He is also the creator of rainbows and a rainbow can also be the personification of Oshumare. The notion of reincarnation is that deceased family members make their journey back to life as a new baby in the same family they once departed from. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. His healing powers range from epidemics to skin diseases and inflammations. I write this because I was already literally attacked on Twitter because of these differences. This power is often connected to dances conveying threatening gestures in rituals dedicated to this thunderous deity. They are akin to the orishas of Yoruba religion and of similar Afro-Caribbean new religious movements, but, unlike the orishas, the lwa are not deities but are spirits, whether of human or divine origin, that were created by Bondye (God) to assist the living in their daily affairs. It says the Orisha threw a party and Omulu went wearing his traditional straw clothes. It is said that there are 400+1 Orishas, where the stands as an incomprehensible number that implies infinity. 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. In that sense, they work more like Western pantheons like those of the Greeks or Romans. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. Its important to note that his behavior can also lead him to unnecessary fights. Thanks! [2], The orishas found their way to most of the New World as a result of the Atlantic slave trade and are now expressed in practices as varied as Santera, Candombl, Trinidad Orisha, Umbanda, and Oyotunji, among others. Wherever he would go, his fame was already there. The demi-dog prefers individuals who control their emotions and are level-headed. He walked the earth in a mortal body in the past, serving as the king of life. As a result, he stands as one of the crucial Orishas in the pantheon. On top of the ocean, Yemaya rules over maternity in people's lives as she is the Mother of All. Garbed in white, the King of Peace Obatala is a merciful Orisha dispatching purity. However, hes known for being vengeful and aggressive, mainly against women. [2][3], Yoruba tradition often says that there are 400 + 1 orishas, which is associated with a sacred number. Ochossi develops such a passion for hunting and feeding others, that he enters the forest every day. And by nothing, we can understand no knowledge at all, no job, no riches, no place to live. However, he refused to perform the task because he identified the plants. Simply water. Soon after, she had 9 children, earning the name Ians. I also wrote about it, focusing on the aspect of life and death, in the article Orishas and the Balance Between Life and Death for Folklore Thursday. [3], Ase is the life-force that runs through all things, living and inanimate, and is described as the power to make things happen. While he was bathing, Eshu, the trickster, appeared and saw the situation. For example, theres a story in which a king sent a man to trial for making gossip and spreading misinformation inside the kingdom. Ase is sometimes associated with Eshu, the messenger orisha. Yemoja Patron deity of women and the mother goddess. 2. Instead, one of the roles of the priests of Santeria is to apply applicable patakis to the situation at hand. In the end, he finds Ochossi and peacefully brings him back home. Obatala created trees, animals, and many other things. 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. It somehow reminds the method of divination with Runes by the Norse people. A relatively common theme integrated into the Yoruba religion is Animism. The pantheon of Orishas (traditionally followed by the Yoruba people) is a sequence of divine spirits dispatched by the supreme god Olodumare. He refused. Yemayais maternal, dignified and nurturing, the spiritual mother of all. However, everyone would visit him, stay a few days, and go back home. The continent is massive, with numerous diverse religious traditions. Yoruba tradition often says that there are 400 + 1 orishas, which is associated with a sacred number. And the demi-gods rule over the forces of nature and endeavours of humanity. Oshun is associated with Our Lady of Charity, an aspect of the Virgin Mary focused on hope and survival, particularly in relation to the sea. Oshumare met Eshu, the trickster Orisha. 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. The Orishas. The deity's name is a short version of Yeye Omo Eja, which means "Mother Whose Children are in the Fish.". Rooted in the native religion of the Yoruba people, most orishas are said to have previously existed in rn - the spirit world - and then became Irnml - spirits or divine beings incarnated as human on Earth. 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. Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/orunla-osain-oshun-oya-and-yemaya-95923. Her watch over the seas sustains life as it is and seals her importance as a motherly figure in the pantheon and the entirety of African mythology. Orunmila, the Orisha of knowledge, omniscience, and wisdom, is the embodiment of destiny. He saw plants capable of healing different kinds of pain, hemorrhages, fever, and much more. Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orishas. Hence, she is much revered and respected. Their union gives birth to Aganju (earth, in a way we can walk upon it) and Yemaya (water). Like humans, orishas may have a preferred color, food, or object. Obatala is also credited with sculpturing human bodies, more so with imperfections like blindness and other defects. The ocean is vast and seldom cruel, and it is impossible to predict what lies beneath deep waves and endless stretches of water. So we can say West Africa, specifically Nigeria, Benin, and Togo form the place where Yoruba is located. 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. Ogun is the Giver of Iron in the Orisha Pantheon. In African Mythology, the Yoruba people very well received the notion of an omnipotent sky god looking over all things that live on Earth. Though a specific number cant be placed on the amount of Orishas, there is an exciting notion around it. Instead he allows his various manifestations and other deities that he created (the Orishas) to handle the affairs of human beings. After receiving an eb (food offering), Eshu helped the man by deceiving the kings guards. His purpose might not be material, but it is a psychological one reflected in many African myths. Others suggest that Omulu is a son of Nan, who rejected him for his ugliness and disposed of him. Nearly every culture associates rivers with something benevolent. In the New World, these beings are commonly seen as family: they marry each other, give birth to others, and so forth. He wears clothes made of straw that cover his whole body and face. The main ones are Umbanda and Candomble (Brazil), Santeria (Cuba), and Vodou (Haiti). Smart! During ancient times, a slap of thunder signaled the onset of danger, or the gods wrath hurtling down from the heavens. 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. While other orishas have different "paths," or aspects to them, Orunla has only one. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. Learn Religions. Another way to know if you have an orisha is to look at your own life and see if there are any times . It is understood that the orishas wear many masks in order for people to better understand them. Score: 4.9/5 (17 reviews) At umbandanine are worshiped orishas (Oxal, Ogum, Oxossi, Xang, Iemanj, Oxum, Ians, Nana Buruqu and Obalua/Omul.. How many orixs can a person have? [4][5][6], Practitioners traditionally believe that daily life depends on proper alignment and knowledge of one's Or. https://www.learnreligions.com/orunla-osain-oshun-oya-and-yemaya-95923 (accessed April 18, 2023). Before Orung could find her, she died and her body created mountains, valleys, and all the ways water could flow to flood the vast land. On the other hand, he requires sacrifices of resources such as tobacco to ensure constant appeasement and protection of human spirits. If you have orisha in your family, it is likely that you have one as well. She uses this transformation to attack those who threaten her children and the ones she protects. When she offered mud, he was finally able to create perfect human beings. Ori literally means the head, but in spiritual matters, it is taken to mean a portion of the soul that determines personal destiny. No settlement can be complete without an armory. This was a necessity when slave-owners refused to allow slaves to practice African religion. She was the one who gave mud to Obatala when he was creating humans. Theres a story explaining how Ossain become knowledgeable about the power of plants and eventually became a great healer. When humans die, they must return to her dwelling and become mud again. According to Yoruba cosmetology, Obatala is the creator of the human being race. 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. Oba is linked to rivers, marriage, fertility, and restoration. She is able to heal wounds and diseases, as well as cast curses and plagues. In a sense, all offerings and rituals were made using these metals, so all of them needed Oguns permission to be carried on. Contrary to many mythologies showing nature gods and wild and untamed, Osain is a distinctly rational figure. So, in reality, Oya really is the goddess of change. 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. She caused strong winds that lifted Omulus clothes, revealing his appearance. In the end, all those who wish to offer something to Nana must use wooden tools. Oyas favourite offerings include flowers, starfruit, plums, purple grapes, nine eggplants as a traditional offering, bean fritters, red wine, set up an altar at home or set offerings at cemetery gates. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/african-gods-and-goddesses/. In one tale, the orishas decided that they no longer needed Olodumare. Shango noticed she had taken the medicine and he got mad at her. The word itself can be broken down into two parts; means origin and e refers to practice. Coming together, literally means practicing our origin. As you can see, this is a beautiful way to honor their roots, as most of their traditions and beliefs spring from their deep-rooted faith in the Orisha Pantheon. Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orishas. Even though Umbanda and Candomble seem to be unpopular here, the truth is that we can find many Christians who also believe and worship the Orishas. Hence, dead ancestors remain as relevant as they can ever be even after death. And then Ill follow with the female ones, the Orisha Goddesses. He got uncontrollable as usual and when he noticed, the entire empire was burning. Orunla, or Orunmila, is the wise orisha of divination and human destiny. All my work here is free. The concept of regenerative vitality is crucial to every society. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. List of Most Entertaining Kenyan Politicians in 2022 Whose Sense of Humour Leave Netizens in Stitches. This defense was a top priority in a hostile place like West Africa. It is here where he found the need to create the Orishas. All the others laughed at him. Even knives must be made of wood. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Some say Shango had 3 wives. Everything consists of songs, stories, and practices. Her color is maroon. They are all mentioned within this list. Omulu was considered to be the ugly one, while his brother Oxumare was the beautiful one. Oya is the ruler of the whirlwind and the gates of the cemetery. The deity's favourite offerings are tobacco, rum, candy, toys, and spicy foods. I wont enter in details about each one of them as this is not the focus of this article. Although Im not a practitioner of any religion, I have already worked many times with their energy and I also know people who are deeply connected to them. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. (2021, March 4). African mythology, in general, stretches over a vast array of gods and goddesses. Creation stories are found throughout the world. The orisha in the Yoruba religion function in almost the same way as the Catholic Saints and they are the intercessors between the world of humanity and the divine world. He decides to enter the forest and look for his brother. 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