Some describe the orishas as being manifestations or aspects of Olodumare. She also is the one we This empire has mythical origins related to the last prince of the If kingdom. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. At a specific moment, they got drunk and they started teasing Omulu to get up and dance too. Ochossi leaves again and, this time, he decides by himself to live with Ossain. The Yoruba people thrived in the region of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa. done in either world without his permission. Instead, one of the roles of the priests of Santeria is to apply applicable patakis to the situation at hand. Today the massive temple complex devoted to Amon-Re at Karnak is one of the most visited monuments in Egypt. Some say Shango had 3 wives. roads and doors in this world. Yoruba is no different. In this universalized form Osiriss cult spread throughout Egypt, often joining with the cults of local fertility and underworld deities. Africa isnt a single place with a single pantheon, and wed be fools to try and cover all that in an eleven minute video. Nut, in Egyptian religion she is a Goddess of the sky, frequently portrayed alongside the African God of the earth, Geb. Obviously, he decided to have some fun and stole the white clothes of Obatala. This changing nature made Oshumare a versatile one. She also rules He threatened to kill people there until his mother intervened and offered him the crown as a way to make him stop. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. Oguns permission would not be requested to make offerings to Nana. The association of jackals with death and funerals likely arose because Egyptians would have observed jackals scavenging around cemeteries. Anyway, Oshun wanted to learn at all costs, but Obatala always said no to her. Underneath it, its said he wears black and red colors. His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. Orunmila's relationship with Osayn (the secrets of the plant Shang took the form of the fourth Alafin (supreme king) of Beyer, Catherine. worlds. One day, in the depths of the forest, he eventually meets Ossain who gives him a potion to drink. The saint is a mask of the orisha, and it does no work the other way around. One of several deities associated with the sun, the god Re was usually represented with a human body and the head of a hawk. It says she wanted to become powerful and stronger than men. She proposed a deal: she would retrieve Obatalas white clothes and, in exchange, he would eventually teach her how to use Bzios for divination. In her path of Okutti Hathor embodied motherhood and fertility, and it was believed that she protected women in childbirth. On his head was the atef-crown, composed of the white crown of Upper Egypt and two ostrich feathers. One was the gods, another was the spirits of deceased humans, who existed in the divine realm and possessed many of the gods' abilities. Oya is her main name. one who has knowledge without wisdom is merely a danger to themselves People from other religions usually have some prejudice against macumba, stating it is a form of so-called black magic. 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). Children are the Fish" to reflect the fact that her children are Oshn is knowledge, for wisdom without knowledge is useless, and 1630 bce) the gods festivals consisted of processions and nocturnal rites and were celebrated at the temple of Abydos, where Osiris had assimilated the very ancient god of the dead, Khenty-Imentiu. White is also a color that represents her. the cemetery. Osiris, one of Egypt's most important deities, was god of the underworld. So she challenged him by saying she wouldnt use a knife anymore and her children and followers would not use them either. Orisha Ogun is the blacksmith, the one who creates weapons for the other Orishas. themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and Sky Woman: The Overlooked Iroquois Influence on America. that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. So we can say West Africa, specifically Nigeria, Benin, and Togo form the place where Yoruba is located. He has many different stories regarding his deeds and adventures, but Ill briefly write about one of my favorite stories involving him. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. All life started in the sea, the amneotic fluid inside the She protects women, children, and fishermen. Osiris and Horus were thus father and son. In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being. In some traditions, Aganju is seen as the father or brother of Shango, god of thunder and lightning. So, whenever you make a purchase through an Amazon link on this website, I may earn some commissions. Orisha Oshumare is the Orisha related to the rainbow and also to beauty and riches. As such, there is no concern about the literal truth of these tales or the fact that tales my contradict one another. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. Just like a storm. colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and The earth which was inside the seashell fell on it and covered a small space. allowed to witness the creation of the universe by Olorun and bears According to the Osiris myth, Anubis embalmed and wrapped the body of the murdered king, becoming the patron god for embalmers. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/who-are-the-orishas-95922. technology and because this technology shares in his nature, it is Olodumare alone is self-sustaining, not needing ashe to be provided by another source. Since Anubis is the god of the dead, his Greek equivalent would be Hades. The characteristics of individual gods could be hard to pin down. When humans die, they must return to her dwelling and become mud again. heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. Over time, Re came to be syncretized with other sun deities, especially Amon. greatness of this king, all in the religion raise up on the toes of our There was a time when they conducted a power struggle against Olorun and tried to persuade him to abdicate for sixteen years. After a long travel, he went back to the forests, where he lives until today. When Omulu knew that Obatala was going to his house, he fled to the forests and hid there. 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. Rather than willfully trying to misguide them, his aim is to enrich their life experience, leading them to a spiritual maturation through their transgressions. In the Ptolemaic period she came to be associated with the Greek goddess Artemis, the divine hunter and goddess of the moon. In any form, hes a wise one. Olorun agreed and gave Obatala a shell to help fashion this new world. And also, everyone who visited Obatala should pay tributes to Eshu when leaving. This helped the religion to survive. Now that you have a background, we can go on. She lives on the riverbed. From about 2000 BCE, it was believed that every man, not just the deceased kings, became associated with Osiris at death. For instance, you can learn much about Oshn and During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). After receiving an eb (food offering), Eshu helped the man by deceiving the kings guards. As such, these stories give multiple origin stories for the orishas. Once, he wanted to enhance his powers in an absurd way. In addition, the Ifa Oracle also applies the same underlying principle in conceiving of the Orisha Deities not as actual Physical Gods, but as mere expressions of the Cosmic forces of Nature in the Moral and Physical planes of the Universe like Thought, Creation, Karma, Justice, Will, and Fertility in the same way as the Deities of Ancient Kemet . Orisha Obatala always wears white clothes. Over the course of Egyptian history hundreds of gods and goddesses were worshipped. After some time, the land was firm enough for the Orishas to walk on it. The many, many Orishas cover all aspects of life, and can be pretty specialized. 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. 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 . 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. 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. Oshun is also considered a Mother Goddess and its very common for her worshipers to be known as children of Oshun. One powerful talisman of Polish Catholicism. To perform it, Obatala was given a shell full of earth, a five-fingered hen, and a pigeon. The person salutes the Orishas and talks to them during the session. People who can play Buzios are actually asking the Orishas for answers. way we make our offerings in the manner they are accustomed to, in the Learn Religions. One day he reached Obatalas house. She was the one who gave mud to Obatala when he was creating humans. 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 . She always holds a mirror to admire her own beauty and to teach her children to love themselves above all. He is often depicted as an animal or as a human with the head of an animal. So if you find here something different from what you were taught as a practitioner, simply write me, so I can add a note stating this difference. Other stories tell that Ogum was married to Oya. If you wish to support me,please use the button below and buy me a ko-fi! His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). Oy on Earth for a time. People would wait for him to heal them. 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. He also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. Everyone got surprised because he was looking handsome. Here are a few of the most important deities to know. Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. Though a specific number can't be placed on the amount of Orishas, there is an exciting notion around it. Olorun was responsible for having the idea of creating firm land. Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. Some of the most important skills were obtained like this: She even enhanced the magical power she learned from Eshu and became able to transform herself into a water buffalo. Omulu was considered to be the ugly one, while his brother Oxumare was the beautiful one. 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 . As the goddess of the sky, Nut engulfed the sun at night and brought it back again at the beginning of the day. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. Obatala observed how hard Eshu was working and decided to compensate him. This fight was mainly a physical fight, no magic was involved. Her other name, Iansa or Ians, means mother to 9 children. Their union gives birth to Aganju (earth . The mold was moistened with the water of the Nile and sown with grain. Warriors, and is received along with Elegba, Ogn and Osun in children have an innate ability for divination. and others. Beyer, Catherine. It is believed that depictions of Isis with the infant Horus influenced Christian imagery of Mary with the infant Jesus. propitiated and always called first before any other orisha as he opens Seths appearance poses a problem for Egyptologists. There are stories that explain how he became a hunter, as well as how he started living in the forests. Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. The shell contained a magical soil and a divine cloth. 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. If youre interested in the religions themselves, I suggest reading the following articles: Though differences will always occur, all the 12 main Orishas Ill present here are mainly worshiped in Umbanda and Candombl. He is the most feared of the Orisha. Though it was Today we can find them, alongside branches of their cult and worship practices, outside from Africa. He didnt need them. Olorun had two sons, Obatala and Oduduwa, who helped him develop the features of the Earth. Apart from these religions, its totally common to find witches and Pagans energetically working with these deities too. Many countries in the Americas feature the Orishas in their religions. 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. There is also a more removed being known as Olodumare, who created the orishas but later retreated from his creations. Umbanda, Candombl, Islam, Buddhism, and others belong to this group. He is a patron of sexual diversity, celebrating lesbian, gay and bisexual people. So happy that he decided to share the realm of the dead with her. Shes also the wife of Obatala, the Creator. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. Obatal is also the only orisha that has both male This is the list of orisha youll find more information below: Orisha Obatala is also known as Oshala, Orishanla, and Oshaluf. axe. Ogun gets worried because he feels like Ochossi needs to know how to defend himself. Role. In the region known as Yorubaland (today Nigeria, Benin, and Togo) and variations are found across the globe. way they have always received them, so that they will recognise our Updates? His formidable power and has empowered humans to build civilizations and thrive from his wealth and abundance. Creation stories are found throughout the world. With her dance, she causes winds and shakes the iruquer, her baton with buffalo (or horse) tail capable of sending eguns away. offerings and come to our aid. If you enjoyed this article, please share it with people who may also find it interesting. Olorun by Sanjana Baijnath At Memphis the holy bull, Apis, was linked with Osiris, becoming Osiris-Apis, which eventually became the name of the Hellenistic god Serapis. Identity. Even if he needs to fight Ossain in his realm, he wants his brother back. Eshu is intrusive and sometimes aggressive. Orisana : the great orisha OBA ba. Ossain is calm, emotive, and has lots of intuition. I write this because I was already literally attacked on Twitter because of these differences. All had to be rebuilt again. Many scholars now believe that no such animal ever existed and that the Seth animal is some sort of mythical composite. In this role, it is not surprising that he has a very close The goddess Isis was the mother of the king and was thus the mother of Horus and consort of Osiris. He reigned for seven years, constantly waging battle against other nations, bringing prosperity to the Oyo Empire. It says that he initially had nothing. Part of this comes from the fact that these stories come from a variety of different African cities, each of which had their own ideas about the nature of the orishas. Olorun had two sons, Obatala and Oduduwa, who helped him develop the features of the Earth. She is also known for the colors of maroon, flowery patterns and nine Osiris was one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. So he tried a bit more. Were going to focus on a dozen or so. He continues going. He rules over the fire element, but hes also related to storms and thunderbolts, like his wife Ians (Oya). 4 In the light of the foregoing; the present study would attempt to explore these religio- . Yemay lives and rules over the seas and lakes. Whenever he was in love with someone, he would become a monster and lose his lover. over maternity in our lives as she is the Mother of All. Finally, there is Eshu, a trickster God, and patron of crossroads. For some reason, Oshumare was cursed to live as a shapeshifter. This was not enough, he continued to be teased and provoked. His priests, the babalawos or "Fathers of the (Sincerely, I would have done the same!). His colors are green and yellow which reflect 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. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. "Mother of Nine" in which she rules over the egun or dead. Ogun by Eran Fowler In the New World, Africans from many city-states were thrown together into common slavery. The god Seth was considered the murderer of Osiris and adversary of Horus. witnessed the temper of Shang in action. Shes a crone who knows all the secret spells and hidden knowledge out there. Explore the Osiris shaft, a symbolic tomb of the god Osiris. One tradition holds that Horus lost his left eye fighting with Seth, but his eye was magically healed by the god Thoth. Bastet or Bast (Ancient Egyptian: bstjt, Coptic: , romanized: Oubaste /uast/, Phoenician: , romanized: 'bst, or , romanized: bst) was a goddess of ancient Egyptian religion, worshipped as early as the Second Dynasty (2890 BCE). And, of course, he got mad. Ochossi was saved! It made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a single orisha in that scenario. shortened version of Yey Omo Eja means "Mother Whose An interesting piece of data that will illustrate how Orishas are present in these religions and also in others through syncretism: in Brazil, around 3.2% of the population follow the so-called other religions. He was represented as a mummified king, wearing wrappings that left only the green skin of his hands and face exposed. Orisha Oshun, also known as Osun, is the Orisha of Rivers and Love. observe the orishas at work in the world and in your own lives you will It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. A common divination tool is called bzios (In English it is called Cowrie Shells reading) which consists of 16 shells that are thrown on a prepared surface. For example, one of the most famous ones tells how the seas and oceans were created. https://www.britannica.com/list/11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses, largest and most complex pantheons of gods. Kokou by Assasin Monkey In later periods she was often represented as a regal-looking seated cat, sometimes wearing rings in her ears or nose. 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. Obatala created the world, all the living things, and human beings. process). His animal symbols were the ram and the goose. They teased him so much, that he stood up and danced a bit. Orunmila was impressed! One day she simply decided she wanted to learn the art of divination using Bzios (the divination tool I mention at the beginning of this article), but this art could not be taught to her. Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? Ogun, as I explained above, is a warrior and he creates weapons. Simply water. Olorun who created the universe, it is Obatal who is the Its said there are over 400 different Orishas out there! His colors are blue and yellow. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. According to the griot spirits of the Djalia, the Orisha originated during immemorial times in the land that would become Wakanda. Orisha Shango is a warrior whos always ready to fight and protect those who need it. After the rulers of Thebes rebelled against a dynasty of foreign rulers known as the Hyksos and reestablished native Egyptian rule throughout Egypt, Amon received credit for their victory. Besides his apparent ugliness, Omulu also had many skin diseases, including smallpox which contributed to his ugly appearance. White is most appropriate for He is depicted as an androgynous being and is considered the union between masculine and feminine energies sometimes he is even portrayed as a woman. This man proposed a challenge to the king to prove he was no lier. It's just spreading historical, mythological and magical information. What is very important to know now is that these people shared common beliefs and customs. The plantation was a success! This was a necessity when slave-owners refused to allow slaves to practice African religion. But they cant figure out what animal hes supposed to be. Never metal ones! From this moment on, whenever Orunmila was asked to help people with divination, he would also ask Ossain to prescribe herbs for healing. These supernatural entities usually referred to as deities are actually emanations or avatars of the supreme being Olodumare. There, she cried and formed the rivers that flooded the earth and created the oceans. path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world Babal-Ay (originally Shopona) is a healing god. In isolation he learned humility, becoming Babal-Ay. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. Omulu got happy! He made some oxen appear on the roofs of cattle sheds. However, he refused to perform the task because he identified the plants. Ogn is the god of iron, war and labor. So he teaches Ochossi how to use a bow and arrows. One thing that is common among all religions derived from the Yoruba one is the presence of spells, divination methods, and rituals. However, Yemaya couldnt forgive Ochossi for disobeying her and she doesnt accept him back at home. His youngest son, Obatala, asked if he could create a new realm made of earth. Luckily, Obatala exiled him to the wilderness, where he has lived as an outcast. He threw his stone on Ogun and Oguns body went ablaze. roads. Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. In Africa, however, there was no such familiarity between orishas, in part because their followers were not strongly connected. orisha rules their head, must go to the river and give account of what Regarding his trickster nature, Eshu is known for playing tricks, deceiving, and even helping those who ask him for help in doing some inappropriate things. almost always used first for war. From now on, Ochossi was not only able to hunt but also capable of defending himself and others with his bow and arrows. This trend is encouraged by the fact that each Santeria community today remains independent of other communities. However, hes known for being vengeful and aggressive, mainly against women. Ossain became so famous that he was asked to heal a king. Ogun created many things that helped mankind to flourish. Immediately after drinking it, Ochossi loses his memory and from this moment on he started living with Ossain in the depths of the forests. Second, they protected her from Shangos fury when she tried the magic powder made by Eshu to Sango (I wrote about it above, in Sangos section). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. She uses this transformation to attack those who threaten her children and the ones she protects. Catholic. All the touched ones became severely sick! Now, you. His element is water. Secrets" must devote themselves entirely to the practice of I hope you could get a clearer picture of them and now youre able to familiarise yourself with these forces. Over time she grew in importance, though, eventually becoming the most important goddess in the pantheon. colors red and black or white and black are his and codify his He wears light-green and light-blue clothes and he also has the seven colors of the rainbow around him. The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff.
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