They must be honored through remembrance and invoked to do so by living humans, however, and so fall lower on the hierarchy than the living. Some of these divinities are regarded as primordial spirits. Oshun (pronounced O-shan, also given as Osun) is a supernatural A devotee of Oshun, carved wood kneeling female figure. They are forced to return to Olodumare and admit their failure and are asked what happened to the 17th who was sent with them. They can be counted on, however, to deliver the messages of mortals to Olodumare and so they came to be associated with the saints of Catholicism when the Yoruba people were brought as slaves to the so-called New World. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. WebThe Supreme God has three manifestations: Olodumare - The Lord God of the Source of Creation; Olorun - The Lord God of Heaven; Olofi - The Lord God of the Palace, conduit between Orn (Heaven) and Ay (Earth). An Ajogun is a supernatural being who causes trouble, encourages misunderstandings, brings illness, and causes accidents. They were given aid, however, through the efforts of the Orishas. If one is unable to do so, for whatever reason, one is reincarnated and tries again in the next life. Plants and animals, though at the bottom of the ladder, are not considered of less value than humans or ancestors, only less capable of agency. Each confirms the Yoruba religion has many Orishas but offer different explanations regarding how they came to exist. Orunmila - spirit of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Aje is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Article by Simon E. Davies, contributor to Ancient Code. Ayao is an air goddess. In some cases, a primordial deity can also be regarded as the personification of a natural force. To achieve this degree of control and interdependence, the ancestors made offerings and sacrifices. Their religion dates back to the Stone Age but was influenced by the spread of agriculture from the Middle East around 600 BCE. Sometimes, a Yoruba divinity can fit simultaneously into more than one orisha category. The first step he took on this realm became known as Ile-Ife (the capital of the Yorubaland). WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. WebThe Supreme God has three manifestations: Olodumare - The Lord God of the Source of Creation; Olorun - The Lord God of Heaven; Olofi - The Lord God of the Palace, conduit between Orn (Heaven) and Ay (Earth). Orisha of the forest, the animals, and herbal healing. Olorun eventually forgave his son and gave Obatala the responsibility of creating the human race (which he brought into being via his breath of life). Most populated religion in Nigeria: is it Christianity or Islam? Olodumare created the Yoruba people through Oduduwa. Who is the strongest Yoruba god? These devotees often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain. Finally, there is Eshu, a trickster God, and patron of crossroads. Olodumare threw the powers of dominion into the air, and whichever Orisha caught one was responsible for that sphere of influence. The orishas, however, are only one aspect of these natural forces. Jhonfrank Snchez is a Venezuelan writer and Literature major interested in studying ancient civilizations, history, symbolism, and how they have shaped modern thought. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! She passed near the sun and lost most of her feathers. Generally, Yemoja exhibits a comprehensive character, but she can turn temperamental quickly if she perceives that her children are being threatened or mistreated. Download Knowing the Orisha Gods and Goddesses Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle. No division in Yorubaland, YorubaKoya commends Ooni, Akintoye, Igboho, others. When these ancestors disappeared and became orishas, their children began to sacrifice to them and to continue whatever ceremonies the orishas had performed when they were on earth. Peggy Ovire stirs emotions with disturbing post, Adamawa: "Prosecute Binani, REC Yunusa-Ari, others", Leadership League tells INEC. Several primordial divinities have oral traditions stating that they were once the chiefs or kings of still existing Yoruba towns. Another daughter of Nana is Olokun, an ocean goddess. He was supposed to have lived at some point between the 12th and the 14th century AD. (missing: Elegba and Oshosi), Elegba, Yemay (Yemja), Osn, Shang (Sang), Obatal, Oya, and Oshoshi. Orisha (also given as Orisa and Orishas) are supernatural entities usually referred to as deities in the Yoruba religion of West Africa, though they are actually emanations or avatars of the supreme being Olodumare. Get or read online Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses books directly on your Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses Book PDF | Download Or Read Online As time went on, however, people began to complain about this situation noting how, if everyone had everything they needed, and if everyone was equal, no one could be any different from their neighbor and they had no goals to strive for. In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. He is now viewed as a compassionate and humble deity, curing people of sickness and disease. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. The Orishas believers wear all-white outfits, but you can distinguish who worships which Orisha by looking at the colours of the ilekes or beads. Some of these orishas are primordial in the sense that they existed before the creation of human beings. Erinle by Mod Nomad The ile ori seems to say that a good head (i.e., good character and a good mind) constitutes true wealth. Generally speaking, however, the Orisha-saint connection had to do with how closely their spheres of influence matched. (From Milton Daviess novel Woman of the Woods). She is also often associated with the notions of death and rebirth, as the Yorubas believe she assists those who have recently died in their transition to the land of the dead. In the modern day, people invoke the Orishas in personal or communal rituals for spiritual strength, enlightenment, or assistance in daily challenges. The Orishas traveled to the Americas and the Caribbean via the Transatlantic Slave Trade, when many of the Yoruba were enslaved, and there they became syncretized with the Christian saints of Catholicism. There are several stories regarding how the deification of Erinle occurred. Its worth noticing that, in the case of certain Yoruba divinities, these categories can be overlapped. Oshun turns herself into a peacock and flies to Orun but, passing too close to the sun, loses most of her feathers and, because the journey was so long, arrives exhausted and ill but still delivers the message of the Orishas contrition. Shango was the third king of the Oyo Kingdom. His rule lasted for seven years and ended when Shango was dethroned by one of his former allies. A collection of these objects, even if it is not permanent, constitutes an altar where the orisha is present and can be addressed through prayers and offerings. )[2] The most prevalent West African religions, both in Africa and the Americas, are likely those of the Yoruba people or those that were influenced by them. After being defeated, Iku lost her status as an orisha, however, Yoruba practitioners still regard her as one of the primordial forces of the universe. Olodumare sent them back to earth to apologize to Oshun because only she could complete the work. Esu, for example, as a deity of crossroads, acts as a psychopomp a guide for the souls of the dead bringing them to the afterlife and comforting them while, at the same time, he may have had a hand in the circumstances that led to their death. These categories are not rigid, and in some cases they overlap. This list includes the major Orishas honored in the United States, according to scholars and practitioners. Corrections? Get or read online Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses books directly on your Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses Book PDF | Download Or Read Online The Orishas then huddled by the great baobab tree that provided them with everything they needed and refused to use their powers for creation, preferring to satisfy their own needs. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. Their participation in creation is given in another version, however, where the Orisha Obatala separates the land from the waters and Olodumare then sends down 17 Orishas to complete the work. She can manifest as a gentle breeze or in the eye of a raging tornado. The number of orishas varies among believers. Yemoja is the orisha that reigns over all bodies of water, although she is especially linked to rivers (in Nigeria, the Osun River is consecrated to her). Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. Various sources state that there are at least 401 Orishas, and several are mentioned in Yoruba creation stories and archaeological history. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. The Yoruba creation story, like many others, has different versions. Oshun was associated with Our Lady of Mercy. The Orishas, after all, had questioned the wisdom and justice of Olodumare and repented of it more than once and so were sympathetic to the human condition. Metaphysical personifications or spirits. The Orishas are never represented as perfect beings, and there are a number of stories of them behaving badly, but they are depicted as trying their best to do what is expected of them in very human terms. Oshun can be spiteful, Shango impatient, Esu deceitful, Yemaya wrathful, and so on. Get or read online Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses books directly on your Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses Book PDF | Download Or Read Online As a result, the plants died, and water bodies dried up. The Yoruba people occupy southwestern Nigeria. Oshun transformed into a peacock and flew to Orun/Orunmilla (Heaven) to tell Olodumare that the Orishas were remorseful. Oya is also goddess of the Niger River as Oshun is of the Osun River, and both are associated with protection and guidance. Ogun was linked with Saint Peter because of his association with strength as Peter was known as the 'rock' upon which Jesus Christ would build his church. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Article written by Simon E. Davies, Contributor to Ancient Code. Using these sacred materials, he created fields, forests, hills, and valleys. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. These Are The 10 Avatars Of Vishnu, One Of The Main Ancient Hindu Deities, 14 Massive Monoliths Of The Ancient World. There are many spirits of this kind, but some of them are so preeminent that they supersede all others; they too are orishas. Each caught powers that enabled them to participate in the creation and oversee different spheres of influence. Each one represents specific ideas, objects or natural phenomena. Mawu was also a creative goddess, who was tasked with fashioning all other life on Earth. Mark, Joshua J.. The number of orishas varies among believers. Orisha of medicine, healing, and comfort, physician to the gods. Who is the strongest Yoruba god? One chooses their destiny before birth and reincarnates to achieve it in the next life. Because each orisha has particular occupations, places, skills, preferences, diseases, problems, capabilities, and misfortunes with which it is closely associated, devoteesthrough the orishas priesthoodcan make appeals to the orisha that is best able to resolve the problem they are experiencing. Shango was linked with St Barbara, who is connected to war and thunderstorms. Orunmila is also the orisha of divination or Ifa. Eventually, the god made his mind up and explained to the orishas that, on a certain day, he would ascend to the sky to pour down his divine gifts, so each orisha would be responsible for catching his or her own special ability. Yoruba gods and goddesses are worshipped in Nigeria, Cuba, and Brazil. Omissions? (2). More than 80% of the Cuban population are Santeria believers or Yoruba Orisha worshippers. Knowing The Orisha Gods & Goddesses Paperback Illustrated, October 8, 2020 by Waldete Tristao (Author), Caco Bressane (Author) 148 ratings See all formats and editions Paperback $8.99 5 Used from $8.99 15 New from $4.99 Orunmila - spirit of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight He has been wrongfully portrayed, by early missionaries to West Africa and in the African Diaspora, as a distant but powerful God whose endeavors and dwellings are obscure. Babal-Ay (originally Shopona) is a healing god. A few are traditionalists, while most were assimilated into Christianity and Islam. 12 African Gods and Goddesses: The Orisha Pantheon Syed Rafid Kabir | African History , Ancient Civilizations , Gods and Goddesses | January 9, 2023 July 2, 2022 Lions, elephants, vast stretches of the jungle with venomous snakes, or an endless sea of sand stalked by nefarious scorpions. World History Encyclopedia, 06 Oct 2021. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Related Content The Yoruba religion emphasizes continual feeding and supplication to the Orishas, and the community respects the words of the possessed. She works closely with Osain and is a fierce warrior. The ori-inu exists before birth; it comes from God and determines an individuals character and fate. https://www.worldhistory.org/Orisha/. She resides over the Ogun river, whose waters are said to cure infertility. Age, which is priority in time, is highly valued and respected, and it is also an important aspect of status and ranking. Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. 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