As a guardian of the earth, she has been known to take the guise of a formidable warrior when necessary to protect those she loves. Associated with Ifa, Orunmila is considered both the personification of human fate and prophecy. 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. Orisha of the Earth (strongly associated with. 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. Mark, Joshua J.. An orisha, therefore, is a complex multidimensional unity linking people, objects, and powers. The history of the Yoruba religion started in the Stone Age. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. WebFREE DOWNLOAD Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses book in PDF, EPUB and Kindle format. 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. 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. They told him that they ignored Oshun for being young and a woman. 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. She guides her followers between the world of the dead and the living, preserving the memories of their ancestors. 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. A few are traditionalists, while most were assimilated into Christianity and Islam. The Sky god finished building the city of Ife and made himself the king of the Yoruba. Such a disappearance was not true death; rather, it was the occasion of the ancestors metamorphosis into an orisha. Her emblem is a large seashell which she uses as a currency. Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. Metaphysical personifications or spirits. Grieving, her tears created the Oba river which intersects with the Oshun river. The people were sorry for having questioned the plan of the supreme deity but understood they had received exactly what they had asked for and would have to live with it. They must be honored through remembrance and invoked to do so by living humans, however, and so fall lower on the hierarchy than the living. The Supreme God has three manifestations: These are the major orisha worshipped in Santera / Regla de Ocha / Lucum religion: As one can see, Babal-Ay (whom "Ricky Ricardo" sings to in his famous song) is a very lesser deity in Afro-Hispanic worship. Orishas, like the saints, were relatable because they were fallible. She can manifest as a gentle breeze or in the eye of a raging tornado. 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). Yemaya came to be linked with the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Regla in Cuba while Oshun was associated with the same figure as Our Lady of Mercy. Despite the ascendance of Christianity and Islam, many Yoruba and other West Africans still turn to the orishas for help, aid, and advice in the great and small problems of life. Various sources state that there are at least 401 Orishas, and several are mentioned in Yoruba creation stories and archaeological history. Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. 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. The Orishas are not always causing trouble for Olodumare, however, and most of the time are attentive to their responsibilities. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. In his early days, he was very hostile, inflicting disease upon those who transgressed him. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Yoruba gods and goddesses. Thank you! In isolation he learned humility, becoming Babal-Ay. To stop the orisha from accomplishing his purpose, Obatala chained him to the bottom of the sea. 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. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. Who is the strongest Yoruba god? The Orishas attend religious celebrations by possessing believers and making them go into a trance. Its worth noticing that, in the case of certain Yoruba divinities, these categories can be overlapped. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas . However, contrary to the missionaries and the Diasporas view, Olodumare-Oloorun is a powerful God that is always present in everything, even though He is above the Orishas and all people on earth. As noted, their number is most often given as 400 + 1 to suggest how limitless they are. At this stage of the tale, the orishas were simply intermediaries between humans and the gods. Olodumare demanded to know who had done this, and Esu pointed out the guilty who were swiftly punished. 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. In Yoruba tradition, Olokun is commonly depicted as a hermaphrodite. The orishas protected humans, going to Orunmila (Oludumares oldest son and god of wisdom) to seek advice from him, every time a mortal would ask them for help. 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 These masquerades are performed twice a year, as well as during funeral rites. Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. 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. 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. All can be said to be transformative figures to greater or lesser degrees, and their responsibilities are far-ranging. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. Oduduwa put them in the city of Ife (also Ile-Ife) and established the concept of cultural identity and kingship. In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. 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. He created the Orishas to be mediators between himself and the people. Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. Top 10 Obas in Yorubaland: Interesting facts about the rulers. Orisha of iron, fire, hunting, politics, and war. He is revered by all the hunting communities and is often employed by the Orishas as a scout, helping them to locate lost items. Agriculture from the Middle East highly influenced the people to develop the religion around 600 BC. Web. He created the Orishas to be mediators between himself and the people. An Ajogun is a supernatural being who causes trouble, encourages misunderstandings, brings illness, and causes accidents. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. In one, far back at the beginning of time, Olodumare created the Orishas and spread powers between them randomly. WebThe Supreme God has three manifestations: Olodumare - The Lord God of the Source of Creation; Olorun - The Lord God of Heaven; Olofi - The Lord God of the Palace, conduit between Orn (Heaven) and Ay (Earth). World History Encyclopedia. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. Updates? The Orishas do not always cause trouble for Olodumare and are attentive to their responsibilities. 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. Knowing The Orisha Gods & Goddesses Paperback Illustrated, October 8, 2020 by Waldete Tristao (Author), Caco Bressane (Author) 148 ratings See all formats and editions Paperback $8.99 5 Used from $8.99 15 New from $4.99 Oshun turns herself into a peacock and flies to Orun but, passing too close to the sun, loses most of her feathers and, because the journey was so long, arrives exhausted and ill but still delivers the message of the Orishas contrition. Each caught powers that enabled them to participate in the creation and oversee different spheres of influence. The number of orishas varies among believers. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. WebOrisha embodies. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Their participation in creation is given in another version, however, where the Orisha Obatala separates the land from the waters and Olodumare then sends down 17 Orishas to complete the 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. In one account, Erinle sank into the ground and became simultaneously a river and a water deity. Submitted by Joshua J. Weborisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Oshun can be spiteful, Shango impatient, Esu deceitful, Yemaya wrathful, and so on. 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. The wise Orunmila recognized that there wasnt any good reason for them not to have special abilities, so he agreed to share his powers with the orishas. Some of them are known as ara urun, meaning people of heaven, where they are believed to reside. Omissions? They also performed the same work as the Catholic saints after death, which was being intermediaries between a believer and the supreme deity. Legit.ng also shared an insightful article about the most populated religion in Nigeria. Eshu is also considered the embodiment of change, and as such, the Yoruba people believe he could bring them both happiness and destruction. 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). The beliefs of the Yoruba faith were passed down orally for generations until committed to writing and so there are a number of different versions of the same stories. 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. Aganju was the next Orisha to manifest on earth. The Orishas traveled to the Americas and the Caribbean via the Transatlantic Slave Trade, when many of the Yoruba were enslaved, and there they became syncretized with the Christian saints of Catholicism. Even so, not all the multitude of Orishas appear in the stories frequently only 20 or 30 at most do so but there are seven that appear often who have become the most popular and are referred to as gods and goddesses: These are all only the most basic descriptions of the dominions of the Seven Orishas. Creator of human bodies (represents light, spiritual purity. According to myth, these ancestors would commonly ascend to the sky or sink into the ground before turning into deities instead of dying as normal mortals would. Download Knowing the Orisha Gods and Goddesses Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle. Each orisha has its own powers and domains of authority. The Orishas exist to help humans reach their goal of self-actualization, but these entities are not perfect themselves. In some myths, the orishas were a race of primogenial divine beings, who lived among mankind but didnt yet have any powers. Copyright Ancient Code. This is the case of Yemoja, also called Yemaya, who is considered both a primordial deity and the personification of a natural force. In a third account, Erinle became a divinity after kicking a poisonous stone. 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. The rapids formed between these two rivers symbolize the rivalry between the two wives, a most turbulent relationship. 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. READ ALSO: Most populated religion in Nigeria: is it Christianity or Islam? The Orisha deities now enjoy a global following, flourishing in many parts of Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. (In 1989, it was believed that more than 70 million individuals in Africa and the New World participated in Yoruba religion in one way or another. Its said that her arrogance made her challenge Orunmila to a duel. Shortly afterward, Shango became the orisha of lightning, fire, virility, and war. Ogun by Eran Fowler At a time when the Gods were starving, she offered him her ear to eat, and he scorned her. "Orisha." His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). A fourth version of the myth suggests that Erinle was turned into the first elephant (its unclear by whom), and only after he had spent some time living like this, was the hunter granted orisha status. The male Orishas return to Olodumare to confess their failure. 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. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. He inspires humans to overcome their physical and psychological barriers which impede their growth. For instance, the Yoruba are thought to have a pantheon of up to 6,000 deities.[3]. It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. 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. 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. Orisha of thunder, lightning, fire, virility, war, and foundations. Weborisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. In the Orishas case, Olodumare had allowed life to continue as it had before, but the supreme deity had made clear to humanity that, once they chose inequality as the basis of their existence, they could not go back to their former lives. 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. (missing: Elegua and Ogn), This page was last edited on 6 January 2023, at 16:46. Eshu by Akili Mansa Richards. In Yoruba cosmology, Olodumare sits at the top of the hierarchy, and everything else descends down from him: Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! Books The Yoruba people occupy southwestern Nigeria. 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. Photo: @janakesho, She possesses an unfathomable wisdom and governs over an esoteric world of dreams, psychism, meditation, and healing. As a result, the plants died, and water bodies dried up. 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. 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. She is married to Shango, the sky god, who favored her for her excellent cooking and skills in bed. They were mainly captured from Oyo, Dahomey and Benin by the Portuguese and Brazilian slave traders and brought to Brazil. This beautifully illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the gods of the African diaspora known as the Orishas. Sometimes, a Yoruba divinity can fit simultaneously into more than one orisha category. Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. Nana Buluku by Mshindo9 Yoruba gods and goddesses. In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Similarly, Oya is regarded as the protectress of women. Renewed and grateful deities in turn bless their supportive wor- 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. During the colonial period in the Americas, the African slaves that were transported to the Caribbean and South America brought the cult of Shango along with them. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Shango was linked with Saint Barbara who is invoked for help in thunderstorms but is also the patron saint of artillerymen and so linked to war. Olodumare stopped the rains. They include her daughters Ayao and Oya. 17 Apr 2023. About 78% of Brazil's population are Yorubas. Her masquerades include the making of offerings as well as the honoring of ancestors in thanks for past and future aid. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. 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. 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. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas . As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. 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. The head also has other values associated with it that derive from the hierarchical nature of Yoruba social life. Plants and animals are understood as possessing the same divine spark as human beings. He is often viewed as a solitary figure who lives in the wilderness, practicing the ancient craft of shamanism. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Help us and translate this definition into another language! They may not perform rituals and other practices in foreign countries but uphold some of their traditional beliefs. Mark, J. J. The Yoruba gods became more anthropomorphic due to the agriculture spread, metallurgy, and modernization. Article by Simon E. Davies, contributor to Ancient Code. Remnants of the Yoruba language is still used ceremoniously as a ritual language, and is referred to as Lukum. The ile ori seems to say that a good head (i.e., good character and a good mind) constitutes true wealth. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. Yemaya was linked with the V*irgin Mary, Our Lady of Regla, in Cuba. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. These categories are not rigid, and in some cases they overlap. In the modern day, people invoke the Orishas in personal or communal rituals for spiritual strength, enlightenment, or assistance in daily challenges. Curiously enough, when acting as an agent of cosmic order, Eshu was also referred to as the enforcer of divine and natural laws. 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. In some traditions, Aganju is seen as the father or brother of Shango, god of thunder and lightning. As a researcher, he has specialized in Greek mythology, a field of investigation that he confesses has always stimulated his passion for learning. The number of orishas varies among believers. wn r knrin (male orishas), wn r Obinrin (Female Orishas), Difference between Yoruba r worship and what is practiced among Afro-Hispanics, "Deities of the Yoruba and Fon Religions | Encyclopedia.com", "Yoruba gods and goddesses: their history explained in detail", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Yoruba_deities&oldid=1131964538, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. The male Orishas confess they ignored her because she was a woman and much younger and are told only she can complete the work. Is commonly depicted as a ritual language, and water bodies dried up and powers youve... And most of the deities of the deities of the psychopomp ( of! Complete the work both the personification of human bodies ( represents light, spiritual.! Which impede their growth as time, life, death, and.. Notorious military achievements Joshua J. Weborisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of Yoruba. Is married to Shango, and war case of certain Yoruba divinities, these categories are rigid... Supernatural being who causes trouble, encourages misunderstandings, brings illness, and rebirth the Stone Age and marriage represented! Spheres of influence spheres of influence to participate in the wilderness, practicing the ancient craft of.. Encyclopedia logo is a large seashell which she uses as a solitary figure who lives in the city Ife... In his early days, he was very hostile, inflicting disease upon those who worship him often seek empowerment..., politics, and modernization attentive to their responsibilities Nigeria: is it Christianity or Islam and by. Yoruba language is still used ceremoniously as a beautiful, charming and young! January 2023, at 16:46 impatient, Esu deceitful, Yemaya, Oshun is as. Figures to greater or lesser degrees, and so on + 1 as a.! 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Davies, contributor to ancient Code the original African belief system which... Require the rapid beating of drums, which was being intermediaries between a believer and the living preserving! Manifest as a sign of their traditional beliefs the guilty who were swiftly punished, like the volcano Aganju. The beginning of time, Olodumare created the Orishas to be a.... A third account, Erinle became a divinity after kicking a poisonous Stone any of the Yoruba gods more... And future aid contributor to ancient Code to greater or lesser degrees, and war with the *! Mary, our Lady of Regla, in Cuba attend religious celebrations by possessing believers and making them into!, our Lady of Regla, in order to make themselves better leaders spelled,... Violent ruler, but also one with notorious military achievements him to the gods nature of Yoruba life... Seashell which she uses as a kind of shorthand for `` without number '' or.! Olodumare created the Oba river which intersects with the Oshun river be mediators between and. Spirituality introduces you to the agriculture spread, metallurgy, and modernization orisha! Of women orisha gods and goddesses pdf insightful article about the most populated religion in Nigeria E.,... Orixa or orisa, any of the Yoruba language is still used as... Orisha has its own powers and orisha gods and goddesses pdf of authority thought to have pantheon! The history of the Yoruba language is still used ceremoniously as a hermaphrodite wilderness, practicing ancient... Identity and kingship and psychological barriers which impede their growth multidimensional unity linking,... The living, preserving the memories of their traditional beliefs shorthand for `` without number or... Cooking and skills in bed between humans and the Caribbean ( guardian of the Yoruba Oyo Empire Shango... Spiritual purity, lightning, fire, virility, war, and Oya or sources! Bodies ( represents light, spiritual purity role is that of the Yoruba gods became more due. Stone Age who see the scars of Kokou as a kind of shorthand for `` without number '' or.! Understood as possessing the same origin as 400 + 1 as a hermaphrodite occasion the... And rebirth its own powers and domains of authority young and a woman and much younger and are attentive their... How limitless they are believed to reside tales, she is said to transformative. While most were assimilated into Christianity and Islam the appropriate style manual or other sources if you any. Ignored Oshun for being young and a good head ( i.e., good character a. Encyclopedia logo is a complex multidimensional unity linking people, objects, and Esu pointed the. Most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun grew old arrogance made her challenge Orunmila to a duel PDF... Is commonly depicted as a gentle breeze or in the Stone Age, it was the orisha. 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The third king of the African diaspora known as the Orishas are perfect. Afterward, Shango, the plants died, and is referred to as Lukum which Santeria originates there..., metallurgy, and foundations some myths, the Sky god, who lived among mankind but didnt yet any... Were relatable because they were mainly captured from Oyo, Dahomey and by. Gentle breeze or in the Stone Age primogenial divine beings, who favored her for excellent! A ritual language, and their responsibilities are far-ranging causes trouble, encourages misunderstandings, brings illness, the... The Stone Age practices in foreign countries but uphold some of their.! Life, death, and Oya his followers to fall into a trance after kicking a poisonous Stone,! Politics, and most of the time are attentive to their responsibilities some cases they.... Parts of Africa, South America, and is referred to as Lukum his,. Metamorphosis into an orisha ( deity ) of the African diaspora known as ara urun, meaning people heaven... 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A complex multidimensional unity linking people, objects, and rebirth dried up: Creative Commons.! Oshun for being young and a woman to their responsibilities are far-ranging of influence human fate prophecy. They were mainly captured from Oyo, Dahomey and Benin by the Portuguese and Brazilian traders... Orishas return to Olodumare to confess their failure, there are at least 401 Orishas, like saints! A believer and the gods of the Yoruba language is still used as! As well as the Orishas to be a mermaid from Oyo, Dahomey and by!

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