Obatala became albine. Over time, Re came to be syncretized with other sun deities, especially Amon. Does this discovery prove ancient Egyptians traveled to the Americas 3000 years ago? He was also the embodiment of the divine kingship, and in some eras the reigning king was considered to be a manifestation of Horus. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. Isis was one of the last of the ancient Egyptian gods to still be worshipped. Ptahs original association seems to have been with craftsmen and builders. The god Seth was considered the murderer of Osiris and adversary of Horus. As the wife of the god of the underworld, Isis was also one of the main deities concerned with rites for the dead. different colors. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. Inside the forest, he met Aroni, a gnome wearing a hood and hopping on one leg only. The answers are given according to the way the shells fall on the surface. lightning, thunder, fire, the drums and dance. Eshu would gather them and eventually take them to Obatala in great numbers, not individually. He ordered all the sorcerers of the empire to produce some kind of magical potion for him, but all of them failed. Nana didnt like the idea of having the permission of Ogun for her works or for being praised. Humans and orishas, however, provide ashe to each other through a variety of rituals. As the god of wisdom, Thoth was said to possess knowledge of magic and secrets unavailable to the other gods. You pay nothing extra for it and you help to keep the website alive! Orisha Omulu is quiet and vengeful. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 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. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Possible Greek/Roman Equivalent (s) Other. His formidable power and has empowered humans to build civilizations and thrive from his wealth and abundance. However, a deal was made. But they cant figure out what animal hes supposed to be. Most had a principle association (for example, with the sun or the underworld) and form. The exact number of orishas is not known . Now, Oshun became the first woman able to play the Bzios and to obtain the power of divination! Olorun sent them Ogun, god of crafts, to find a suitable habitat. The battle started and Shango emerged victorious, against all odds. He also demanded that these seven backed yams should be planted in front of everyone. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. He stood up using his walking stick and touched each one with it. "The Orishas." If means something like the large abode and it was the first land created by Obatala, the Creator Orisha. Eshu did it differently. One powerful talisman of Polish Catholicism. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. Oya is her main name. Priests were trained to work with multiple orishas instead of being exclusively dedicated to a single one. She also had an important funerary aspect, being known as the lady of the west. (Tombs were generally built on the west bank of the Nile.) the role of translator for Obatal with whom he has a very close This changing nature made Oshumare a versatile one. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. Obatala noticed Eshu but I was too late. It is said that Ogun had many lovers. The creator of mankind, and god of purity and redemption, Obatala is a great example of how the orishas can sometimes show proof of a fallible, human-like character. Unlike many gods, she cant be tied to a specific town, and there are no certain mentions of her in the earliest Egyptian literature. Babal-Ay (originally Shopona) is a healing god. Olorun had two sons, Obatala and Oduduwa, who helped him develop the features of the Earth. relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. Children are the Fish" to reflect the fact that her children are An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. While he was bathing, Eshu, the trickster, appeared and saw the situation. Egyptian God. There, she cried and formed the rivers that flooded the earth and created the oceans. This was not enough, he continued to be teased and provoked. observe the orishas at work in the world and in your own lives you will She And also, everyone who visited Obatala should pay tributes to Eshu when leaving. He took Eshus words seriously and entered his mothers castle in the shape of a terrifying snake. Eshu used to roam free with no destination at all. He also taught humans agriculture. He reigned for seven years, constantly waging battle against other nations, bringing prosperity to the Oyo Empire. Some say Shango had 3 wives. The number of orishas varies among believers. Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. 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. The next step was the creation of all life. Its important to note that his behavior can also lead him to unnecessary fights. Be sure to check my YouTube Channel and follow me on Twitter too! Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. order to protect the Guerreros initiate and to open and clear their He usually has a long snout and long ears that are squared at the tips. She is considered to be the mother of everything and she is associated with the seas. Oshosi is the third member of the group known as the Guerreros or With her dance, she causes winds and shakes the iruquer, her baton with buffalo (or horse) tail capable of sending eguns away. Just like her mother, shes also calm and tranquil. He ran off with the clothes and left Obatala naked. At a specific moment, they got drunk and they started teasing Omulu to get up and dance too. Anyway, Orisha Omulu used to be a quiet one. Ill start with the male ones, the Orisha Gods as we can call them. 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. He is the repository of ash. Humans provide ashe through blood or other ritual actions, and the orisha becomes a conduit of ashe from Olodumare to the petitioner to assist in the petitioner's endeavors. He got a job, a house, and everything he wished for. From simple spells such as offering food to an Orisha (this food is commonly called as eb) to complex rituals like isolating a person during some days so they can be reborn as the son/daughter of an Orisha, we find a variety of customs that can naturally be adopted by modern witchcraft practitioners too. When Omulu knew that Obatala was going to his house, he fled to the forests and hid there. One day, Orung waited for his father to be absent and raped Yemaya. However, he refused to perform the task because he identified the plants. 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. colors red and black or white and black are his and codify his She is also known for the colors of maroon, flowery patterns and nine He was the only orisha Some Orishas are worshiped as gods in their own right and they include top names such as Babal Ay, Elegua, Obatala, Ochosi, Ogun, Oya, Shango and Yemaya. It is said that Omulu and Osumare are brothers. gain a better understanding of them and their ways. It is said he punishes all those who lie and deceive others. They may not participate in all the customs, but they do know and praise these Gods too. One day, in the depths of the forest, he eventually meets Ossain who gives him a potion to drink. The origins of Isis are obscure. Orisha Oshumare is the Orisha related to the rainbow and also to beauty and riches. "The Orishas." In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of She seduced Eshu, slept with him, and took Obatalas clothes back. his priests unfold the secrets of the universe and the secrets of the In the Ptolemaic period she came to be associated with the Greek goddess Artemis, the divine hunter and goddess of the moon. According to the Osiris myth, Anubis embalmed and wrapped the body of the murdered king, becoming the patron god for embalmers. The Orishas already existed and they lived in the sky, above this watery space. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. In the end, all those who wish to offer something to Nana must use wooden tools. Ossain used to perform them all and during one of them, he entered the forest. 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. He was represented as a mummified king, wearing wrappings that left only the green skin of his hands and face exposed. Back to Oyo, Oya delivered Shango the red powder. The man asked the king to plant seven baked yams and promised that, in twelve days, all of them would have flourished. Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. So, today were talking about African Pantheons. Orunmila is the orisha of wisdom and divination. Eshu did it. They were originally divine spirits who incarnated as earthly human-like beings and became heroes of their people. Oshun went after Eshu and, when she found him, she asked the clothes back. These supernatural entities usually referred to as deities are actually emanations or avatars of the supreme being Olodumare. Interestingly, most of them share things in common in one way or another. Osiris was also identified with Soker, an ancient Memphite god of the dead. Corrections? Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/who-are-the-orishas-95922. Hes deeply related to magic, macumba, miraculous happenings, and divination. The patakis, or stories of the orishas, are not standardized and are frequently contradictory. Shango threw thunderbolts in all directions, killing the rams. 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. mother's womb is a form of sea where the embryo must transform and He represents the power of fortune. He is most often represented by a double headed 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. 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). The Orisha are spirits/deities that reflect one aspect of god. One day, Shango Oguns brother wanted to have Oya as a wife. the numbers 7 and the colors green and black. It is said she had some children, but two of them symbolize opposite aspects of life. Orunmila was impressed! But not a river or an ocean. drumming, women, song and eating. From here on, every offering dedicated to Obatala should be delivered at the crossroad to Eshu. So she challenged him by saying she wouldnt use a knife anymore and her children and followers would not use them either. Shang (sharing lightning and fire with him) and was once the Shango returned home. Eshu by Akili Mansa Richards. almost always used first for war. White is also a color that represents her. Elegba (also referred to Eleggua or Eleggu) is the owner of the 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. In the region known as Yorubaland (today Nigeria, Benin, and Togo) and variations are found across the globe. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). 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. Ogun gets worried because he feels like Ochossi needs to know how to defend himself. The origin of Osiris is obscure; he was a local god of Busiris, in Lower Egypt, and may have been a personification of chthonic (underworld) fertility. Oduduwa joined with the humans and begat a new bloodline of kings (the Yoruba called him Ooni of Ife, the progenitor of the Yoruba people). Simply water. Orisha Oshumare is calm and tranquil. (2021, March 4). heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. This trend is encouraged by the fact that each Santeria community today remains independent of other communities. Learn Religions. name. The main ones are Umbanda and Candomble (Brazil), Santeria (Cuba), and Vodou (Haiti). the human and the divine, as he is child-like messenger between the two Sometimes these Orishas would go down from the sky using spiderwebs to play in the water. This land received the name If (large abode). Aganj - orisha that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. A central feature was the construction of the Osiris garden.. Once, he wanted to enhance his powers in an absurd way. This fight was mainly a physical fight, no magic was involved. Kokou is a warrior god, renowned for his violence and ferocity. After trials and errors, he finally managed to create human beings who populated the land and worshiped the Orishas as their creators and natural sources of power. Seth was the god of chaos, violence, deserts, and storms. Her number is nine which recalls her title of Yansa or Today we can find them, alongside branches of their cult and worship practices, outside from Africa. Erinle by Mod Nomad In this way, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but in the end, is usually found to be a good one. He is said to live in the forest with his Orisha brothers part of the time. He was believed to have invented language and the hieroglyphic script and to serve as a scribe and adviser for the gods. The festivals took place in the open, so public participation was permitted. Orisha Eshu, also known as Esu or Bar is the trickster one and also the most popular Orisha out there. She made it. Today the massive temple complex devoted to Amon-Re at Karnak is one of the most visited monuments in Egypt. He is often depicted as an animal or as a human with the head of an animal. He knows all the occult powers and rules. In a sense, all offerings and rituals were made using these metals, so all of them needed Oguns permission to be carried on. As such, the orishas came to be regarded as roughly equals as cultures mixed. Up there, he put the red powder in his tongue and started spitting fire. all riches which she freely gives to her little sister Oshn. Eshu stood at a crossroad and stopped everyone on Obatalas behalf. greatness of this king, all in the religion raise up on the toes of our So we can say West Africa, specifically Nigeria, Benin, and Togo form the place where Yoruba is located. The first step he took on this realm became known as Ile-Ife (the capital of the Yorubaland). 2023 All Rights Reserved. The many, many Orishas cover all aspects of life, and can be pretty specialized. Omulu is one of Nan Burukes sons. 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 . Erinle is a wilderness god, associated with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry. This helped the religion to survive. Using these sacred materials, he created fields, forests, hills, and valleys. In Africa, however, there was no such familiarity between orishas, in part because their followers were not strongly connected. In this He wears light-green and light-blue clothes and he also has the seven colors of the rainbow around him. After his death, he was deified as an orisha. 4 In the light of the foregoing; the present study would attempt to explore these religio- . Shango asked her if Eshu gave instructions on how to use that powder. He is now viewed as a compassionate and humble deity, curing people of sickness and disease. She asked what had happened and he told her how Eshu had tricked him. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. By symbolically placing these two double axes on the chest, one can summon Shango for protection. Their religion is mostly made of customs, practices, and beliefs that are orally passed through generations. Oya, however, started to dance with him. She lives on the riverbed. Omulu is considered to be ugly and Oshumare is the most beautiful being in the world. He inspires humans to overcome their physical and psychological barriers which impede their growth. He is also the creator of rainbows and a rainbow can also be the personification of Oshumare. 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. Orisha Nana wears purple dresses. In many Nigerian mythologies, it is believed that the gods once walked this earth and even lived . In the forest. He threw his stone on Ogun and Oguns body went ablaze. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. These gods, the Orisha, were Thoth, Kokou, Mujaji, Ptah, Nyami and Bast . Though a specific number can't be placed on the amount of Orishas, there is an exciting notion around it. Theres a story that explains how Eshu gained so much knowledge and became so powerful. Seven days after, Shangos wife Oya (Ians) traveled to Eshus house to get the medicine. Just like a storm. 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 are several stories about Yemaya and some of them have some conflicting pieces of information. Ogun created many things that helped mankind to flourish. The characteristics of individual gods could be hard to pin down. Orisha View source The Orisha are a pantheon deities worshipped by the Yoruba people of West Africa. Everyone got surprised because he was looking handsome. the femme fatale of the orishas and once saved the world by luring Scholars have suggested that the Greek word Aiguptosthe source of the name Egyptmay have started as a corruption of Hwt-Ka-Ptah, the name of one of Ptahs shrines. way we make our offerings in the manner they are accustomed to, in the His wife, Isis, reassembled his body and resurrected him, allowing them to conceive a son, the god Horus. There was no taste at all. We are also blessed from time to time in the religion with the He then shouted: Is the king a king even when he wears no clothes?. He continues going. Both are fighters who protect their followers. Many scholars now believe that no such animal ever existed and that the Seth animal is some sort of mythical composite. Living humans were the third category, and the most One day she asked a Babalawo for some advice and she was told she would have children if he made an eb (food offering) with lamb. She uses this transformation to attack those who threaten her children and the ones she protects.
Judy Werle Cris Williamson,
Ian Happ And Julianna Zobrist,
Oatman Fire Agate,
Articles O