WebLooker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable. Because of the importance of culture and geography in defining the worship, there will never be a comprehensive list of Orishas one should not conclude that other Orishas are not The Orishas attend religious celebrations by possessing believers and making them go into a trance. She holds the secrets of botany and is a master of potions and healing herbs. (From Milton Daviess novel Woman of the Woods). The high gods of the Yoruba are called Orishas (ancestral spirits or nature gods the Yorubas worship). Photo: @janakesho, Traditional religion and Islam dominated Nigeria before the colonial era. They are also venerated by the Edo of southeastern Nigeria; the Ewe of Ghana, Benin, and Togo; and the Fon of Benin (who refer to them as voduns). The animating force is known as Ashe (or Ase) and is essentially life itself as it is in constant motion and transformation. Orisha. 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Olokun is the mother of Odudua, an ancient Earth Goddess, and battle maiden. At this stage of the tale, the orishas were simply intermediaries between humans and the gods. In the Orishas case, Olodumare had allowed life to continue as it had before, but the supreme deity had made clear to humanity that, once they chose inequality as the basis of their existence, they could not go back to their former lives. 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). Similarly, Oya is regarded as the protectress of women. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology By Ancient Code Team - April 20, 2022 83 0 At the beginning of Yoruba mythology, the universe was composed of two elements, the ethereal sky above and a watery chaos below. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! Corrections? Olodumare demanded to know who had done this, and Esu pointed out the guilty who were swiftly punished. ARTWORK: Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. Yoruba Gods and Goddesses mesmerize ordinary people and scientists. In Yoruba tradition, Olokun is commonly depicted as a hermaphrodite. Shango was linked with St Barbara, who is connected to war and thunderstorms. WebOrishas (singular: orisha) are spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several religions of the African diaspora that derive from it, such as Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican Santera and Brazilian Candombl. orisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. 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. Egungun-oya by Another Wanderer Always in the middle of conflicting forces, Eshu is commonly linked to duality and contrasts. WebFREE DOWNLOAD Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses book in PDF, EPUB and Kindle format. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. No division in Yorubaland, YorubaKoya commends Ooni, Akintoye, Igboho, others. Its worth noticing that, in the case of certain Yoruba divinities, these categories can be overlapped. She passed this skill to the Yoruban people, who practice her craft to this very day. Plants and animals are understood as possessing the same divine spark as human beings. When associated with the latter, Eshu is the deity of mischief. Thank you! Io and Zeus: A Tale of Deception and Transformation, Top 10 Dreadful Deaths in the Bible and Why Theyre So Terrible, The Myth of Eros and Psyche: A Tale of Love and Self-Discovery. 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. 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. This beautifully illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the gods of the African diaspora known as the Orishas. Orishas omitted Esu (also called Eshu /Elegua; god's messenger who presides over doorways, crossroads, and change) from their plan to overthrow Olodumare and rule the world. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. Yoruba gods and goddesses. Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. The third king of the Yoruba Oyo Empire, Shango was considered a violent ruler, but also one with notorious military achievements. The worship of other deified ancestors, however, remained confined to the towns where it originated, even sometimes restricted to particular families or lineages. Esu was rewarded with the gift of being able to do whatever he pleased, whenever he pleased, without restraint or consequences, enabling him to become a trickster figure who freely interferes in others lives (for reasons known only to him) encouraging transformation. Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Tobago are the Americas countries where Yoruba cultural influences are the most noticeable, particularly in popular religions like Vodon, Santria, Camdombl, and Macumba. This is the case of Yemoja, also called Yemaya, who is considered both a primordial deity and the personification of a natural force. Shango was linked with Saint Barbara who is invoked for help in thunderstorms but is also the patron saint of artillerymen and so linked to war. 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. WebOrishas (singular: orisha) are spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several religions of the African diaspora that derive from it, such as Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican Santera and Brazilian Candombl. 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. 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 mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. Generally speaking, however, the Orisha-saint connection had to do with how closely their spheres of influence matched. Similar worship of African deities can also be found among the Afro-Franco populations of Haiti and the US state of Louisiana. Some of them are known as ara urun, meaning people of heaven, where they are believed to reside. Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. Its said that Olokun can grant wealth to humans at any time, but given his ambiguous nature, he is also known for inadvertently bringing devastation. 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. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. Ayao is an air goddess. During the 18th and 19th centuries thousands of Yoruba, Bini, Ewe, and Fon people were enslaved, uprooted, and transported to the Americas. The white cowrie-shell covering of the ile ori also alludes to the white-feathered bird called eiye ororo, the symbol of the mind that God puts into the head at birth. 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). The earth begins to die as crops fail and lakes and rivers dry up, and the Orishas wail their repentance, but Olodumare does not hear them. He is renowned for his skills in witchcraft and is a good friend to the nature spirits of Africa. Updates? Erinle is a wilderness god, associated with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry. In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. )[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. She guides her followers between the world of the dead and the living, preserving the memories of their ancestors. and Loss. Such a disappearance was not true death; rather, it was the occasion of the ancestors metamorphosis into an orisha. The beliefs of the Yoruba faith were passed down orally for generations until committed to writing and so there are a number of different versions of the same stories. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology By Ancient Code Team - April 20, 2022 83 0 At the beginning of Yoruba mythology, the universe was composed of two elements, the ethereal sky above and a watery chaos below. She passed near the sun and lost most of her feathers. These masquerades are performed twice a year, as well as during funeral rites. The number of orishas varies among believers. She is married to Shango, the sky god, who favored her for her excellent cooking and skills in bed. World History Encyclopedia. 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). Legit.ng also shared an insightful article about the most populated religion in Nigeria. He embodies the power of the sun, essential for the growth. World History Encyclopedia. Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. On the given day, Olodumare came to the Orisha hut where the mice were hidden, happily expecting to share a meal with others but, as soon as the threshold was crossed, the door slammed shut, and hundreds of mice were released scampering across the floor. She presides over womanhood, fertility, and life. On the same level as the Orisha are the Ajogun, who are difficult to define but are often associated with the Western concept of a demon. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. 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. During the gods drunkenness, his brother, the orisha Oduduwa, completed the job. Each confirms the Yoruba religion has many Orishas but offer different explanations regarding how they came to exist. The Yoruba people occupy southwestern Nigeria. Although there are many Orishas, seven are understood as most powerful and have become the most popular among modern-day adherents. 50+ fashionable Yoruba native dress styles for men and women. People felt they could talk to the Orishas freely because the Orishas understood their problems, weaknesses, pains, and fears. Cite This Work Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. The Yoruba people believe that there is a Supreme God, called Oludumare, and that he governs the Earth through a series of minor deities, known as the orishas, that work as his assistants. The Orishas wailed in repentance in vain. This beautifully illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the gods of the African diaspora known as the Orishas. License. In some, the supreme being is referenced as Olodumare, in others, it is Olodumare-Oloorun, in still others, Olofin, but all refer to the same entity neither male nor female who both created and is the universe. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Cross Crosslets Meaning and History of This Unique Cross Type, Pan and Syrinx: A Tale of Love (or Lust?) (2021, October 06). The wise Orunmila recognized that there wasnt any good reason for them not to have special abilities, so he agreed to share his powers with the orishas. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. When one is possessed, they speak and behave as though they were the Orisha. Among them are the earth; rivers, lakes, and lagoons; and mountains, certain trees, and the wind. He represents the power of fortune. Olorun agreed and gave Obatala a shell to help fashion this new world. The ile ori seems to say that a good head (i.e., good character and a good mind) constitutes true wealth. Curiously enough, when acting as an agent of cosmic order, Eshu was also referred to as the enforcer of divine and natural laws. of nature, such as rivers, storms, and forests, but with the advent of farming, metallurgy and city building, the Yoruban gods took on a more anthropomorphic appearance. Kokou by Assasin Monkey The Orishas Gods GET BOOK Download The Orishas Gods Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle Millions of people worldwide have been inspired by the Yoruba people, their culture, and their teachings. Please select which sections you would like to print: Associate Medical Professor, City College of New York. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Aganju by Robert Love The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Who is the strongest Yoruba god? Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. Orunmila is also the orisha of divination or Ifa. 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. The number of orishas varies among believers. To achieve this degree of control and interdependence, the ancestors made offerings and sacrifices. The Yoruba are religious and liberal-minded people. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. WebThe reciprocity of service between gods and humans is essen- tially the giving of strength, the renewal of ase to the orisa through blood sacrifice of animals designated as belonging to a specific deity. They were kings, culture heroes and heroines, warriors, and founders of cities who had a major influence on the lives of the people and on Yoruba society through their contributions to culture and social life. Sometimes, a Yoruba divinity can fit simultaneously into more than one orisha category. WebOrisha embodies. carried away during the Atlantic Slave Trade. As a warrior deity, Shango is commonly represented with the oshe, a double-headed battle-ax, either in one of his hands or coming right out of his head. Later these ancestors disappearedoften, according to tradition, in a remarkable manner, such as by sinking into the ground, rising into the heavens on chains, committing suicide and not dying, or turning to stone. Author of. They are also venerated by the Edo of southeastern Nigeria; the Ewe of Ghana, Benin, and Togo; and the Fon of Benin (who refer to them as voduns). 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). Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. Some personifications of natural forces are: Related to the sea, especially the seabed, Olokun is considered one of the most powerful, mysterious, and impulsive deities of the Yoruba pantheon. In some locations in the Caribbean and South America, they were able to reestablish the worship of the orishas and maintain it during slavery and after its abolition. This list includes the major Orishas honored in the United States, according to scholars and practitioners. 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