Keep reading to know more about them. These are the orishas who were mortal at first but were later deified by their descendants for the significant impact that their lives had on Yoruba culture. She passed this skill to the Yoruban people, who practice her craft to this very day. Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. Very often, Orunmila is depicted as a sage. Renewed and grateful deities in turn bless their supportive wor- Shortly afterward, Shango became the orisha of lightning, fire, virility, and war. She is also the patron of dyes and colors. In Yoruba tradition, Olokun is commonly depicted as a hermaphrodite. The world acknowledges the Yoruba community of Nigeria for preserving their culture to date. 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? WebLooker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable. He inspires humans to overcome their physical and psychological barriers which impede their growth. Cuocos use of the male pronoun is for convenience as Olodumare is All Things and so both male and female. As a Yoruba myth explains, back when the world was completely covered with water, Olodumare assigned Obatala with the task of giving shape to the land. He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. Yemaya was linked with the V*irgin Mary, Our Lady of Regla, in Cuba. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. 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. Shango was the third king of the Oyo Kingdom. and Loss. Orisha of iron, fire, hunting, politics, and war. The third king of the Yoruba Oyo Empire, Shango was considered a violent ruler, but also one with notorious military achievements. 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. 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. Elegua, Yemay (Yemja), Oshn (un), Shang (Sang), Obatal, Oya, and Ogn etc. The Yoruba faith and several other religions that derived from it are also popular in many Caribbean and South American countries. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. The number of orishas varies among believers. These devotees often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain. Weborisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. orisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Orisha of the Earth (strongly associated with. Olodumare created the Yoruba people through Oduduwa. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. This list includes the major Orishas honored in the United States, according to scholars and practitioners. Its worth noticing that, in the case of certain Yoruba divinities, these categories can be overlapped. Orunmila - spirit of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight Her emblem is a large seashell which she uses as a currency. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. The Supreme Deity of the Yoruba is called Oldmar. Cite This Work Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. 2023 All Rights Reserved. At the beginning of Yoruba mythology, the universe was composed of two elements, the ethereal sky above and a watery chaos below. In another story from the Yoruba religion, after the world was created and populated, every human was equal, and no one wanted for anything. 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. Mark, published on 06 October 2021. In the Yoruba pantheon, Aja is the orisha of the woodland and the animals that reside in it. WebOrisha embodies. 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. Yemaja is a mother goddess, patron of pregnancy and children. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. In the modern day, people invoke the Orishas in personal or communal rituals for spiritual strength, enlightenment, or assistance in daily challenges. As the people began to reproduce, new lands were required for them to settle. In this context the altar may be referred to as the orisha or as the orishas face. 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 one account, Erinle sank into the ground and became simultaneously a river and a water deity. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. These specific forces of nature are part of the orisha because the cult of the orishas directs itself toward them. Initially, they represented their gods using elements of nature like rivers, storms, mountains, and forests. Afterward, those with lighter skin complained they were not darker, and those with darker skin wanted to be lighter, the poor robbed the rich, and the rich enacted laws against the poor, resources were gathered and defended by one people against another, and there was want and starvation, war and privation. However, since most Yoruba beliefs are based on oral traditions, there are many different accounts regarding how the orishas came to be. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. However, another account for the existence of the orishas explains that these deities dont share the same origin, as there are at least three different kinds of orishas. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. When associated with the latter, Eshu is the deity of mischief. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. 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. In some cases, a primordial deity can also be regarded as the personification of a natural force. Yet defining an orisha as a deity does not do justice to the concept, in large part because the term deity often suggests a sort of anthropomorphic supernatural entity. World History Encyclopedia. Several primordial divinities have oral traditions stating that they were once the chiefs or kings of still existing Yoruba towns. She passed near the sun and lost most of her feathers. Golgotha Cross What Is It and What Does It Mean? Originally their gods represented the raw elements 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. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. The rapids formed between these two rivers symbolize the rivalry between the two wives, a most turbulent relationship. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Last modified October 06, 2021. Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. With the help of an Aido Hwedo, a primeval serpent, and Awe, a divine monkey, they shaped all the worlds living creatures out of clay. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. Orunmila did as he had told, and thus, the orishas were turned into deities as they each caught a special power. Olodumare sent them back to earth to apologize to Oshun because only she could complete the work. Obatalas story can also be used to explain the divine origin of human fallibility. Orisha worshippers see the tamed natural force and the deified ancestor as indissolubly linked. Orisha of crossroads, duality, beginnings, travellers. As a researcher, he has specialized in Greek mythology, a field of investigation that he confesses has always stimulated his passion for learning. Yoruba gods and goddesses. Olokun by Lule Bel This is the case of Yemoja, also called Yemaya, who is considered both a primordial deity and the personification of a natural force. 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 Oshun was associated with Our Lady of Mercy. 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). Photo: @janakesho, These Are The 10 Avatars Of Vishnu, One Of The Main Ancient Hindu Deities, 14 Massive Monoliths Of The Ancient World. 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. 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. Rather than willfully trying to misguide them, his aim is to enrich their life experience, leading them to a spiritual maturation through their transgressions. 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. Aja is a patron of the forest and all the animals within it. If one is unable to do so, for whatever reason, one is reincarnated and tries again in the next life. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. World History Encyclopedia. Nana Buluku by Mshindo9 Each caught powers that enabled them to participate in the creation and oversee different spheres of influence. 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. Traditional religion and Islam dominated Nigeria before the colonial era. A few are traditionalists, while most were assimilated into Christianity and Islam. WebThe Orishas Gods Book PDF | Download Or Read Online The Orishas Gods This book PDF is perfect for those who love Electronic Books genre, written by Danso Tangara and published by Independently Published which was released on 11 February 2021 with total hardcover pages 128. Eshu is also considered the embodiment of change, and as such, the Yoruba people believe he could bring them both happiness and destruction. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. 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. 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. 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. Kokou is a warrior god, renowned for his violence and ferocity. The rest is spent in the farm with Oko (a farming god). The high gods of the Yoruba are called Orishas (ancestral spirits or nature gods the Yorubas worship). 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 return to earth and apologize to Oshun who finishes creation with the gifts of beauty, fertility, love, and sweetness, instilling the need for these things in all people everywhere who had been given life through the breath of Olodumare. The shell contained a magical soil and a divine cloth. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. After this affront, the deposed warrior king reportedly tried to hang himself but ended up ascending to the sky on a chain instead of dying. Ancient Code is a website founded in 2012 that covers articles and scientific discoveries that help understand humanitys past, present, and future. Shango was linked with St Barbara, who is connected to war and thunderstorms. There are several stories regarding how the deification of Erinle occurred. This unity is represented by a witnessing object that acts as the material support of an orishas power to command and cause things to happen. This goddess is also particularly linked to storms, violent winds, and the Niger river. 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. Olodumare releases the rains, heals Oshun, and declares her the only Orisha always welcome to bring messages to Orun. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. She is a patron of herbs and spell-craft. 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). She guides her followers between the world of the dead and the living, preserving the memories of their ancestors. Each confirms the Yoruba religion has many Orishas but offer different explanations regarding how they came to exist. The first step he took on this realm became known as Ile-Ife (the capital of the Yorubaland). As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. Some of these divinities are regarded as primordial spirits. Get or read online Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses books directly on your Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses Book PDF | Download Or Read Online They complained loudly to Olodumare, and their cries were delivered by Esu who, as usual, acted as an intermediary. To the benefit of human beings, the orishas mediate between humanity and these forces of the natural world by putting the tamable aspects of nature under human control while standing between humanity and that part of nature that cannot be tamed, hemmed in, or controlled by human beings. 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. (2021, October 06). All humans, therefore, are connected to each other no matter their appearance, religion, or location because all owe their existence to the same divine breath that animates them, and all humans are related to other living things for the same reason. Metaphysical personifications or spirits. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. 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