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. Yemaya was linked with the V*irgin Mary, Our Lady of Regla, in Cuba. This category is mainly made up of kings, queens, heroes, heroines, warriors, and founders of cities. Article written by Simon E. Davies, Contributor to Ancient Code. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. Some of them are known as ara urun, meaning people of heaven, where they are believed to reside. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas . Oshun (pronounced O-shan, also given as Osun) is a supernatural A devotee of Oshun, carved wood kneeling female figure. 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. Ogun is able to destroy as easily as heal, as is Oshun when she is displeased, and Shango can lash out in anger with thunder and lightning as often as he does in justice. 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). 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. In this version, the orishas fall into three categories: primordial deities, deified ancestors, and personifications of natural forces. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. We care about our planet! Shango was the third king of the Oyo Kingdom. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. An orisha may be said to arise when a divine power to command and make things happen converges with a natural force, a deified ancestor, and an object that witnesses and supports that convergence and alignment. The Orisha deities now enjoy a global following, flourishing in many parts of Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. This list includes the major Orishas honored in the United States, according to scholars and practitioners. She resides over the Ogun river, whose waters are said to cure infertility. He reigned for seven years, constantly waging battle against other nations, bringing prosperity to the Oyo Empire. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Deified ancestors are people who lived in this world after it was created and had such a profound impact upon it that their descendants have continued to promote their memory. 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. Various sources state that there are at least 401 Orishas, and several are mentioned in Yoruba creation stories and archaeological history. Olodumare stopped the rains. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. Corrections? In some traditions, Aganju is seen as the father or brother of Shango, god of thunder and lightning. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. Olorun sent them Ogun, god of crafts, to find a suitable habitat. 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. Kokou is a warrior god, renowned for his violence and ferocity. The orisha of wisdom, Orunmila is the first-born of Olodumare, and a prime deity. Like the stories told by the Yoruba in West Africa, different Orishas were linked to different saints in different regions, and it is not possible to definitively say which Orisha came to be identified with which saint. Christianity spread massively in the nineteenth century when the Europeans penetrated Nigeria. Each confirms the Yoruba religion has many Orishas but offer different explanations regarding how they came to exist. Grieving, her tears created the Oba river which intersects with the Oshun river. 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). In his free time, Jhonfrank enjoys coming back to the classics, as well as reading mystery short stories, and poetry. Esu, for example, as a deity of crossroads, acts as a psychopomp a guide for the souls of the dead bringing them to the afterlife and comforting them while, at the same time, he may have had a hand in the circumstances that led to their death. Her emblem is a large seashell which she uses as a currency. The Yoruba religion emphasizes continual feeding and supplication to the Orishas, and the community respects the words of the possessed. The head also has other values associated with it that derive from the hierarchical nature of Yoruba social life. Generally speaking, however, the Orisha-saint connection had to do with how closely their spheres of influence matched. Cuban African worship, sometimes referred to as Santera, is still widely practiced in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Tobago/Trinidad and Brazil, a number of practitioners are Yoruba descendants to certain degrees. 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. The Supreme Deity of the Yoruba is called Oldmar. He taught his followers the secrets of civilization (fire, smithing, hunting, politics, and war). 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. Orisha of medicine, healing, and comfort, physician to the gods. Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. Yoruba gods and goddesses are worshipped in Nigeria, Cuba, and Brazil. Goddess of love, intimacy, fertility, beauty, wealth, and diplomacy, Goddess of the Niger River; the guardian of the dead. During the 18th and 19th centuries thousands of Yoruba, Bini, Ewe, and Fon people were enslaved, uprooted, and transported to the Americas. About 78% of Brazil's population are Yorubas. 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. In themselves the cowrie shells symbolize wealth, because they were once a medium of economic exchange. He embodies the power of the sun, essential for the growth. fertility, and death (a trickster and a psychopomp). He is the most feared of the Orisha. The best examples of this are the stories in which the Orishas rebel against Olodumare in the belief that the supreme deity is too old to manage the maintenance of the world and they could do much better. The Yoruba creation story, like many others, has different versions. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Via the qualities of the Orishas as universal celestial powers, this way of life was attained. Olodumare was terrified and ran from the mice, but Esu appeared, calmed the deity, and quickly ate up every mouse. Who is the strongest Yoruba god? 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. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. These West African faiths may also have the most intricate theologies. Photo: @janakesho, Orishas, like the saints, were relatable because they were fallible. Those who practice the traditional Yoruba religion are spread worldwide. 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. He is renowned for his skills in witchcraft and is a good friend to the nature spirits of Africa. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. These devotees often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. Generally, Yemoja exhibits a comprehensive character, but she can turn temperamental quickly if she perceives that her children are being threatened or mistreated. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. Others, who descended to the Earth to be adored in their human incarnations, were called irunmole. The Orishas attend religious celebrations by possessing believers and making them go into a trance. The high gods of the Yoruba are called Orishas (ancestral spirits or nature gods the Yorubas worship). 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. Submitted by Joshua J. Help us and translate this definition into another language! Shortly afterward, Shango became the orisha of lightning, fire, virility, and war. He created the Orishas to be mediators between himself and the people. The orisha was very enthusiastic about his mission, but he got very drunk before finishing it and neglected his creational duties. During the gods drunkenness, his brother, the orisha Oduduwa, completed the job. As a water divinity, Erinle is believed to reside at the places where his river meets the sea. He is a patron of sexual diversity, celebrating lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Metaphysical personifications or spirits. She is also the patron of dyes and colors. [1], The Republic of Benin and Nigeria contain the highest concentrations of Yoruba people and Yoruba faiths in all of Africa. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 2023 All Rights Reserved. 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. 17 Apr 2023. Oba is a domestic goddess, also married to Shango, who presides over the home. 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. Orunmila - spirit of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight All can be said to be transformative figures to greater or lesser degrees, and their responsibilities are far-ranging. Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? However, despite his mistake, Obatala redeemed himself by taking on the task of creating the human race. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. He represents the power of fortune. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Orisha/. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Her followers often hold festivals in her honor to commemorate the dead. Oduduwa by Jianing Hu 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. Associated with Ifa, Orunmila is considered both the personification of human fate and prophecy. 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. Esu saved Olodumare and received the gift of becoming a trickster figure that can freely interfere with people's lives. Weborisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. 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 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. In the modern day, people invoke the Orishas in personal or communal rituals for spiritual strength, enlightenment, or assistance in daily challenges. Although there is much variation in the details of the rituals and mythology of these deities among these West African peoples, the underlying religious concept is essentially the same. Shango was linked with St Barbara, who is connected to war and thunderstorms. Some of these orishas are primordial in the sense that they existed before the creation of human beings. (2). Mark, Joshua J.. She presides over womanhood, fertility, and life. Yoruba gods and goddesses. WebIn the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. It is the orishas who are the guardians and explicators of human destiny. Esu, for example, was associated with Saint Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost items, people, and paths in life, because of his role as guardian of crossroads and guide in transitions. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. 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). Elegua, Yemay (Yemja), Oshn (un), Shang (Sang), Obatal, Oya, and Ogn etc. Egungun-Oya is a goddess of divination. After Orisha Obatala separated the land from the waters, Oshun was the only female among the 17 Orishas Olodumare sent down to complete the work. 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. Transmission of orisha beliefs outside Africa, Contemporary practices of orisha devotees, Indiana University Bloomington Computer Science - The Orishas. 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