White is also a color that represents her. The next step was the creation of all life. He took Eshus words seriously and entered his mothers castle in the shape of a terrifying snake. They teased him so much, that he stood up and danced a bit. evolve through the form of a fish before becoming a human baby. So, today were talking about African Pantheons. Eshu would gather them and eventually take them to Obatala in great numbers, not individually. In this region, the powerful Oyo Empire flourished. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. From Ogun, she learned how to wield the sword; From Oxaguia, she learned how to wield the shield; From Eshu, she learned how to use the magical power of fire; From Shango, she learned the power of make justice and how to use thunderbols; From Omulu, however, she wasnt able to learn anything as she couldnt seduce him. Thoth, the god of writing and wisdom, could be depicted in the form of a baboon or a sacred ibis or as a man with the head of an ibis. She is a fierce warrior who rides to war with Misc/Uncertain of locality Oya is her main name. predynastic and dynastic periods in ancient Egypt. He ran off with the clothes and left Obatala naked. 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. Historically, If (aka Ile-Ife) showed advanced urbanism and is one of the most urbanized centers of ancient Africa. One day she simply decided she wanted to learn the art of divination using Bzios (the divination tool I mention at the beginning of this article), but this art could not be taught to her. Ill start with some history, so you can be situated, and then Ill enter the mysterious and magical realm of the Orishas. Ptahs original association seems to have been with craftsmen and builders. contradictory nature. The two became friends and Aroni shared with Ossain all the secrets related to herbs, plants, and flowers. Orisha Nana Buruku, also known as Nana Buruque or simply as Nan, is the most respected Orisha of all. 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. This dual role was in turn combined with the Egyptian concept of divine kingship: the king at death became Osiris, god of the underworld; and the dead kings son, the living king, was identified with Horus, a god of the sky. Beyer, Catherine. When they were all amazed by the situation, the man exchanged the baked yams for proper yams. though through which he enforces justice in the world. To acknowledge the In any form, hes a wise one. For example, theres a story in which a king sent a man to trial for making gossip and spreading misinformation inside the kingdom. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. There are several stories about Yemaya and some of them have some conflicting pieces of information. Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout Egypt. Today the massive temple complex devoted to Amon-Re at Karnak is one of the most visited monuments in Egypt. his title of Eleri Ipin or "Witness to Destiny in its uncountable. He decides to enter the forest and look for his brother. Some describe the orishas as being manifestations or aspects of Olodumare. Just like her mother, shes also calm and tranquil. Youd be right. His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. Yes, they are Some Orishas are worshiped as gods in their own right and they include top names such as Babal Ay, Elegua, Obatala, Ochosi, Ogun, Oya, Shango and Yemaya. Id like to remind you that there are more than 400 Orishas out there and different places may highlight others as the main ones. Identity. However, Yemaya couldnt forgive Ochossi for disobeying her and she doesnt accept him back at home. With time, he felt like this was a curse imposed by his mother, Nan. Even knives must be made of wood. But they cant figure out what animal hes supposed to be. In a form merged with the sun god Re, he became the most powerful deity in Egypt, a position he retained for most of the New Kingdom. And,in her 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 you Once possessed by his spirit, the devotee experiences a frenzied blood-lust. way they have always received them, so that they will recognise our Lambs are sacred to her. Along with her sister Nephthys, Isis acted as a divine mourner, and her maternal care was often depicted as extending to the dead in the underworld. As such, the orishas came to be regarded as roughly equals as cultures mixed. Osiris and Horus were thus father and son. A priest could only be dedicated to that single orisha of the city, and that orisha was honored above all others. Their tales and beliefs are as old as time, predating our common era. Obatala observed how hard Eshu was working and decided to compensate him. Firstly because of the eb she prepared to become a mother. Definition and Examples, Haile Selassie Biography: Ethiopian Emperor and Rastafari Messiah, M.A., History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. When humans die, they must return to her dwelling and become mud again. According to the griot spirits of the Djalia, the Orisha originated during immemorial times in the land that would become Wakanda. All life started in the sea, the amneotic fluid inside the Oshun is also considered a Mother Goddess and its very common for her worshipers to be known as children of Oshun. So he tried a bit more. Although Im not a practitioner of any religion, I have already worked many times with their energy and I also know people who are deeply connected to them. Horus was raised to avenge his fathers murder. She lives on the riverbed. She took the less ferocious form of a domestic cat in the first millennium BCE. In addition, the Ifa Oracle also applies the same underlying principle in conceiving of the Orisha Deities not as actual Physical Gods, but as mere expressions of the Cosmic forces of Nature in the Moral and Physical planes of the Universe like Thought, Creation, Karma, Justice, Will, and Fertility in the same way as the Deities of Ancient Kemet . Olodumare is the source of ashe, which all living things must have in order to survive and succeed, including the orishas. Finally, there is Eshu, a trickster God, and patron of crossroads. He lived inside a forest and he would have sexual relations with any woman who entered the woods. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). The best source of ashe is in sacrificial blood, which is why animal sacrifice plays such a prominent role in Santeria. He was represented as a mummified king, wearing wrappings that left only the green skin of his hands and face exposed. Hes the one who provides food and protection for all people. Soon after, she had 9 children, earning the name Ians. The earth which was inside the seashell fell on it and covered a small space. "The Orishas." Osiris was one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. Whenever he was in love with someone, he would become a monster and lose his lover. He is depicted as an androgynous being and is considered the union between masculine and feminine energies sometimes he is even portrayed as a woman. In later periods she was often represented as a regal-looking seated cat, sometimes wearing rings in her ears or nose. Ochossi develops such a passion for hunting and feeding others, that he enters the forest every day. she is the queen of witches carrying within her deep and dark secrets. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. For instance, you can learn much about Oshn and Orisha Yemaya, also known as Yemanja or Janaina, is one of the most popular Orisha of all. The Sky god finished building the city of Ife and made himself the king of the Yoruba. Her name, a She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas She can bring destruction and also prepare the soil for a new beginning. Oya, however, started to dance with him. Children are the Fish" to reflect the fact that her children are The Orisha are spirits/deities that reflect one aspect of god. Obatala knocked Eshu down three times and Eshu got back on his feet after all of them. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. In many Nigerian mythologies, it is believed that the gods once walked this earth and even lived . The origin of Osiris is obscure; he was a local god of Busiris, in Lower Egypt, and may have been a personification of chthonic (underworld) fertility. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Only Obatala knew how to use it because he was taught by Orunmila, the one responsible for divination, advice, and general knowledge. Even if he needs to fight Ossain in his realm, he wants his brother back. Olorun agreed and gave Obatala a shell to help fashion this new world. . From about 2000 bce onward it was believed that every man, not just the deceased kings, became associated with Osiris at death. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. This land received the name If (large abode). Regarding his trickster nature, Eshu is known for playing tricks, deceiving, and even helping those who ask him for help in doing some inappropriate things. Thanks. The orishas are equated with a variety of Catholic saints. Orunmila's relationship with Osayn (the secrets of the plant The first step he took on this realm became known as Ile-Ife (the capital of the Yorubaland). Her element is fire and she wears red clothes. This changing nature made Oshumare a versatile one. Anyway, Oshun wanted to learn at all costs, but Obatala always said no to her. Though a specific number can't be placed on the amount of Orishas, there is an exciting notion around it. observe the orishas at work in the world and in your own lives you will He wears light green and blue clothes. Oy is the ruler of the winds, the whirlwind and the gates of The following is a list of Yoruba deities Olrn - the supreme creator deity Aganju - Orisha of volcanoes, the wilderness and rivers Aja - Orisha of the forest, the animals within it, and herbal healing Ayao - Orisha of air Babalu Aye - Orisha of the Earth and strongly associated with infectious disease (particularly smallpox, leprosy and AIDS) and healing Egungun-oya - Orisha of divination . The many, many Orishas cover all aspects of life, and can be pretty specialized. You pay nothing extra for it and you help to keep the website alive! In the region known as Yorubaland (today Nigeria, Benin, and Togo) and variations are found across the globe. Agemo - the chameleon servant of the supreme god Olorun. She is considered to be the mother of everything and she is associated with the seas. other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. His color is Aganj - orisha that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. This man proposed a challenge to the king to prove he was no lier. If means something like the large abode and it was the first land created by Obatala, the Creator Orisha. As you already know, Ogun is a violent warrior. Orisha Omulu is quiet and vengeful. Role. Nut, in Egyptian religion she is a Goddess of the sky, frequently portrayed alongside the African God of the earth, Geb. Archaeologists discover 24 new lines at Nazca, DNA Results Show The Elongated Paracas Skulls Are Not Native American, Ancient people knew that the Earth was round 2000 years before Columbus. He is often depicted as an animal or as a human with the head of an animal. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/who-are-the-orishas-95922. Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. Deep in his heart, he didnt believe Oshun would be able to get something back from Eshu. Shes also associated with riches, pregnancy, and fertility. Olorun by Sanjana Baijnath Some say Shango had 3 wives. Living humans were the third category, and the most Instead were going to focus on Yoruba religion from west Africa, and the Orishas that populate Yoruba stories. In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being. The saint is a mask of the orisha, and it does no work the other way around. The orishas are often best understood by observing the forces of nature Learn Religions, Mar. 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. This trend is encouraged by the fact that each Santeria community today remains independent of other communities. they are of one heart. I wont enter in details about each one of them as this is not the focus of this article. Orisha Oshumare is calm and tranquil. themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and The Orishas. Obatal is the source of all She carries an Ibiri in her hand, which is a tool capable of warding off evil spirits. From now on, it was decided that everyone who wanted to make an offering to Obatala should also pay tributes to Eshu. Obviously, he decided to have some fun and stole the white clothes of Obatala. One day, Olorun, the supreme creator, thought about creating firm land. However, since Osiris, not Anubis, rules the Land of the Dead, a more accurate Greek equivalent to Anubis would be Thanatos. worlds. He knows all the occult powers and rules. Ochossi learns it quickly from his brother and becomes a great hunter! 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. gain a better understanding of them and their ways. her children by watching the rivers and streams she rules over and It is said that Omulu and Osumare are brothers. The idea that rebirth in the next life could be gained by following Osiris was maintained through certain cult forms. over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. Shes also the wife of Obatala, the Creator. himself and is recognised by the numbers 3 and 21. and profound lakes she is deep and unknowable. He has a warrior side In the Middle Kingdom (1938c. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. Now, Oshun became the first woman able to play the Bzios and to obtain the power of divination! They were about to kill him too! Omissions? Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Each African city-state had its own single, patron deity. She Thanks for reading! 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. represent his/her different paths. Interestingly, most of them share things in common in one way or another. He is not associated with volcanoes in Yorbland in West Africa, contrary to what is believed in Cuban-style practice of orisa. Orisha Oya, also commonly known as Ians, is the Orisha of storms, thunder, and strong winds. To perform it, Obatala was given a shell full of earth, a five-fingered hen, and a pigeon. It was a strange red powder. His colors are blue and yellow. Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. roads and doors in this world. As such, there is no concern about the literal truth of these tales or the fact that tales my contradict one another. The goddess Hathor was usually depicted as a cow, as a woman with the head of a cow, or as a woman with cows ears. Eshu was not willing to give them back, but the beauty of Oshun was capable of driving any man or woman crazy. Oshn is knowledge, for wisdom without knowledge is useless, and Theres a story stating about how Nana forbade her children and followers from using knives and metals in general during rituals and ceremonies. 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. He recognises them often to represent her. In her path of Okutti His youngest son, Obatala, asked if he could create a new realm made of earth. On his head was the atef-crown, composed of the white crown of Upper Egypt and two ostrich feathers. Orisha Nana wears purple dresses. name. By about 2400 bce, however, Osiris clearly played a double role: he was both a god of fertility and the embodiment of the dead and resurrected king. This helped the religion to survive. If you wish to support me,please use the button below and buy me a ko-fi! Ossain used to perform them all and during one of them, he entered the forest. Smart! path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world Ogun always wears dark blue clothes and may also wear pieces of armor. Thanks! Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. Orisha Yemaya wears white and blue dresses. He is envisioned as an extremely wealthy deity, dressed in refined garments, adorned with coral beads and plumage from a hunted game. Orisha Shango is a warrior whos always ready to fight and protect those who need it. One was the gods, another was the spirits of deceased humans, who existed in the divine realm and possessed many of the gods' abilities. He wears clothes made of straw that cover his whole body and face. It made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a single orisha in that scenario. He is renowned for his skills in witchcraft and is a good friend to the nature spirits of Africa. Humans and orishas, however, provide ashe to each other through a variety of rituals. Seth was the god of chaos, violence, deserts, and storms. A central feature of the festivals during the late period was the construction of the Osiris garden, a mold in the shape of Osiris, filled with soil. To get Oya, Shango entered a battle against Ogun. Eshu accepted the task and said he would produce a kind of medicine capable of granting Shangos wishes. Oshun, who was passing by, found a naked and ashamed Obatala by the river. Table of If to Orunmila in exchange for the gift of dance, his This way, Ossain was capable of identifying them easily. 2023 All Rights Reserved. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. different colors. Perhaps the most 'popular' of the orishas, Shang rules over From simple spells such as offering food to an Orisha (this food is commonly called as eb) to complex rituals like isolating a person during some days so they can be reborn as the son/daughter of an Orisha, we find a variety of customs that can naturally be adopted by modern witchcraft practitioners too. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He didnt need them. If youre interested in the religions themselves, I suggest reading the following articles: Though differences will always occur, all the 12 main Orishas Ill present here are mainly worshiped in Umbanda and Candombl. Talisman. Hathor embodied motherhood and fertility, and it was believed that she protected women in childbirth. He got a job, a house, and everything he wished for. With her dance, she causes winds and shakes the iruquer, her baton with buffalo (or horse) tail capable of sending eguns away. In the forest. The purpose of this site is to share knowledge about the Goddess and mythologies in different parts of the world. Most had a principle association (for example, with the sun or the underworld) and form. The patakis, or stories of the orishas, are not standardized and are frequently contradictory. 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. Ossain started roaming the lands. Oshn rules over the sweet waters of the world, the brooks, Inside the forest, he met Aroni, a gnome wearing a hood and hopping on one leg only. Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. In that sense, they work more like Western pantheons like those of the Greeks or Romans. As an immortal, he was unable to die, so he chose instead to descend into the earths surface, in a place named Ire-Ekiti. 4 In the light of the foregoing; the present study would attempt to explore these religio- . Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. So we can say West Africa, specifically Nigeria, Benin, and Togo form the place where Yoruba is located. Ogun, as I explained above, is a warrior and he creates weapons. He tried to punish her, but she fled. Immediately, Ogun, even though he was tired, initiates a fight against all the invaders and defeats them all! All metals and weapons belong to Ogun, the blacksmith Orisha. His element is the earth. Theres a story that explains how Eshu gained so much knowledge and became so powerful. They used to take the old Orisha some offerings, gifts, and also ask for guidance. He learned how to impress others with his beauty as a woman and also as a man; he also learned how to scare people as a snake or even as a snake-monster being. anting him with a profound wisdom. from draught by flying up to heaven (turning into a vulture in the Olorun was responsible for having the idea of creating firm land. He represents the power of fortune. When she offered mud, he was finally able to create perfect human beings. So happy that he decided to share the realm of the dead with her. roads. Eshu by Akili Mansa Richards. Shango asked her if Eshu gave instructions on how to use that powder. As the goddess of the sky, Nut engulfed the sun at night and brought it back again at the beginning of the day. 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. This name, meaning Foremost of the Westerners, was adopted by Osiris as an epithet. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. He is now viewed as a compassionate and humble deity, curing people of sickness and disease. Ogn is the god of iron, war and labor. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. way Yemay displays herself as truly the mother of all. He also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. they rule over. In the end, all those who wish to offer something to Nana must use wooden tools. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. Here are a few of the most important deities to know. Other stories tell that Ogum was married to Oya. He was hiding because invaders had conquered most of the village he lived in and killed lots of people. Orisha View source The Orisha are a pantheon deities worshipped by the Yoruba people of West Africa. Ogun, as a blacksmith and Orisha of wars, went well prepared for the fight. Oshosi is the third member of the group known as the Guerreros or After some time, the land was firm enough for the Orishas to walk on it. Actually, she lives wherever earth meets water and forms mud.
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