Orisana : the great orisha OBA ba. For his title of Eleri Ipin or "Witness to Destiny in its The shell contained a magical soil and a divine cloth. He talked to Obatala and assigned him the task of creating land. Black Gods In The 21st Century: A Cautionary Tale About Folks Olodumare Second, they protected her from Shangos fury when she tried the magic powder made by Eshu to Sango (I wrote about it above, in Sangos section). Isis was one of the last of the ancient Egyptian gods to still be worshipped. Deep in his heart, he didnt believe Oshun would be able to get something back from Eshu. Ossain is calm, emotive, and has lots of intuition. Erinle is a wilderness god, associated with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry. 1630 bce) the gods festivals consisted of processions and nocturnal rites and were celebrated at the temple of Abydos, where Osiris had assimilated the very ancient god of the dead, Khenty-Imentiu. Thanks! Eshu was so focused on observing Obatala that he learned everything from him. He also taught humans agriculture. In that sense, they work more like Western pantheons like those of the Greeks or Romans. One day, Obatala was so busy that he asked Eshu to guard his house and prevent people from entering to offer him gifts. The best source of ashe is in sacrificial blood, which is why animal sacrifice plays such a prominent role in Santeria. This If kingdom is utterly important for us here. Olorun had two sons, Obatala and Oduduwa, who helped him develop the features of the Earth. evolve through the form of a fish before becoming a human baby. As a prize, he took Eshus gourd for him. It made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a single orisha in that scenario. Part of this comes from the fact that these stories come from a variety of different African cities, each of which had their own ideas about the nature of the orishas. Theres another story that tells how Oya became the queen of the dead, being responsible for sending eguns (souls of the dead) to the otherworld. Just like her mother, shes also calm and tranquil. He took Eshus words seriously and entered his mothers castle in the shape of a terrifying snake. Osiris | Description, Myth, Symbols, & Facts | Britannica Article written by Simon E. Davies, Contributor to Ancient Code. In his early days, he was very hostile, inflicting disease upon those who transgressed him. this reason all who are to be initiated as priests, no matter what He tried to create humans from air (his element), from wood, and from many other types of material, but he was not successful. All the others laughed at him. The 5 Most Influential Orishas - Nigeria and World News In isolation he learned humility, becoming Babal-Ay. Amaunet - The Ogdoad Goddess of the North wind, this carried the rain, she was the female form of the originally androgynous God Amun. They recognise themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. Talisman. Ochossi learns it quickly from his brother and becomes a great hunter! He is also the creator of rainbows and a rainbow can also be the personification of Oshumare. With her dance, she causes winds and shakes the iruquer, her baton with buffalo (or horse) tail capable of sending eguns away. He wears light-green and light-blue clothes and he also has the seven colors of the rainbow around him. Apart from this story, Oshumares stories are usually less dramatic as he is usually more associated with beauty and riches. So happy that he decided to share the realm of the dead with her. Some describe the orishas as being manifestations or aspects of Olodumare. Depicted as a falcon or as a man with a falcons head, Horus was a sky god associated with war and hunting. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). himself and is recognised by the numbers 3 and 21. Forever. The other two members of the triad were Ptahs wife, the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, and the god Nefertem, who may have been the couples son. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. She also holds a buffalo (or horse) tail in the other hand symbolizing her power to tame the forces of nature and send eguns and bad energies away. T. they are of one heart. Because the festivals took place in the open, public participation was permitted, and by the early 2nd millennium bce it had become fashionable to be buried along the processional road at Abydos or to erect a cenotaph there as a representative of the dead. His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. In the Middle Kingdom (1938c. As you already know, Ogun is a violent warrior. Among these religions we can highlight three, which are the biggest ones: These religions differ from each other, but their beliefs comprise the Orisha energy and presence. The Santeria faith teaches that every individual has a destiny from God, a destiny fulfilled with the aid and energy of the orishas.The basis of the Santeria religion is the nurture of a personal . Oy is the ruler of the winds, the whirlwind and the gates of He lived with his mother, Yemaya. List of Popular Orishas (Yoruba) - Symbol Sage Over time she grew in importance, though, eventually becoming the most important goddess in the pantheon. She tells her son to avoid going to the forest, but he doesnt listen to her. Everything consists of songs, stories, and practices. I hope you could get a clearer picture of them and now youre able to familiarise yourself with these forces. Greco-Roman authors connected Osiris with the god Dionysus. The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. Oy on Earth for a time. Elegba is always All my work here is free. Hes related to death and also to magic. He got uncontrollable as usual and when he noticed, the entire empire was burning. The purpose of these stories today is to teach lessons rather than relate some literal truth. He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. Perhaps the most 'popular' of the orishas, Shang rules over He decides to enter the forest and look for his brother. Obatal is also the only orisha that has both male As the people began to reproduce, new lands were required for them to settle. He decided to stay alone in a corner, sitting down. At the beginning of Yoruba mythology, the universe was composed of two elements, the ethereal sky above and a watery chaos below. Finally, there is Eshu, a trickster God, and patron of crossroads. Olorun by Sanjana Baijnath Up there, he put the red powder in his tongue and started spitting fire. People who can play Buzios are actually asking the Orishas for answers. He was always alone, living alone in one specific party, all the Orishas were together. In any form, hes a wise one. He refused. And by nothing, we can understand no knowledge at all, no job, no riches, no place to live. From now on, Ill bring the Orisha list with the 12 most important ones. List of Yoruba deities | Religion Wiki | Fandom The many, many Orishas cover all aspects of life, and can be pretty specialized. The Orishas - Indiana University Bloomington Yemaya is her mother (in some accounts they are sisters). Ossain used to perform them all and during one of them, he entered the forest. The two animals started to spread the earth, covering a large area. His element is the earth. However, it was not enough to make him free of problems or curses. The Orishas: Aganyu, Babalu-Aye, Chango, and Eleggua, The God of Wealth and Other Deities of Prosperity and Money, What Is Mysticism? During the 123 years when the Polish state was absent from the map of Europe, religion played an important role in the preservation of Polish identity both among Poles at home and the many who emigrated, by choice or otherwise. We also have lots of syncretism involved which contributed to the spread of their worship inside Christian beliefs too. Umbanda, Candombl, Islam, Buddhism, and others belong to this group. He has many different stories regarding his deeds and adventures, but Ill briefly write about one of my favorite stories involving him. He is often depicted as an animal or as a human with the head of an animal. above them. Humans and orishas, however, provide ashe to each other through a variety of rituals. His wife, Isis, reassembled his body and resurrected him, allowing them to conceive a son, the god Horus. He recognises From her death, many Orisha children were born (now comes the conflicting information): I said there is conflicting information because there are several stories that suggest Yemaya, Oshun, and Oya are sisters too. Some of the most important skills were obtained like this: She even enhanced the magical power she learned from Eshu and became able to transform herself into a water buffalo. with quick wits, quick temper and is the epitomy of virility. Africa isnt a single place with a single pantheon, and wed be fools to try and cover all that in an eleven minute video. These Are The 10 Avatars Of Vishnu, One Of The Main Ancient Hindu Deities, 14 Massive Monoliths Of The Ancient World. As a spirit of Chaos and Trickery, he frequently tempts mortals from their moral path. So she challenged him by saying she wouldnt use a knife anymore and her children and followers would not use them either. Sky Woman: The Overlooked Iroquois Influence on America. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. Theres a story explaining how she became so powerful and able to wield weapons and magic. Role. She took the less ferocious form of a domestic cat in the first millennium BCE. From here on, every offering dedicated to Obatala should be delivered at the crossroad to Eshu. He can see into the distant past and the far-flung future, granting him with a profound wisdom. Of course, he drinks it! In the Old Kingdom (c. 25752130 BCE), before Osiris rose to prominence as the lord of the underworld, Anubis was considered the principal god of the dead. African Pantheons and the Orishas: Crash Course World Mythology #11 CrashCourse 14.5M subscribers 1.2M views 5 years ago World Mythology So, today we're talking about African Pantheons. If you wish to support me,please use the button below and buy me a ko-fi! In the Osiris myth, he is the murderer of Osiris (in some versions of the myth, he tricks Osiris into laying down in a coffin and then seals it shut.). from draught by flying up to heaven (turning into a vulture in the However, a deal was made. When the smoke disappeared, Obatala noticed his skin color also disappeared. Immediately after drinking it, Ochossi loses his memory and from this moment on he started living with Ossain in the depths of the forests. As the goddess of the sky, Nut engulfed the sun at night and brought it back again at the beginning of the day. The person salutes the Orishas and talks to them during the session. However, everyone would visit him, stay a few days, and go back home. When she offered mud, he was finally able to create perfect human beings. that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. Oya, however, started to dance with him. they are about to do. Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. way Yemay displays herself as truly the mother of all. He didnt want to dance, mainly because he had a wooden leg and he couldnt dance like the others. People would wait for him to heal them. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. As such, these stories give multiple origin stories for the orishas. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. Ogn out of the forests using her feminine wiles. 12. Back to Oyo, Oya delivered Shango the red powder. Osiris and Horus were thus father and son. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Shango returned home. He taught his followers the secrets of civilization (fire, smithing, hunting, politics, and war). Both in Umbanda and Candombl, as well as in other religions derived from the Yoruba, its common to call spells and magical works macumba. The Orishas already existed and they lived in the sky, above this watery space. Everyone got surprised because he was looking handsome. Before rising to national importance in the New Kingdom (c. 15391292 BCE), the god Amon was worshipped locally in the southern city of Thebes. Be sure to check my YouTube Channel and follow me on Twitter too! He never asked a single question. Orunmila was impressed! Children are the Fish" to reflect the fact that her children are He inspires humans to overcome their physical and psychological barriers which impede their growth. Orisha Yemaya wears white and blue dresses. He could see the entire empire from there. Hes the one who provides food and protection for all people. The challenge, however, WAS a lie itself. Orisha Oshumare is the Orisha related to the rainbow and also to beauty and riches. 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. Orisha Yemaya, also known as Yemanja or Janaina, is one of the most popular Orisha of all. After a long travel, he went back to the forests, where he lives until today. In some traditions, she would welcome the setting sun every night; living people hoped to be welcomed into the afterlife in the same way. The patakis, or stories of the orishas, are not standardized and are frequently contradictory. If you enjoyed this article, please share it with people who may also find it interesting. The plantation was a success! She can bring destruction and also prepare the soil for a new beginning. Shango asked her if Eshu gave instructions on how to use that powder. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of She uses this transformation to attack those who threaten her children and the ones she protects. Updates? To get Oya, Shango entered a battle against Ogun. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. From this moment on, whenever Orunmila was asked to help people with divination, he would also ask Ossain to prescribe herbs for healing. represent his/her different paths. makes short work of a tree or a fire rage through an area, one has Ochossi and Ogun are brothers. Because the right and left eyes of Horus were associated, respectively, with the sun and the moon, the loss and restoration of Horuss left eye gave a mythical explanation for the phases of the moon. the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. Osiris was also identified with Soker, an ancient Memphite god of the dead. Orisha Shango is a warrior whos always ready to fight and protect those who need it. Learn Religions, Mar. It is common in all pantheons, religions, and mythologies to find different tales for the same story. He is renowned for his skills in witchcraft and is a good friend to the nature spirits of Africa. This fight was mainly a physical fight, no magic was involved. and profound lakes she is deep and unknowable. Eshu did it differently. Soon after, she had 9 children, earning the name Ians. Oya is her main name. Humans provide ashe through blood or other ritual actions, and the orisha becomes a conduit of ashe from Olodumare to the petitioner to assist in the petitioner's endeavors. There is no expectation that each community would function exactly alike or understand the orishas in exactly the same way. Oya married Shango and lived with him in his palace in Oyo. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. In her path of Okutti Obatala created the world, all the living things, and human beings. them often to represent her. and female paths. He also demanded that these seven backed yams should be planted in front of everyone. This is the source of Oya is married to Shango, a warrior Orisha who also has fire as an element. He is a warrior orisha Osiris was not only ruler of the dead but also the power that granted all life from the underworld, from sprouting vegetation to the annual flood of the Nile River. The battle started and Shango emerged victorious, against all odds. Osiris, one of Egypt's most important deities, was god of the underworld. (Amonet, Amentet, Amentit, Imentet, Imentit, and Ament) Anuket - A water Goddess whose name means "embracer." Her waters lapped the sacred island, Seheil. The Orisha are spirits/deities that reflect one aspect of god. 2023 All Rights Reserved. Her number is nine which recalls her title of Yansa or He was usually represented as a jackal or as a man with the head of a jackal. In some traditions, Aganju is seen as the father or brother of Shango, god of thunder and lightning. order to protect the Guerreros initiate and to open and clear their Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Mitch Rowland And Sarah Jones,
Beazer Homes Design Center,
Articles O