pantheon Ochossi learns it quickly from his brother and becomes a great hunter! People would wait for him to heal them. the root of all the paths or manifestations, Olokun is the source of In many Nigerian mythologies, it is believed that the gods once walked this earth and even lived . The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. Once, he wanted to enhance his powers in an absurd way. It's just spreading historical, mythological and magical information. He wore metal armor and he had weapons in his hands. Ogun always wears dark blue clothes and may also wear pieces of armor. Oshun, who was passing by, found a naked and ashamed Obatala by the river. List of Popular Orishas (Yoruba) - Symbol Sage Although she is mostly related to the sea and the salty waters, she is also worshiped by people who live far from the oceans. 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. Orisana : the great orisha OBA ba. These gods, the Orisha, were Thoth, Kokou, Mujaji, Ptah, Nyami and Bast . Instead were going to focus on Yoruba religion from west Africa, and the Orishas that populate Yoruba stories. He also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. The idea that rebirth in the next life could be gained by following Osiris was maintained through certain cult forms. "The Orishas." He decided to stay alone in a corner, sitting down. After his death, he was deified as an orisha. She can bring destruction and also prepare the soil for a new beginning. Corresponding Orishas and Saints Chart | | Orisha, Santeria, African Greco-Roman authors connected Osiris with the god Dionysus. Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout Egypt. However, everyone would visit him, stay a few days, and go back home. But these could change over time as gods rose and fell in importance and evolved in ways that corresponded to developments in Egyptian society. This is going to be a journey. The person salutes the Orishas and talks to them during the session. It was a strange red powder. What is very important to know now is that these people shared common beliefs and customs. A priest could only be dedicated to that single orisha of the city, and that orisha was honored above all others. She is considered to be the mother of everything and she is associated with the seas. Thanks! Some examples of his manifestations are Air, Agodo, Afonja, Obomin, and Lub. Shango threw thunderbolts in all directions, killing the rams. And also, everyone who visited Obatala should pay tributes to Eshu when leaving. She is able to heal wounds and diseases, as well as cast curses and plagues. There was no taste at all. Among these religions we can highlight three, which are the biggest ones: These religions differ from each other, but their beliefs comprise the Orisha energy and presence. heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. White is also a color that represents her. The patakis, or stories of the orishas, are not standardized and are frequently contradictory.