Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. 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 Cuocos use of the male pronoun is for convenience as Olodumare is All Things and so both male and female. He represents the power of fortune. Grieving, her tears created the Oba river which intersects with the Oshun river. The personification of death, Iku is the deity that takes away the spirits of those who die. WebFREE DOWNLOAD Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses book in PDF, EPUB and Kindle format. Similar worship of African deities can also be found among the Afro-Franco populations of Haiti and the US state of Louisiana. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. Mark, J. J. 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. 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. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. Luckily, Obatala exiled him to the wilderness, where he has lived as an outcast. Egungun-Oya is a goddess of divination. After being defeated, Iku lost her status as an orisha, however, Yoruba practitioners still regard her as one of the primordial forces of the universe. Some of these divinities are regarded as primordial spirits. Finally, there is Eshu, a trickster God, and patron of crossroads. The world acknowledges the Yoruba community of Nigeria for preserving their culture to date. Oshun arrived at Orun, exhausted and ill. Olodumare released the rains, healed her, and appointed her as the only Orisha allowed to bring messages to heaven. Her emblem is a large seashell which she uses as a currency. Eventually a local orishas cult might spread to other towns and become more widely known. WebOrisha embodies. Similarly, Oya is regarded as the protectress of women. Omissions? This is why today Shango is widely worshipped in other religions, including Cuban Santeria, Haitian Vodou, and Brazilian Candomble. In a third account, Erinle became a divinity after kicking a poisonous stone. The history of the Yoruba religion started in the Stone Age. Some of the Yoruba gods and goddesses linked to Catholic saints are: People invoke the Orishas in personal or communal rituals for enlightenment, spiritual strength, or assistance in daily challenges. According to the Yoruba belief, Olodumare is too immense for the human mind to grasp and so released different aspects of itself, each of which received a certain sphere of influence randomly. Related Content Keep reading to know more about them. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. 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). For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. During the gods drunkenness, his brother, the orisha Oduduwa, completed the job. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. https://www.worldhistory.org/Orisha/. Orishas, like the saints, were relatable because they were fallible. Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? ARTWORK: 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. 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. One of the most complex characters of the Yoruba pantheon, Eshu, also called Elegba and Elegua, is the messenger of the gods (he is especially at the service of Olodumare), and the intermediary between divinities and humans. Cite This Work This is the case of Yemoja, also called Yemaya, who is considered both a primordial deity and the personification of a natural force. [1], The Republic of Benin and Nigeria contain the highest concentrations of Yoruba people and Yoruba faiths in all of Africa. The ori-inu exists before birth; it comes from God and determines an individuals character and fate. 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. Article by Simon E. Davies, contributor to Ancient Code. WebFREE DOWNLOAD Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses book in PDF, EPUB and Kindle format. 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. Several primordial divinities have oral traditions stating that they were once the chiefs or kings of still existing Yoruba towns. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. Because each orisha has particular occupations, places, skills, preferences, diseases, problems, capabilities, and misfortunes with which it is closely associated, devoteesthrough the orishas priesthoodcan make appeals to the orisha that is best able to resolve the problem they are experiencing. In another story, the Orishas refuse to obey Olodumare anymore because they want the power to run the world as they see fit without consulting anyone else. Ogun is revered as a mighty god, called upon by warriors for strength in battle. These specific forces of nature are part of the orisha because the cult of the orishas directs itself toward them. It is understandable how one would conclude that Olodumare is too far away from human affairs for mortals to make contact, but at the same time, it should be recognized that each Orisha is an emanation of Olodumare and so the supreme being is aware of every prayer of thanks or supplication made to any Orisha. Top 10 Obas in Yorubaland: Interesting facts about the rulers. Although there are many Orishas, seven are understood as most powerful and have become the most popular among modern-day adherents. 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. Orisha of crossroads, duality, beginnings, travellers. 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. Originally their gods represented the raw elements of nature, such as rivers, storms, and forests, but with the advent of farming, metallurgy and city building, the Yoruban gods took on a more anthropomorphic appearance. 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). WebIn the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. We want people all over the world to learn about history. In the social and cultural environments of the Americas, the orisha concept underwent some subtle but significant changes. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology. 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. Yet defining an orisha as a deity does not do justice to the concept, in large part because the term deity often suggests a sort of anthropomorphic supernatural entity. Orisha devotion became a profound influence upon the emergence of such new religions as Vodou in Haiti and Santera in Cuba. In isolation he learned humility, becoming Babal-Ay. 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. Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. 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. Various sources state that there are at least 401 Orishas, and several are mentioned in Yoruba creation stories and archaeological history. The number of orishas varies among believers. Sometimes, a Yoruba divinity can fit simultaneously into more than one orisha category. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. Olorun by Sanjana Baijnath They were mainly captured from Oyo, Dahomey and Benin by the Portuguese and Brazilian slave traders and brought to Brazil. Ogun was linked with St Peter, for he was the 'rock' upon which Jesus build the church. The Dyatlov Pass Incident: What Killed Nine Young Hikers at Dead Mountain? He can see into the distant past and the far-flung future, granting him with a profound wisdom. Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas . Who is the strongest Yoruba god? The Yoruba people occupy southwestern Nigeria. WebIn the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. 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. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. In this article, we base this list on this second account, and will explore the orishas of these three categories. The Orishas exist to help humans reach their goal of self-actualization, but these entities are not perfect themselves. Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. The number of orishas varies among believers. 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. Mark, Joshua J.. Olodumare created the Yoruba people through Oduduwa. Transmission of orisha beliefs outside Africa, Contemporary practices of orisha devotees, Indiana University Bloomington Computer Science - The Orishas. 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). Yoruba gods and goddesses are worshipped in Nigeria, Cuba, and Brazil. Who is the strongest Yoruba god? Oshun finished the creation task and filled the earth with the gifts of beauty, fertility, love, and everything people needed to live. WebLooker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable. 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. Each one represents specific ideas, objects or natural phenomena. Metaphysical personifications or spirits. In his early days, he was very hostile, inflicting disease upon those who transgressed him. When these ancestors disappeared and became orishas, their children began to sacrifice to them and to continue whatever ceremonies the orishas had performed when they were on earth. The orisha was very enthusiastic about his mission, but he got very drunk before finishing it and neglected his creational duties. Babal-Ay (originally Shopona) is a healing god. In this context the altar may be referred to as the orisha or as the orishas face. Its said that Olokun can grant wealth to humans at any time, but given his ambiguous nature, he is also known for inadvertently bringing devastation. Others, who descended to the Earth to be adored in their human incarnations, were called irunmole. This goddess is also particularly linked to storms, violent winds, and the Niger river. Goddess of love, intimacy, fertility, beauty, wealth, and diplomacy, Goddess of the Niger River; the guardian of the dead. Orunmila - spirit of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight She presides over womanhood, fertility, and life. Kokou is a warrior god, renowned for his violence and ferocity. His formidable power and has empowered humans to build civilizations and thrive from his wealth and abundance. Photo: @janakesho, Metaphysical personifications or spirits. Renewed and grateful deities in turn bless their supportive wor- 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). 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 Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. Books The Orishas travelled to America and the Caribbean during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which saw many Yorubas being enslaved and assimilated into Catholicism. Yoruba gods and goddesses. In the Yoruba tradition these were individuals who were able to establish control over a natural force and make a bond of interdependence with it, attracting its beneficent action toward themselves and their people while sending its destructive aspects onto enemies. Ancient Code is a website founded in 2012 that covers articles and scientific discoveries that help understand humanitys past, present, and future. (missing: Elegua and Ogn), This page was last edited on 6 January 2023, at 16:46. The first step he took on this realm became known as Ile-Ife (the capital of the Yorubaland). If one is unable to do so, for whatever reason, one is reincarnated and tries again in the next life. This worship was passed on from one generation to the next. Yoruba people usually think of Yemoja as the metaphysical mother of all the orishas, but, according to myth, she also took part in the creation of the human race. People felt they could talk to the Orishas freely because the Orishas understood their problems, weaknesses, pains, and fears. This list includes the major Orishas honored in the United States, according to scholars and practitioners. During the 18th and 19th centuries thousands of Yoruba, Bini, Ewe, and Fon people were enslaved, uprooted, and transported to the Americas. The rest is spent in the farm with Oko (a farming god). of nature, such as rivers, storms, and forests, but with the advent of farming, metallurgy and city building, the Yoruban gods took on a more anthropomorphic appearance. Yoruba Gods and Goddesses mesmerize ordinary people and scientists. The Yoruba were able to continue practicing their religion by nominally becoming Catholic as the saints served the same purpose in Catholicism as the Orishas did in their native faith, as intermediaries between a believer and the supreme deity. Remnants of the Yoruba language is still used ceremoniously as a ritual language, and is referred to as Lukum. Mark, Joshua J.. She used these magical tools to create the cosmos, including the human race. Orisha of rainbow serpent associated with creation and procreation. In some, the supreme being is referenced as Olodumare, in others, it is Olodumare-Oloorun, in still others, Olofin, but all refer to the same entity neither male nor female who both created and is the universe. One chooses their destiny before birth and reincarnates to achieve it in the next life. Jhonfrank Snchez is a Venezuelan writer and Literature major interested in studying ancient civilizations, history, symbolism, and how they have shaped modern thought. Its said that her arrogance made her challenge Orunmila to a duel. In Yoruba tradition, Olokun is commonly depicted as a hermaphrodite. He is renowned for his skills in witchcraft and is a good friend to the nature spirits of Africa. The orishas, however, are only one aspect of these natural forces. This beautifully illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the gods of the African diaspora known as the Orishas. He created the Orishas to be mediators between himself and the people. She possesses an unfathomable wisdom and governs over an esoteric world of dreams, psychism, meditation, and healing. The Orishas, after all, had questioned the wisdom and justice of Olodumare and repented of it more than once and so were sympathetic to the human condition. Sign up now for weekly facts, the latest blogs, and interesting features. 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. Web. 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. 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. She resides over the Ogun river, whose waters are said to cure infertility. He was supposed to have lived at some point between the 12th and the 14th century AD. 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). The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. Submitted by Joshua J. Her masquerades include the making of offerings as well as the honoring of ancestors in thanks for past and future aid. This list includes the major Orishas honored in the United States, according to scholars and practitioners. They can be counted on, however, to deliver the messages of mortals to Olodumare and so they came to be associated with the saints of Catholicism when the Yoruba people were brought as slaves to the so-called New World. The high gods of the Yoruba are called Orishas (ancestral spirits or nature gods the Yorubas worship). Such a disappearance was not true death; rather, it was the occasion of the ancestors metamorphosis into an orisha. 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. As time went on, however, people began to complain about this situation noting how, if everyone had everything they needed, and if everyone was equal, no one could be any different from their neighbor and they had no goals to strive for. Its worth noticing that, in the case of certain Yoruba divinities, these categories can be overlapped. Some of these divinities are regarded as primordial spirits. Erinle by Mod Nomad 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. 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