Shang took the form of the fourth Alafin (supreme king) of Now, its said that albino people are highly protected by Obatala. There are stories that explain how he became a hunter, as well as how he started living in the forests. Humans themselves dont have the power or knowledge to play alone. Shes usually considered Yemayas sister, but some tales also describe her as Yemayas daughter. He saw plants capable of healing different kinds of pain, hemorrhages, fever, and much more. Along with her sister Nephthys, Isis acted as a divine mourner, and her maternal care was often depicted as extending to the dead in the underworld. Erinle is a wilderness god, associated with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. Orisha Nana wears purple dresses. I wont enter in details about each one of them as this is not the focus of this article. In this story, we have Obatala (the Sky) and Odudua (the primordial earth) this is a similar motif found in many other mythologies such as the story of Gaia and Uranos in Greek Mythology and Nut and Geb and Egyptian Mythology. 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. But they cant figure out what animal hes supposed to be. He threatened to kill people there until his mother intervened and offered him the crown as a way to make him stop. Amon was a god of the air, and the name probably means the Hidden One. He was usually represented as a man wearing a crown with two vertical plumes. Elegba (also referred to Eleggua or Eleggu) is the owner of the According to the griot spirits of the Djalia, the Orisha originated during immemorial times in the land that would become Wakanda. And also, everyone who visited Obatala should pay tributes to Eshu when leaving. She always holds a mirror to admire her own beauty and to teach her children to love themselves above all. colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and I write this because I was already literally attacked on Twitter because of these differences. He is the most feared of the Orisha. This dual role was in turn combined with the Egyptian concept of divine kingship: the king at death became Osiris, god of the underworld; and the dead kings son, the living king, was identified with Horus, a god of the sky. the cemetery. and female paths. 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. He is an extremely hot blooded and Smart! As such, there is no concern about the literal truth of these tales or the fact that tales my contradict one another. Youd be right. Shes also the wife of Obatala, the Creator. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. She is a fierce warrior who rides to war with And he spat more fire. Orunmila was impressed! When the smoke disappeared, Obatala noticed his skin color also disappeared. As the god of wisdom, Thoth was said to possess knowledge of magic and secrets unavailable to the other gods. It was a strange red powder. Her name, a He ran off with the clothes and left Obatala naked. Oya married Shango and lived with him in his palace in Oyo. and others. 1630 bce) the gods festivals consisted of processions and nocturnal rites and were celebrated at the temple of Abydos, where Osiris had assimilated the very ancient god of the dead, Khenty-Imentiu. There are more than 400 Orishas out there. We are also blessed from time to time in the religion with the babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world The party was over. From about 2000 bce onward it was believed that every man, not just the deceased kings, became associated with Osiris at death. 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. This is the source of It made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a single orisha in that scenario. There was a time when they conducted a power struggle against Olorun and tried to persuade him to abdicate for sixteen years. Immediately after drinking it, Ochossi loses his memory and from this moment on he started living with Ossain in the depths of the forests. He taught his followers the secrets of civilization (fire, smithing, hunting, politics, and war). Both are fighters who protect their followers. His reign ended when he inadvertently destroyed his palace with lightning. This identification with Osiris, however, did not imply resurrection, for even Osiris did not rise from the dead. Shes also associated with riches, pregnancy, and fertility. The plantation was a success! Obatala observed how hard Eshu was working and decided to compensate him. all riches which she freely gives to her little sister Oshn. The orishas are equated with a variety of Catholic saints. Obatala created trees, animals, and many other things. His element is the earth. As such, these stories give multiple origin stories for the orishas. above them. Shango asked her if Eshu gave instructions on how to use that powder. Ogun, as I explained above, is a warrior and he creates weapons. They rule Aganj - orisha that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. White is most appropriate for with Oy and Oshn. 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 . Thanks. Slavic Svarog, Possibly god of celestial fire and blacksmithing. So, today were talking about African Pantheons. She is the youngest of However, it was not enough to make him free of problems or curses. Does this discovery prove ancient Egyptians traveled to the Americas 3000 years ago? Ogun becomes aware of the situation. unfolding of our lives. The pantheon of Orishas (traditionally followed by the Yoruba people) is a sequence of divine spirits dispatched by the supreme god Olodumare. Beyer, Catherine. Anubis was concerned with funerary practices and the care of the dead. done in either world without his permission. It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. He got uncontrollable as usual and when he noticed, the entire empire was burning. There is no expectation that each community would function exactly alike or understand the orishas in exactly the same way. This way, Ossain was capable of identifying them easily. Oshun, who was passing by, found a naked and ashamed Obatala by the river. roads. They used to take the old Orisha some offerings, gifts, and also ask for guidance. . The number of orishas varies among believers. 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. Anyway, Orisha Omulu used to be a quiet one. 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. He talked to Obatala and assigned him the task of creating land. Today, we refer to these areas as Yorubaland. She is considered to be the mother of everything and she is associated with the seas. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). Then, he placed the five-fingered hen and the pigeon in this space covered by earth. Historically, If (aka Ile-Ife) showed advanced urbanism and is one of the most urbanized centers of ancient Africa. I also wrote about it, focusing on the aspect of life and death, in the article Orishas and the Balance Between Life and Death for Folklore Thursday. Obatala felt reluctant but eventually agreed with her. predynastic and dynastic periods in ancient Egypt. Aganju was the next Orisha to manifest on earth. Learn Religions, Mar. Obatala created the world, all the living things, and human beings. It's just spreading historical, mythological and magical information. Just like a storm. She is The two became friends and Aroni shared with Ossain all the secrets related to herbs, plants, and flowers. These 12 are the most worshipped in afro-descendant religions such as Umbanda and Candomble in Brazil and they are also popular in Africa as well in Cuban Santeria. Before rising to national importance in the New Kingdom (c. 15391292 BCE), the god Amon was worshipped locally in the southern city of Thebes. When they were all amazed by the situation, the man exchanged the baked yams for proper yams. Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. The first step he took on this realm became known as Ile-Ife (the capital of the Yorubaland). Oshun is also considered a Mother Goddess and its very common for her worshipers to be known as children of Oshun. Copyright Ancient Code. She can bring destruction and also prepare the soil for a new beginning. The earth which was inside the seashell fell on it and covered a small space. Hes also the one whos responsible for work in general. Corrections? This changing nature made Oshumare a versatile one. Oya, however, started to dance with him. 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. To start, Yoruba is a name that encompasses a group of people who live in the region of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa. By about 2400 bce, however, Osiris clearly played a double role: he was both a god of fertility and the embodiment of the dead and resurrected king. Obatala became albine. Everything consists of songs, stories, and practices. In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. In this Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. though through which he enforces justice in the world. Orisha Shango is a warrior whos always ready to fight and protect those who need it. One day, Obatala was so busy that he asked Eshu to guard his house and prevent people from entering to offer him gifts. 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). Orisha Yemaya wears white and blue dresses. She became Oya Ibale, the queen of the dead. Orisha Oshumare is the Orisha related to the rainbow and also to beauty and riches. On his head was the atef-crown, composed of the white crown of Upper Egypt and two ostrich feathers. His element is water. Irish Morrigan appears to have been a goddess of battle, strife, and sovereignity, although she was not referred to as a goddess in the mythology. The Theres a story explaining how she became so powerful and able to wield weapons and magic. Creation". The goddess Isis was the mother of the king and was thus the mother of Horus and consort of Osiris. Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. Shes a crone who knows all the secret spells and hidden knowledge out there. uncountable. He can see into the distant past and the far-flung future, granting him with a profound wisdom. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. Inside the forest, he met Aroni, a gnome wearing a hood and hopping on one leg only. Both continued fighting and Obatala eventually won it. Obatala noticed Eshu but I was too late. Oya wears a red dress and holds a sword in one of her hands. strong-willed orisha that loves all the pleasures of the world: dance, She made it. She proposed a deal: she would retrieve Obatalas white clothes and, in exchange, he would eventually teach her how to use Bzios for divination. This way, Eshu not only became knowledgeable but also rich and prosperous. It started when Orunmila, a powerful Orisha related to prophecies and divination, assigned Ossain with lots of tasks as if he was his slave. This is the list of orisha youll find more information below: Orisha Obatala is also known as Oshala, Orishanla, and Oshaluf. Africa isnt a single place with a single pantheon, and wed be fools to try and cover all that in an eleven minute video. (Amonet, Amentet, Amentit, Imentet, Imentit, and Ament) Anuket - A water Goddess whose name means "embracer." Her waters lapped the sacred island, Seheil. Each African city-state had its own single, patron deity. Now, you. T. Depicted as a falcon or as a man with a falcons head, Horus was a sky god associated with war and hunting. This fight was mainly a physical fight, no magic was involved. He is not associated with volcanoes in Yorbland in West Africa, contrary to what is believed in Cuban-style practice of orisa. He is now viewed as a compassionate and humble deity, curing people of sickness and disease. Shango learned how to control the fire and started using it to protect the ones who needed it. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. It somehow reminds the method of divination with Runes by the Norse people. The exact number of orishas is not known . This man proposed a challenge to the king to prove he was no lier. heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. For example, one of the most famous ones tells how the seas and oceans were created. He was usually represented as a jackal or as a man with the head of a jackal. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. Simply water. 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.) 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. It is believed that depictions of Isis with the infant Horus influenced Christian imagery of Mary with the infant Jesus. Her other name, Iansa or Ians, means mother to 9 children. Hathor embodied motherhood and fertility, and it was believed that she protected women in childbirth. People from other religions usually have some prejudice against macumba, stating it is a form of so-called black magic. Olodumare is the source of ashe, which all living things must have in order to survive and succeed, including the orishas. The Orishas. She tells her son to avoid going to the forest, but he doesnt listen to her. In the end, he finds Ochossi and peacefully brings him back home. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Orisha Ochosi, also known as Oxossi or Od, is the hunter. People who can play Buzios are actually asking the Orishas for answers. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Over time she grew in importance, though, eventually becoming the most important goddess in the pantheon. Firstly because of the eb she prepared to become a mother. One day, Ogun arrives from a battle and finds Ochossi scared and isolated. almost always used first for war. Madonna. complex, but no more so than any other living being such as you or I. Hes related to death and also to magic. In this way, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but in the end, is usually found to be a good one. Eshu did it. White is also a color that represents her. 2023 All Rights Reserved. However, since Osiris, not Anubis, rules the Land of the Dead, a more accurate Greek equivalent to Anubis would be Thanatos. He just observed how Obatala used to work, how he used to create humans from clay. Were going to focus on a dozen or so. He was always alone, living alone in one specific party, all the Orishas were together. Of course, he drinks it! The next step was the creation of all life. numbers four and six. Some say Shango had 3 wives. Basically, in the beginning, there was only water. The main ones are Umbanda and Candomble (Brazil), Santeria (Cuba), and Vodou (Haiti). Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. gain a better understanding of them and their ways. witness to our destinies in the making as well. Oshosi is also a hunting god, who is highly regarded for his quick wit and objectivity. Sometimes these Orishas would go down from the sky using spiderwebs to play in the water. Olorun sent them Ogun, god of crafts, to find a suitable habitat. There was no taste at all. Chinese Yu-huang Shang Ti, the Jade Emperor. Aganju and Yemaya have a child called Orung. However, everyone would visit him, stay a few days, and go back home. She never ate lamb after these occasions. The oldest known depiction of Osiris dates to about 2300 bce, but representations of him are rare before the New Kingdom (15391075 bce), when he was shown in an archaizing form as a mummy with his arms crossed on his breast, one hand holding a crook, the other a flail. One day, Orung waited for his father to be absent and raped Yemaya. Now that you have a background, we can go on. Children are the Fish" to reflect the fact that her children are Now, you might say, thats ridiculous. Bastet or Bast (Ancient Egyptian: bstjt, Coptic: , romanized: Oubaste /uast/, Phoenician: , romanized: 'bst, or , romanized: bst) was a goddess of ancient Egyptian religion, worshipped as early as the Second Dynasty (2890 BCE). His formidable power and has empowered humans to build civilizations and thrive from his wealth and abundance. (Sincerely, I would have done the same!). Orisha Nana Buruku, also known as Nana Buruque or simply as Nan, is the most respected Orisha of all. He didnt need them. The shell contained a magical soil and a divine cloth. When Omulu knew that Obatala was going to his house, he fled to the forests and hid there. But these could change over time as gods rose and fell in importance and evolved in ways that corresponded to developments in Egyptian society. Besides his apparent ugliness, Omulu also had many skin diseases, including smallpox which contributed to his ugly appearance. A central feature was the construction of the Osiris garden.. way Yemay displays herself as truly the mother of all. the numbers 7 and the colors green and black. The patakis, or stories of the orishas, are not standardized and are frequently contradictory. (2021, March 4). He is said to live in the forest with his Orisha brothers part of the time. Orisha Oshun, also known as Osun, is the Orisha of Rivers and Love. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. His element is wind. Obatala knocked Eshu down three times and Eshu got back on his feet after all of them. Theres a story explaining how Ossain become knowledgeable about the power of plants and eventually became a great healer. Eshu used to roam free with no destination at all. Aganju by Robert Love He is a patron of sexual diversity, celebrating lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Many countries in the Americas feature the Orishas in their religions. Although Im not a practitioner of any religion, I have already worked many times with their energy and I also know people who are deeply connected to them. 12. the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. He refused. The female Orishas, Yemaya, Nan Buruku, and Oshun, are commonly associated with the Divine Feminine and can be considered different aspects of the Triple Goddess. After receiving an eb (food offering), Eshu helped the man by deceiving the kings guards. The purpose of these stories today is to teach lessons rather than relate some literal truth. makes short work of a tree or a fire rage through an area, one has 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). After playtime, they would simply return to the sky. Nut, in Egyptian religion she is a Goddess of the sky, frequently portrayed alongside the African God of the earth, Geb. that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? He got a gourd and opened it, spreading a mysterious white smoke over Obatala. He also taught humans agriculture. He can be represented as an old man or as a young one. Elegba is always Using these sacred materials, he created fields, forests, hills, and valleys. He represents the power of fortune. Oya is married to Shango, a warrior Orisha who also has fire as an element. with quick wits, quick temper and is the epitomy of virility. Underneath it, its said he wears black and red colors. He made some oxen appear on the roofs of cattle sheds. She also is the one we His priests, the babalawos or "Fathers of the Living humans were the third category, and the most they are about to do. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. I write this page as a way to honor these forces. He calmed down and Oya went back home. If you wish to support me,please use the button below and buy me a ko-fi! Yemaya found, healed, and adopted him. He was believed to have invented language and the hieroglyphic script and to serve as a scribe and adviser for the gods. Santeros (Santeria priests) do not believe that the orishas and the saints are identical. wife of Ogn. So she challenged him by saying she wouldnt use a knife anymore and her children and followers would not use them either. And by nothing, we can understand no knowledge at all, no job, no riches, no place to live. At the beginning of Yoruba mythology, the universe was composed of two elements, the ethereal sky above and a watery chaos below. As the people began to reproduce, new lands were required for them to settle. However, many of their clients are also Catholic, and they understand that such clients better identify with these beings under the guise of the saintly counterparts. Because the festivals took place in the open, public participation was permitted, and by the early 2nd millennium bce it had become fashionable to be buried along the processional road at Abydos or to erect a cenotaph there as a representative of the dead.
