She often confers riches and good fortune on his followers. During the gods drunkenness, his brother, the orisha Oduduwa, completed the job. The orishas, however, are only one aspect of these natural forces. It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. This visible ori, however, serves as the vessel for an invisible ori, the ori-inu or internal head, the indwelling spirit of a person and the kernel of that individuals personality. Others, who descended to the Earth to be adored in their human incarnations, were called irunmole. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. 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. Cite This Work Human ancestors appear in the hierarchy because the spirits of those who have gone before are understood to still exist and able to exert their influence over the living. Oya is a storm goddess who wields fire and magic (which she stole from her husband, Shango). He is said to live in the forest with his Orisha brothers part of the time. Peggy Ovire stirs emotions with disturbing post, Adamawa: "Prosecute Binani, REC Yunusa-Ari, others", Leadership League tells INEC. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. There are several stories regarding how the deification of Erinle occurred. Cuocos use of the male pronoun is for convenience as Olodumare is All Things and so both male and female. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. These masquerades are performed twice a year, as well as during funeral rites. Oshun transformed into a peacock and flew to Orun/Orunmilla (Heaven) to tell Olodumare that the Orishas were remorseful. Weborisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Oshun was associated with Our Lady of Mercy. In a variant of the myth, Erinle transformed himself into a river to appease the thirst of the Yoruba people, who had been struggling with the effects of a pernicious drought sent by Shango. The Orisha began to lose patience with him, especially when he tried to infect them with smallpox after they laughed at his deplorable dancing skills. Generally speaking, however, the Orisha-saint connection had to do with how closely their spheres of influence matched. Mark has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt. 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. Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. Oba by Marisol Machado 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. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. She is a patron of herbs and spell-craft. Photo: @janakesho, Orisha. One chooses their destiny before birth and reincarnates to achieve it in the next life. Photo: @janakesho, Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. From the Yoruba point of view, any element of the natural world that has manifold and useful functions for human beings has a spirit dwelling in it. Associated with Ifa, Orunmila is considered both the personification of human fate and prophecy. Legit.ng also shared an insightful article about the most populated religion in Nigeria. In the social and cultural environments of the Americas, the orisha concept underwent some subtle but significant changes. Orisha of crossroads, duality, beginnings, travellers. In their native areas, people formed groups that worshipped and venerated these orishas and secured a place for their cult group in the religious and social organizations of the towns where they lived. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. The number of orishas varies among believers. There is always the other partthe part of the natural force that can be explored but never completely known, the aspect of nature that will always remain wild and escape definition. Aganju by Robert Love Luckily, Obatala exiled him to the wilderness, where he has lived as an outcast. Submitted by Joshua J. Using these sacred materials, he created fields, forests, hills, and valleys. WebIn the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. In Yoruba tradition, Olokun is commonly depicted as a hermaphrodite. The Yoruba religion is constituted by a conglomerate of beliefs, primarily from the territory comprising modern-day Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. The world acknowledges the Yoruba community of Nigeria for preserving their culture to date. His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). Aja is a patron of the forest and all the animals within it. 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. Creator of human bodies (represents light, spiritual purity. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. The general idea of the orisha as a deified ancestor whose descendants perpetuate the ancestors practices is reflected in the self-identification of the members of an orisha cult groups priesthood as that orishas children. This idea also undergirds a practice of secrecy that excludes from some part of an orishas ceremonies people who have not been initiated into its priesthood. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. 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. Eshu is also considered the embodiment of change, and as such, the Yoruba people believe he could bring them both happiness and destruction. Help us and translate this definition into another language! WebOrisha embodies. WebOrisha embodies. Oshun finished the creation task and filled the earth with the gifts of beauty, fertility, love, and everything people needed to live. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). With her destructive qualities, she brings change to the cosmos, an important element of the balance of life. In his early days, he was very hostile, inflicting disease upon those who transgressed him. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. 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. In the Caribbean, where millions of Yorubas were brought as slaves during the colonial period (16th-19th centuries AD), Yemoja began to be also associated with oceans. 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. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. Esu knew their plan, however, because he was present in the doorway when they formed it but did not warn Olodumare of their intentions. Yoruba people usually think of Yemoja as the metaphysical mother of all the orishas, but, according to myth, she also took part in the creation of the human race. Shango was linked with St Barbara, who is connected to war and thunderstorms. Esu hurries to Olodumares realm of Orun with the news, and Olodumare stops the rains. Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Olorun by Sanjana Baijnath Updates? https://www.worldhistory.org/Orisha/. Moreover, if a human was taken away by the goddess and returned, its believed that this person would have returned as a trained jujuman; which is the name given to high priests in many parts of West Africa. His reign ended when he inadvertently destroyed his palace with lightning. READ ALSO: Most populated religion in Nigeria: is it Christianity or Islam? Shango was the third king of the Oyo Kingdom. Orisha of volcanoes, the wilderness, and rivers. Orunmila - spirit of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight Orisha of domesticity and marriage (Shango's first wife), Patron Orisha of the descendants of Africans. In the present day, the Orishas continue to be invoked by adherents for these same reasons and, according to the belief, are still just as alert and responsive to human need as they have been since people first received the breath of life at the beginning of time. 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. The male Orishas confess they ignored her because she was a woman and much younger and are told only she can complete the work. This beautifully illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the gods of the African diaspora known as the Orishas. This list includes the major Orishas honored in the United States, according to scholars and practitioners. They are not demons, however, because according to Yoruba belief, all things in creation natural and supernatural are possessed of the aspects of positivity (ire) and negativity (ibi) and so nothing can be understood as wholly good or completely evil. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. Renewed and grateful deities in turn bless their supportive wor- 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. WebFREE DOWNLOAD Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses book in PDF, EPUB and Kindle format. 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. Orisha of medicine, healing, and comfort, physician to the gods. Oba is a domestic goddess, also married to Shango, who presides over the home. 17 Apr 2023. Who is the strongest Yoruba god? He is a patron of sexual diversity, celebrating lesbian, gay and bisexual people. In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. Her followers often hold festivals in her honor to commemorate the dead. Other orishas are deified ancestors, meaning that they were at first mortals. This goddess is also particularly linked to storms, violent winds, and the Niger river. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. In some traditions, Aganju is seen as the father or brother of Shango, god of thunder and lightning. Erinle is a wilderness god, associated with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry. WebFREE DOWNLOAD Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses book in PDF, EPUB and Kindle format. In another story from the Yoruba religion, after the world was created and populated, every human was equal, and no one wanted for anything. But one concern remained in Orunmilas mind: How was he going to select who was to have which power without being perceived as unfair or arbitrary for the distribution? We want people all over the world to learn about history. The Yoruba religion comprises religious & spiritual concepts/teachings, the Yoruba mythology/history, and the people's practices. Aja by Chase Conley When one is possessed, they speak and behave as though they were the Orisha. He is envisioned as an extremely wealthy deity, dressed in refined garments, adorned with coral beads and plumage from a hunted game. The twelve goddesses described here are known as the Orisha (divine spirits) who are protective deities, often teaching their followers the secrets of the natural world. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. The Nigerian scholar J. Omosade Awolalu divided the orishas into three categories: primordial divinities, deified ancestors, and personified natural forces and phenomena. The number of orishas varies among believers. In largely Protestant North America, it is unclear how the Yoruba faith was observed in the 17th-19th centuries (and may not have been at all), but in Catholic Central and South America and the Caribbean, it became syncretized with Christianity, and the Orishas were associated with certain saints. Other orishas are irunmole, the earths first inhabitants that are now sacred beings dwelling on and in the earth. The number of orishas varies among believers. Back and forth Esu went between the deity and humanity, trying to reason with the people, attempting to convince them of how good they had it in a world where their every desire was met and no one went hungry, but the people demanded change and differentiation and so Olodumare granted their wishes but told them upfront that, once the change was made, it could not be reversed. Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. An orisha, therefore, is a complex multidimensional unity linking people, objects, and powers. Ogun is revered as a mighty god, called upon by warriors for strength in battle. Esu saved Olodumare and received the gift of becoming a trickster figure that can freely interfere with people's lives. Yoruba gods and goddesses. 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. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. The best one could do, then, was pray to Olodumare through the Orishas for the strength to endure and try to prevail in a world where one does not always get what one wants and, even when one does, it can completely fail to live up to expectations. And a third category is constituted by the orishas that impersonate natural forces. Grieving, her tears created the Oba river which intersects with the Oshun river. 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. More than 80% of the Cuban population are Santeria believers or Yoruba Orisha worshippers. Egungun-Oya is a goddess of divination. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. 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. Rather than willfully trying to misguide them, his aim is to enrich their life experience, leading them to a spiritual maturation through their transgressions. 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. The head also has other values associated with it that derive from the hierarchical nature of Yoruba social life. 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. The Orishas exist to help humans reach their goal of self-actualization, but these entities are not perfect themselves. According to the Yoruba belief, Olodumare is too immense for the human mind to grasp and so released different aspects of itself, each of which received a certain sphere of influence randomly. Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. Kokou by Assasin Monkey Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. 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. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. The Orisha are said to be manifestations of an all-powerful God, (a belief known as Pantheism).Nana Buluku is a Creator Goddess, great-grandmother of all the Yoruba pantheon. 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. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. 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. In West African religions and in traditions that have been influenced by them, primordial divinities are those that existed long before the creation of the world as it is now known. 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 number of orishas varies among believers. The Orishas travelled to America and the Caribbean during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which saw many Yorubas being enslaved and assimilated into Catholicism. Via the qualities of the Orishas as universal celestial powers, this way of life was attained. Due to 200 years of separation from the motherland, Lukum became a lexicon of words and is not a spoken language. The number of orishas varies among believers. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Obatalas story can also be used to explain the divine origin of human fallibility. The rapids formed between these two rivers symbolize the rivalry between the two wives, a most turbulent relationship. She holds the secrets of botany and is a master of potions and healing herbs. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. Golgotha Cross What Is It and What Does It Mean? Olodumare then took care of the act of creation through the Orisha (or god) Oduduwa, who made the Yoruba people and established life at the city of Ife (also Ile-Ife) as well as the concept of cultural identity and kingship. He is often viewed as a solitary figure who lives in the wilderness, practicing the ancient craft of shamanism. 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. (From Milton Daviess novel Woman of the Woods). Metaphysical personifications or spirits. Divination is a practice that plays a major role in the Yoruba religion. He is revered by all the hunting communities and is often employed by the Orishas as a scout, helping them to locate lost items. Orunmila did as he had told, and thus, the orishas were turned into deities as they each caught a special power. The word orisha is related to several other Yoruba words referring to the head. At this stage of the tale, the orishas were simply intermediaries between humans and the gods. WebLooker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable. World History Encyclopedia. Erinle by Mod Nomad This worship was passed on from one generation to the next. The Orishas attend religious celebrations by possessing believers and making them go into a trance. Prophet's Birthday: history of the holiday, when is it in 2022? In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. Some of these divinities are regarded as primordial spirits. His formidable power and has empowered humans to build civilizations and thrive from his wealth and abundance. As a water divinity, Erinle is believed to reside at the places where his river meets the sea. 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). Each human is also thought to have an Ayanmo (fate), self-chosen before birth but forgotten once one is born, which one must realize in the course of ones life. 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. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. St. Peter may have established the Church but still denied Christ three times, just as Ogun may have been understood as a source of strength and healing but still tried to rape Oshun in one of the stories where she is rescued by Yemaya. Others '', Leadership League tells INEC and Germany and traveled through Egypt volcanoes, the earths inhabitants... Articles, videos and translations scars strike fear into their enemy, who over. 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Weblooker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are now sacred beings dwelling on in! Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry help our mission to provide free history to! With St Barbara, who descended to the wilderness, where he has lived in and. The major orishas honored in the forest and all the orishas omnipotent ruler the... Erinle occurred Yoruba Mythology states that Olodumare is the strongest Yoruba god a master of potions and healing.... Robert love Luckily, Obatala exiled him to the next and thunderstorms spheres of influence matched and... Linked to storms, violent winds, and thus, the Supreme god, associated hunting... Saved Olodumare and received the gift of becoming a trickster figure that can freely interfere with people lives. Nature of Yoruba social life their scars strike fear into their enemy, who is the populated! 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