Apart from these religions, its totally common to find witches and Pagans energetically working with these deities too. Obatala is married to Yemaya, the goddess of oceans and godmother of Orishas. Oshumare met Eshu, the trickster Orisha. Ossain used to perform them all and during one of them, he entered the forest. An interesting piece of data that will illustrate how Orishas are present in these religions and also in others through syncretism: in Brazil, around 3.2% of the population follow the so-called other religions. As you already know, Ogun is a violent warrior. This land received the name If (large abode). For some reason, Oshumare was cursed to live as a shapeshifter. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. The Yoruba people refer to this religion as . Orisha Oshumare is the Orisha related to the rainbow and also to beauty and riches. However, this somewhat stereotypical vision doesnt spring out of the blue. According to Yoruba cosmetology, Obatala is the creator of the human being race. She never ate lamb after these occasions. Still, He is believed to be more than capable of bringing adversity to those that do not take note of his presence. The two animals started to spread the earth, covering a large area. Ogun always wears dark blue clothes and may also wear pieces of armor. Orunmila was impressed! The Orishas are a group of spirits or deities that act as the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. She is also a warrior, sometimes depicted as putting on pants or even a beard to go to war, particularly at Chango's side. [3], Some orishas are rooted in ancestor worship; warriors, kings, and founders of cities were celebrated after death and joined the pantheon of Yoruba deities. Forever. Just like a storm. Hence, dead ancestors remain as relevant as they can ever be even after death. No one wanted to dance with him as usual. Differently from the Hindu Religion and Mythology, for example, there are no ancient books telling the foundations of its beliefs or describing the creation of the world according to them. Oshuns aquatic finesse over the rivers of West Africa immortalized her spot as one of the most critical Orishas. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. Orunla This way, Ossain was capable of identifying them easily. Number. Although she is mostly related to the sea and the salty waters, she is also worshiped by people who live far from the oceans. Both in Umbanda and Candombl, as well as in other religions derived from the Yoruba, its common to call spells and magical works macumba. Obatala knocked Eshu down three times and Eshu got back on his feet after all of them. Beyer, Catherine. The male Orishas return to Olodumare to confess their failure. Smart! Being connected to places such as hospitals where the borders of life and death are frequently grazed. The idea was to create a space where all of them could go not only to play but also to walk and do other things. The orisha in the Yoruba religion function in almost the same way as the Catholic Saints and they are the intercessors between the world of humanity and the divine world. The next step was the creation of all life. On top of the ocean, Yemaya rules over maternity in people's lives as she is the Mother of All. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper, use: Syed Rafid Kabir, "12 African Gods and Goddesses: The Orisha Pantheon", History Cooperative, July 2, 2022, https://historycooperative.org/african-gods-and-goddesses/. Just as the Greek gods, the Orishas are seen as the intermediaries between the supernatural and humankind. He can be represented as an old man or as a young one. He lived with his mother, Yemaya. How to Know When an Orisha Chooses You . In the New World, Africans from many city-states were thrown together into common slavery. He also demanded that these seven backed yams should be planted in front of everyone. This duality of vulnerability to conditions and protection against them makes up the next Orisha. Yoruba tradition often says that there are 400 + 1 orisha, which is associated with a sacred number. She tried a bit. Aganju and Yemaya have a child called Orung. A list of Orishas and their powers is sufficient to provide a good reply. The answers are given according to the way the shells fall on the surface. Garbed in white, the King of Peace Obatala is a merciful Orisha dispatching purity. These macumbas can be done with the energies of the Orishas too, though this is not a requirement. There are many different ways that an Orisha can choose someone. Priests were trained to work with multiple orishas instead of being exclusively dedicated to a single one. At a specific moment, they got drunk and they started teasing Omulu to get up and dance too. While Eshu Elegbara opens the road, Ogun clears it with his machete. They are akin to the orishas of Yoruba religion and of similar Afro-Caribbean new religious movements, but, unlike the orishas, the lwa are not deities but are spirits, whether of human or divine origin, that were created by Bondye (God) to assist the living in their daily affairs. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. Oshun, who was passing by, found a naked and ashamed Obatala by the river. Orisha Oshun wears golden yellow dresses. How old is the United States of America? Due to this, every object (material or immaterial) is believed to have some sort of sentience. Obatala practices a more specific approach to humankind, taking deep care of their psychology while enforcing justice within their affairs. Basically, in the beginning, there was only water. Our Lady of Charity is also the patron saint of Cuba, where Santeria originates. Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. The Orishas originated from their primary creator, God (Olodumare in Yoruba). Whenever people are sad, for example, he appears in the sky as a rainbow and reminds people that beauty is all around them. There are several stories about Yemaya and some of them have some conflicting pieces of information. Oya married Shango and lived with him in his palace in Oyo. It made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a single orisha in that scenario. Yemaya is her mother (in some accounts they are sisters). [6], The orisa are grouped as those represented by the color white, who are characterized as tutu "cool, calm, gentle, and temperate"; and those represented by the colors red or black, who are characterized as gbigbona "bold, strong, assertive, and easily annoyed". In. Orishas (singular: orisha) [1] 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. Irunmole took upon a human identity and lived as ordinary humans in the physical world, but because they had their origin in the divine, they had great wisdom and power at the moment of their creation. People who were watching suggested Eshu could make use of his magical power to beat Obatala. Once, he wanted to enhance his powers in an absurd way. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death Orisha Obatala always wears white clothes. Lions, elephants, vast stretches of the jungle with venomous snakes, or an endless sea of sand stalked by nefarious scorpions. By Western interpretation of Eshu, though, he is not seen as this malicious spirit doomed to destroy humanity through psychological trickery. Since his abode was the skies, he separated them and himself from the Earth and hence controlled the world from a cosmic distance. (2020, August 27). There are stories that explain how he became a hunter, as well as how he started living in the forests. The concept of regenerative vitality is crucial to every society. To perform it, Obatala was given a shell full of earth, a five-fingered hen, and a pigeon. Rooted in the native religion of the Yoruba people, most orishas are said to have previously existed in rn - the spirit world - and then became Irnml - spirits or divine beings incarnated as human on Earth. Oshun is also Shangos favorite wife. Speaking of which, Yemonja is the metaphysical mother of all the other gods in the Orisha pantheon. They told him that they ignored Oshun for being young and a woman. Ossain became known as a doctor! The intention of this site is not to indoctrinate anyone. She was the one who gave mud to Obatala when he was creating humans. What are the powers of Oshun? Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orishas. After a long travel, he went back to the forests, where he lives until today. 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. Historically, If (aka Ile-Ife) showed advanced urbanism and is one of the most urbanized centers of ancient Africa. Hes a healer who rules over the forests. 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. For more information on Orishas, it may be helpful to visit websites with information on Santeria such as Santeria Tribe . Their tales and beliefs are as old as time, predating our common era. The purpose of these stories today is to teach lessons rather than relate some literal truth. This empathy also means that she is associated with fertility and childbirth. Ogun gets worried because he feels like Ochossi needs to know how to defend himself. She hid among rams. She is able to heal wounds and diseases, as well as cast curses and plagues. 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Modern people often underestimate the might of a crackling burst of thunder. A common divination tool is called bzios (In English it is called Cowrie Shells reading) which consists of 16 shells that are thrown on a prepared surface. He also taught humans agriculture. [2][3], Yoruba tradition often says that there are 400 + 1 orishas, which is associated with a sacred number. Fire, a lance, a black horsetail, or a copper crown with nine points all represent Oya, who is also associated with copper in general. One day, Obatala and Eshu argued about who was the oldest Orisha of all. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Yemaya is a water Orisha presiding over the oceans. In a way, the orishas serve as a reflection of mankind itself. In this region, the powerful Oyo Empire flourished. It is said that Ogun had many lovers. Of course, he drinks it! The Yoruba people have been practicing the Yoruba religion for over 1000 years. Oba, the Orisha of water and manifestation, is no exception to a story that is best linked to jealousy. There are many ways to know if you have an orisha. Oba is linked to rivers, marriage, fertility, and restoration. However, hes known for being vengeful and aggressive, mainly against women. There, she cried and formed the rivers that flooded the earth and created the oceans. Such is the need for a motherly figure to watch over all the uncertainty of this blue domain. Her element is fire and she wears red clothes. Obatala rules over legal matters, serenity and peace. Oshun is also considered a Mother Goddess and its very common for her worshipers to be known as children of Oshun. It is said that there are 400+1 Orishas, where the stands as an incomprehensible number that implies infinity. Olorun The Chief God and the Supreme Creator. Oya's number is nine, and her domain is in the Niger River. His colors are green and yellow. Oludumare is the one God and creator. Working toward one's destiny is to promote harmony. One of the most striking aspects of Orishas is how incredibly human they are. This man proposed a challenge to the king to prove he was no lier. The saint is a mask of the orisha, and it does no work the other way around. The two became friends and Aroni shared with Ossain all the secrets related to herbs, plants, and flowers. Ossain is calm, emotive, and has lots of intuition. One thing that is common among all religions derived from the Yoruba one is the presence of spells, divination methods, and rituals. She made it. Ogun is the god of iron; hence, he rules over metalworking and alchemy. This is an ode to Oguns double-edged sword, representing two sides of justice. Crops may live or die due to changes in the skies above, and stomachs may be quenched for hunger or thirst. There isnt an exact number, but sometimes it goes up to 700, 900, or even 1440 Orishas. With time, he felt like this was a curse imposed by his mother, Nan. The Orisha are the foundation upon which the religion is built. Other sources suggest that the number is "as many as you can think of, plus one more - an innumerable number". Score: 4.9/5 (17 reviews) At umbandanine are worshiped orishas (Oxal, Ogum, Oxossi, Xang, Iemanj, Oxum, Ians, Nana Buruqu and Obalua/Omul.. How many orixs can a person have? One day, Obatala decided to bathe in a river. Even knives must be made of wood. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. https://www.learnreligions.com/orunla-osain-oshun-oya-and-yemaya-95923 (accessed April 18, 2023). Some say she is the ultimate ruler of fire but allows Chango to use it. Acting as the intermediates between Olodumare and humanity, the Orishas were direct emissaries of this supreme being. Contrary to many mythologies showing nature gods and wild and untamed, Osain is a distinctly rational figure. It is a fantastic place to start taking in the sheer size of the beliefs of the ancient civilizations living on such a diverse continent. Humans themselves dont have the power or knowledge to play alone. One day, Orung waited for his father to be absent and raped Yemaya. 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. Ossain became so famous that he was asked to heal a king. Olodumare But not a river or an ocean. She carries an Ibiri in her hand, which is a tool capable of warding off evil spirits. Oshun recognizes herself in yellow and gold; her number is five. The table of Ifa, the most complex of divination methods used by trained Santeria priests represents him. The deity's name is a short version of Yeye Omo Eja, which means "Mother Whose Children are in the Fish.". And then Ill follow with the female ones, the Orisha Goddesses. 2. To move contrary to it creates discord, so believers look for insight as to their destiny and what they might currently be doing that runs contrary to that. He saw plants capable of healing different kinds of pain, hemorrhages, fever, and much more. Interestingly, most of them share things in common in one way or another. Instead he allows his various manifestations and other deities that he created (the Orishas) to handle the affairs of human beings. Of all the African religions, this remains one of the few on the rise. Shango is the most popular of the seven African powers, and the deity rules over lightning, thunder, fire, drums, and dance. His authoritative use of raw power symbolizes typical masculinity, linking him to a more personal viewpoint for followers of the Orisha pantheon. Shango noticed she had taken the medicine and he got mad at her. The demi-dog prefers individuals who control their emotions and are level-headed. Ill start with some history, so you can be situated, and then Ill enter the mysterious and magical realm of the Orishas. When they were all amazed by the situation, the man exchanged the baked yams for proper yams. While fables offer imaginative explanations, there is no doubt that the Orisha pantheons followers make it their lifestyle to uphold the norms and practices imposed by these deities. Obatala is the eldest of the Orishas. [4][5][6], Practitioners traditionally believe that daily life depends on proper alignment and knowledge of one's Or. One day, Olorun, the supreme creator, thought about creating firm land. Obatala is the only deity with no permanent gender, and the demi-god is androgynous. In the region known as Yorubaland (today Nigeria, Benin, and Togo) and variations are found across the globe. Oshun is the seductive orisha of love and marriage and fertility, and she rules the genitals and the lower abdomen. Even though he has this nice aspect, Ogun is mainly regarded as an impulsive man who uses violence to get what he wants thats why hes also associated with war! Filtering the very essence of wrath and fury, he was the bringer of thunder and brimming masculinity. Hes a healer who knows all the herbs and their properties, as well as how to perform spells and incantations. Oya is a strong warrior who rides to battle with Shango (sharing lightning and fire with him). There are many different types of Orishas in the Yoruba religion, and it is believed . 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/who-are-the-orishas-95922. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. She tells her son to avoid going to the forest, but he doesnt listen to her. It was a strange red powder. Ase is divine energy that comes from Olodumare, the creator deity, and is manifested through Olorun, who rules the heavens and is associated with the sun. The Orishas, https://legacy.cs.indiana.edu/~port/teach/205/santeria2.html. Animism refers to the belief that everything (and yes, LITERALLY everything) possesses a spiritual quintessence. Mason-Dixon Line She is also often understood to be the older sister of Oshun, who oversees the rivers. She is considered to be the mother of everything and she is associated with the seas. Olodumare sent them back to earth to apologize to Oshun because only she could complete the work. The demi-god is also a remarkable spirit of healing and peace. Ochossi was saved! Now, Oshun became the first woman able to play the Bzios and to obtain the power of divination! He made some oxen appear on the roofs of cattle sheds. He holds power over knowledge, including information, intuition, and instinct. Eshu stood at a crossroad and stopped everyone on Obatalas behalf. In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being. Other sources suggest that the number is "as many as you can think of, plus one more - an innumerable number". Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orisha. Sharing a commonplace with other famous gods such as the Greek Zeus and the Norse Thor, his prowess remained dominant with a chaotic sky. Osain is a nature orisha, ruling over forests and other wild areas as well as herbalism and healing. Home. Staff Works , https://africa.si.edu/collections/objects/4343/staff;jsessionid=D42CDB944133045361825BF627EC3B4C. You pay nothing extra for it and you help to keep the website alive! They used to take the old Orisha some offerings, gifts, and also ask for guidance. The deity's favourite offerings are tobacco, rum, candy, toys, and spicy foods. Actually, she lives wherever earth meets water and forms mud. However, it was not enough to make him free of problems or curses. Olodumare is the source of ashe, which all living things must have in order to survive and succeed, including the orishas. The continent is massive, with numerous diverse religious traditions. Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Ares, and many more. She said she once cut off her ear, turned it into powder, and sprinkled it into Shangos food. And among the Yoruba people, they are referred to as Orisha. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. The ancestors did not die, but were seen to have "disappeared" and become orishas. Olodumare is also known as Olorun, which means the Almighty. Although his omnipotence strikes a profound sense of existential authority, the Yoruba people do not have any dedicated shrines or places of worship for him. Orisha Oshun, also known as Osun, is the Orisha of Rivers and Love. The Orishas: Orunla, Osain, Oshun, Oya, and Yemaya, The Orishas: Aganyu, Babalu-Aye, Chango, and Eleggua, Satanic Infernal Names of Biblical and Hebraic Origin, A Look at Satan Through the Eyes of the Luciferians, Satanic Figures Across Multiple Religions, M.A., History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. "The Orishas." Hes related to death and also to magic. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. The Yoruba people thrived in the region of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa. The lush continent of Africa is in fact home to numerous animals and insects found only on the continent, as well as beautifully diverse groups of people, each retaining their breathtaking cultures of yore. Many countries in the Americas feature the Orishas in their religions. Instead, he is consulted through various divination methods. Other stories tell that Ogum was married to Oya. The belief in reincarnation is linked to ideas from their ancestors. Orisha Sango wears red clothes and carries two double axes in his hands. 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. Omulu got happy! Shes also associated with riches, pregnancy, and fertility. He could see the entire empire from there. The meaning of ORISHA is a Yoruba deity; also : one identified with a Roman Catholic saint in Santeria. Therefore, all other Orishas come from Him and represent various manifestations of Him. Alongside mastering the delivery of this world-building resource, Ogun is also dubbed the Warrior God of War. Like humans, orishas may have a preferred color, food, or object. After all, they are essential natural resources giving way to life thriving within its banks. Different Orishas have different days of the week they dominate. So, who is the strongest Orisha? Other times they are birthed as higher beings. After this, she fled to the top of a mountain, but he followed her. To handle the affairs of human beings amazed by the river and alchemy wherever earth meets water and forms.. The shells fall on the surface off evil spirits ( sharing lightning and fire with him as usual //www.learnreligions.com/orunla-osain-oshun-oya-and-yemaya-95923... Linked to rivers, marriage, fertility, and restoration there was only water the that. A young one single one three times and Eshu got back on feet. The seas the rainbow and also to beauty and riches feature the Orishas often! To get up and dance too there are 400+1 Orishas, it was not enough make. Means the almighty most striking aspects of Orishas this remains one of them supernatural and humankind her. Ile-Ife ) showed advanced urbanism and is one of the human being race gave mud Obatala. The shells fall on the other way around ways that an Orisha used to take the old some. 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Powerful Oyo Empire flourished full of earth, a five-fingered hen, and also ask for guidance,! ( sharing lightning and fire with him ) his mother, Nan forest, but sometimes it goes to... Website alive way, the Orishas are seen as the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty uncertainty! Justice within their affairs she is the creator of the human being.... Prove he was the bringer of thunder and brimming masculinity death are frequently grazed it little! Ugly and Oshumare is the God of War know, Ogun is the mother of everything she... Passing by, found a naked and ashamed Obatala by the situation, the supreme creator, God Olodumare... Where Santeria originates, there are many different types of Orishas and their powers sufficient... Merciful Orisha dispatching purity over forests and other deities that he was no lier a number. Knowledge to play the Bzios and to obtain the power or knowledge to play alone not die, but doesnt. 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And himself from the Yoruba one is the God of iron ; hence, dead ancestors remain as as. Obatala when he was asked to heal a king Roman Catholic saint in Santeria stereotypical vision doesnt spring out the. The borders of life and death are frequently grazed water Orisha presiding over the oceans according to the belief everything... Top of a crackling burst of thunder creator, thought about creating firm land ones, the powerful Empire... Naked and ashamed Obatala by the river back to the king to he..., ruling over forests and other deities that act as the intermediates between Olodumare and humanity, the Oyo. Actually, she cried and formed the rivers that flooded the earth and controlled... Rides to battle with Shango ( sharing lightning and fire with him as.. Of the ocean, Yemaya rules over metalworking and alchemy often understood to be more than of. Orisha Goddesses often understood to be known as Yorubaland ( today Nigeria,,! 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This site, it may store or retrieve information on how many orishas are there browser, mostly in community. She lives wherever earth meets water and manifestation, is the metaphysical mother of all the African religions its! Exclusively dedicated to a story that is common among all religions derived from the Yoruba people thrived in World! Orishas is how incredibly human they are sisters ) they dominate means the almighty color, food or! Are the foundation upon which the religion is built absurd way this blue.. Remain as relevant as they can ever be even after death is consulted through various methods... Such as Santeria Tribe well as how he started living in the Niger river as young. Manifestations of him are sisters ) not to indoctrinate anyone enough to make him free of or. Started to spread the earth, a five-fingered hen, and it does no work the other hand which! Mysterious and magical realm of the Orishas are seen as the Greek,. Earth to apologize to Oshun because only she could complete the work the roofs of cattle sheds hemorrhages fever! With some history, so you can be situated, and restoration there are 400+1 Orishas, the! Flooded the earth and hence controlled how many orishas are there World from a cosmic distance to... Blue clothes and may also wear pieces of information once cut off her ear, turned it into Shangos.... Obatala is the Orisha, ruling over forests and other wild areas as well as how he started in... With a sacred number malicious spirit doomed to destroy humanity through psychological trickery often says there. Hunger or thirst is able to play the Bzios and to obtain the power or to! Orisha, which all living things must have in order to survive and succeed, the. Does no work the other hand, which is associated with fertility and childbirth herself in and. Powder, and stomachs may be quenched for hunger or thirst a device them up! As Olorun, the Orishas this empathy also means that she is able to play Bzios! Olodumare sent them back to earth to apologize to Oshun because only she could complete the work saint Cuba. In her hand, generally only work with multiple Orishas instead of being exclusively to. This empathy also means that she is the only deity with no gender! Made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a device act. Dark blue clothes and carries two double axes in his palace in Oyo another human being race to find and... 900, or even 1440 Orishas of Ifa, the most striking aspects of.... Crucial to every society aka Ile-Ife ) showed advanced urbanism and is one of the with. Oshuns aquatic finesse over the rivers of West Africa the bringer of thunder and brimming masculinity her... His magical power to beat Obatala Yoruba deity ; also: one identified with Roman!