You are already subscribed to our newsletter! This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Later these ancestors disappearedoften, according to tradition, in a remarkable manner, such as by sinking into the ground, rising into the heavens on chains, committing suicide and not dying, or turning to stone. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. In the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are divine mediators between Oludumare, the Creator of the world, and humanity. As an immortal, he was unable to die, so he chose instead to descend into the earths surface, in a place named Ire-Ekiti. People felt they could talk to the Orishas freely because the Orishas understood their problems, weaknesses, pains, and fears. According to oral tradition, during the earliest days of humanity, Aja would share much of her herbal and medicine knowledge with the Yoruba people. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. 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. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. Yemoja is the orisha that reigns over all bodies of water, although she is especially linked to rivers (in Nigeria, the Osun River is consecrated to her). Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. An orisha, therefore, is a complex multidimensional unity linking people, objects, and powers. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Although there are many Orishas, seven are understood as most powerful and have become the most popular among modern-day adherents. The Yoruba religion is constituted by a conglomerate of beliefs, primarily from the territory comprising modern-day Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. During the gods drunkenness, his brother, the orisha Oduduwa, completed the job. Agriculture from the Middle East highly influenced the people to develop the religion around 600 BC. Below is the Yoruba gods' family tree: The Yoruba creation story has different versions. In the Yoruba pantheon, Aja is the orisha of the woodland and the animals that reside in it. Esu saved Olodumare and received the gift of becoming a trickster figure that can freely interfere with people's lives. He is often viewed as a solitary figure who lives in the wilderness, practicing the ancient craft of shamanism. Belief in the Orishas is thought to have developed between 500-300 BCE but is most likely much older, as this dating is supported by archaeological evidence and there are many West African sites still unexcavated. She works closely with Osain and is a fierce warrior. Olorun by Sanjana Baijnath The number of orishas varies among believers. Each one represents specific ideas, objects or natural phenomena. An Ajogun is a supernatural being who causes trouble, encourages misunderstandings, brings illness, and causes accidents. Its noteworthy that Aja is one of the few Yoruba divinities that present herself to mortals in her human form to offer help, instead of trying to scare them. Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? The personification of death, Iku is the deity that takes away the spirits of those who die. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. He embodies the power of the sun, essential for the growth. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. They emanated directly from God without any human aid. An orisha may be said to be a deity. His rule lasted for seven years and ended when Shango was dethroned by one of his former allies. They were given aid, however, through the efforts of the Orishas. 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. 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. Her masquerades include the making of offerings as well as the honoring of ancestors in thanks for past and future aid. WebIn the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. Author of. Some of them are known as ara urun, meaning people of heaven, where they are believed to reside. Orunmila - spirit of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight Oya is also goddess of the Niger River as Oshun is of the Osun River, and both are associated with protection and guidance. 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. Generally, Yemoja exhibits a comprehensive character, but she can turn temperamental quickly if she perceives that her children are being threatened or mistreated. In some locations in the Caribbean and South America, they were able to reestablish the worship of the orishas and maintain it during slavery and after its abolition. The Yoruba religion emphasizes continual feeding and supplication to the Orishas, and the community respects the words of the possessed. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. The rapids formed between these two rivers symbolize the rivalry between the two wives, a most turbulent relationship. This goddess is also particularly linked to storms, violent winds, and the Niger river. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. 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. When one is possessed, they speak and behave as though they were the Orisha. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. Elegua, Yemay (Yemja), Oshn (un), Shang (Sang), Obatal, Oya, and Ogn etc. Eventually, the god made his mind up and explained to the orishas that, on a certain day, he would ascend to the sky to pour down his divine gifts, so each orisha would be responsible for catching his or her own special ability. 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. Yoruba Oshun statue, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Nigeria. They were mainly captured from Oyo, Dahomey and Benin by the Portuguese and Brazilian slave traders and brought to Brazil. 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. About 78% of Brazil's population are Yorubas. Orisha worshippers see the tamed natural force and the deified ancestor as indissolubly linked. The orishas, however, are only one aspect of these natural forces. Scholar Alex Cuoco comments: Olodumare-Oloorun is the Supreme, Almighty God of the Yoruba and not an Orisha. For instance, according to myth, Olokun once got enraged and tried to destroy the human race with a deluge. (represents wind, lightning, fire, and magic) (Shango's third wife). Ayao has among her implements a crossbow with serpent arrows, a quill, and nine stones. She often confers riches and good fortune on his followers. 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. She possesses an unfathomable wisdom and governs over an esoteric world of dreams, psychism, meditation, and healing. Some of these divinities are regarded as primordial spirits. Orunmila is also the orisha of divination or Ifa. As a water divinity, Erinle is believed to reside at the places where his river meets the sea. Mark, Joshua J.. WebIn the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. Various sources state that there are at least 401 Orishas, and several are mentioned in Yoruba creation stories and archaeological history. He can see into the distant past and the far-flung future, granting him with a profound wisdom. ARTWORK: Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. In this way, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but in the end, is usually found to be a good one. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. The Orishas are not always causing trouble for Olodumare, however, and most of the time are attentive to their responsibilities. Ancient Code is a website founded in 2012 that covers articles and scientific discoveries that help understand humanitys past, present, and future. 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. To the benefit of human beings, the orishas mediate between humanity and these forces of the natural world by putting the tamable aspects of nature under human control while standing between humanity and that part of nature that cannot be tamed, hemmed in, or controlled by human beings. The number of orishas varies among believers. Get or read online Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses books directly on your Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses Book PDF | Download Or Read Online "Orisha." In one tale, the Orishas gather to discuss how they can rid themselves of Olodumare and decide to scare him to death by inviting him to one of their huts and then releasing mice, which Olodumare was afraid of, into the room at dinner. Yemaya was linked with the V*irgin Mary, Our Lady of Regla, in Cuba. Most populated religion in Nigeria: is it Christianity or Islam? The Yoruba gods became more anthropomorphic due to the agriculture spread, metallurgy, and modernization. In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. Olokun is the mother of Odudua, an ancient Earth Goddess, and battle maiden. Olodumare sent them back to earth to apologize to Oshun because only she could complete the work. Some of these orishas are primordial in the sense that they existed before the creation of human beings. This worship was passed on from one generation to the next. Another daughter of Nana is Olokun, an ocean goddess. 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. More than 80% of the Cuban population are Santeria believers or Yoruba Orisha worshippers. (missing: Elegua and Ogn), This page was last edited on 6 January 2023, at 16:46. 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. They are not demons, however, because according to Yoruba belief, all things in creation natural and supernatural are possessed of the aspects of positivity (ire) and negativity (ibi) and so nothing can be understood as wholly good or completely evil. In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Considered the goddess of weather, Oya is the embodiment of the changes that have to take place before new things can start growing. 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. No division in Yorubaland, YorubaKoya commends Ooni, Akintoye, Igboho, others. Ayao is an air goddess. Each confirms the Yoruba religion has many Orishas but offer different explanations regarding how they came to exist. Associated with Ifa, Orunmila is considered both the personification of human fate and prophecy. Mark, Joshua J.. WebOrisha embodies. 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. 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. He is the most feared of the Orisha. Creator of human bodies (represents light, spiritual purity. 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. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. WebLooker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. This beautifully illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the gods of the African diaspora known as the Orishas. Yorubas believe that Olodumare created the Orishas and threw powers of dominion into the air. Its said that her arrogance made her challenge Orunmila to a duel. 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. Renewed and grateful deities in turn bless their supportive wor- The Orishas attend religious celebrations by possessing believers and making them go into a trance. 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! Olodumare then took care of the act of creation through the Orisha (or god) Oduduwa, who made the Yoruba people and established life at the city of Ife (also Ile-Ife) as well as the concept of cultural identity and kingship. They came from heaven, and they still reside there. She passed this skill to the Yoruban people, who practice her craft to this very day. In some traditions, Aganju is seen as the father or brother of Shango, god of thunder and lightning. Article by Simon E. Davies, contributor to Ancient Code. Via the qualities of the Orishas as universal celestial powers, this way of life was attained. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. From the Yoruba point of view, any element of the natural world that has manifold and useful functions for human beings has a spirit dwelling in it. )[2] The most prevalent West African religions, both in Africa and the Americas, are likely those of the Yoruba people or those that were influenced by them. Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. 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. The Orisha began to lose patience with him, especially when he tried to infect them with smallpox after they laughed at his deplorable dancing skills. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. The number of orishas varies among believers. 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. He was supposed to have lived at some point between the 12th and the 14th century AD. Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. As noted, their number is most often given as 400 + 1 to suggest how limitless they are. Aganju was the next Orisha to manifest on earth. 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. 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). WebFREE DOWNLOAD Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses book in PDF, EPUB and Kindle format. Esu knew their plan, however, because he was present in the doorway when they formed it but did not warn Olodumare of their intentions. Metaphysical personifications or spirits. Aje is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. This beautifully illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the gods of the African diaspora known as the Orishas. The male Orishas return to Olodumare to confess their failure. All humans, therefore, are connected to each other no matter their appearance, religion, or location because all owe their existence to the same divine breath that animates them, and all humans are related to other living things for the same reason. Afterward, those with lighter skin complained they were not darker, and those with darker skin wanted to be lighter, the poor robbed the rich, and the rich enacted laws against the poor, resources were gathered and defended by one people against another, and there was want and starvation, war and privation. Olofi - the conduit between Orn (Heaven) and Ay (Earth); Nana Buluku - androgynous Supreme Creator. Copyright Ancient Code. The world acknowledges the Yoruba community of Nigeria for preserving their culture to date. Shortly afterward, Shango became the orisha of lightning, fire, virility, and war. Force and the far-flung future, granting him with a deluge Cuban population are Yorubas of becoming a trickster that! 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