He was supposed to have lived at some point between the 12th and the 14th century AD. 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. "Orisha." Each orisha has its own powers and domains of authority. 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. 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. Other orishas are irunmole, the earths first inhabitants that are now sacred beings dwelling on and in the earth. Renewed and grateful deities in turn bless their supportive wor- Orishas, like the saints, were relatable because they were fallible. It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. Whether the Orishas then decided to participate in creation is not addressed. Remnants of the Yoruba language is still used ceremoniously as a ritual language, and is referred to as Lukum. Cuban African worship, sometimes referred to as Santera, is still widely practiced in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Tobago/Trinidad and Brazil, a number of practitioners are Yoruba descendants to certain degrees. Oya is a storm goddess who wields fire and magic (which she stole from her husband, Shango). 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. 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 Those who practice the traditional Yoruba religion are spread worldwide. She is also the patron of dyes and colors. WebIn the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. 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. In his free time, Jhonfrank enjoys coming back to the classics, as well as reading mystery short stories, and poetry. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. 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. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas . Scientists On How Trees Talk Through an Ancient Otherworld Network, Ley Lines, Ancient Flight Plans, And Their Mind-Bending Connection To Ancient Monuments, 15 extremely rare, ancient images of the Pyramids of Giza youve probably never seen, The Translation of the Sumerian King List: When Gods ruled the Earth, Newly found sunken continents suggests the mythical continent of Lemuria was real, Amateur Astronomers spots massive cigar-shaped UFO near the Orion Nebula. Oshosi is also a hunting god, who is highly regarded for his quick wit and objectivity. In a third account, Erinle became a divinity after kicking a poisonous stone. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Orisha/. Generally, Yemoja exhibits a comprehensive character, but she can turn temperamental quickly if she perceives that her children are being threatened or mistreated. People felt they could talk to the Orishas freely because the Orishas understood their problems, weaknesses, pains, and fears. 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. Olodumare stopped the rains. They were kings, culture heroes and heroines, warriors, and founders of cities who had a major influence on the lives of the people and on Yoruba society through their contributions to culture and social life. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. These specific forces of nature are part of the orisha because the cult of the orishas directs itself toward them. A few are traditionalists, while most were assimilated into Christianity and Islam. The Orishas exist to help humans reach their goal of self-actualization, but these entities are not perfect themselves. Cuocos use of the male pronoun is for convenience as Olodumare is All Things and so both male and female. 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 Yoruba pantheon, Aja is the orisha of the woodland and the animals that reside in it. 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. Always in the middle of conflicting forces, Eshu is commonly linked to duality and contrasts. 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. Yemaya was linked with the V*irgin Mary, Our Lady of Regla, in Cuba. Aganju was the next Orisha to manifest on earth. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. Download Knowing the Orisha Gods and Goddesses Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle. 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. They are ara orun, people of heaven. Just as the physical head perches atop the body, the ori-inu stands over and rules, guides, and controls a persons actions. Her followers often hold festivals in her honor to commemorate the dead. Orisha of iron, fire, hunting, politics, and war. 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. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. 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. The Orishas are never represented as perfect beings, and there are a number of stories of them behaving badly, but they are depicted as trying their best to do what is expected of them in very human terms. The male Orishas return to Olodumare to confess their failure. 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. 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. During the gods drunkenness, his brother, the orisha Oduduwa, completed the job. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. The history of the Yoruba religion started in the Stone Age. 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. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. The Orishas exist to help humans reach their goal of self-actualization, but these entities are not perfect themselves and sometimes get in peoples way, often without meaning to, because they each have their own individual personality and flaws just as humans do. 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. Metaphysical personifications or spirits. The number of orishas varies among believers. Although there are many Orishas, seven are understood as most powerful and have become the most popular among modern-day adherents. Download Knowing the Orisha Gods and Goddesses Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Olorun by Sanjana Baijnath 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 main one, ori, refers, first of all, to the physical head atop a persons body. Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. As a researcher, he has specialized in Greek mythology, a field of investigation that he confesses has always stimulated his passion for learning. His formidable power and has empowered humans to build civilizations and thrive from his wealth and abundance. The number of orishas varies among believers. 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. The Yoruba gods became more anthropomorphic due to the agriculture spread, metallurgy, and modernization. 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. Curiously enough, when acting as an agent of cosmic order, Eshu was also referred to as the enforcer of divine and natural laws. Everything that went into forming these witnessing objectsfrom leaves, earth, metal, pottery, or animal bones to the incantations and sacrifices that praised and coerced the orishas many powers to lodge in one placebecomes part of the objects (and the orishas) secret. There are at least 401 recognized Orishas in the Yoruba pantheon. She used these magical tools to create the cosmos, including the human race. The Dyatlov Pass Incident: What Killed Nine Young Hikers at Dead Mountain? Aja by Chase Conley He represents the power of fortune. WebLooker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable. Related Content But one concern remained in Orunmilas mind: How was he going to select who was to have which power without being perceived as unfair or arbitrary for the distribution? 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. As a water divinity, Erinle is believed to reside at the places where his river meets the sea. It is possible the Ajogun are Orisha tricksters, but whatever they are, they cannot be considered 'evil' or 'demonic' in a Christian sense. Associated with Ifa, Orunmila is considered both the personification of human fate and prophecy. About 78% of Brazil's population are Yorubas. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. 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. Olodumare releases the rains, heals Oshun, and declares her the only Orisha always welcome to bring messages to Orun. As a result, people worldwide wonder if Nigeria is an Islamic or Christian country today. He reigned for seven years, constantly waging battle against other nations, bringing prosperity to the Oyo Empire. The following is a list of Yoruba orisha (r), or deities. Transmission of orisha beliefs outside Africa, Contemporary practices of orisha devotees, Indiana University Bloomington Computer Science - The Orishas. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. Obatalas story can also be used to explain the divine origin of human fallibility. World History Encyclopedia. Using these sacred materials, he created fields, forests, hills, and valleys. Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Oba is a domestic goddess, also married to Shango, who presides over the home. This is the case of Yemoja, also called Yemaya, who is considered both a primordial deity and the personification of a natural force. She can summon lightning and tornadoes be whirling her skirt in a dance. Others, who descended to the Earth to be adored in their human incarnations, were called irunmole. Books Age, which is priority in time, is highly valued and respected, and it is also an important aspect of status and ranking. 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. Plants and animals are understood as possessing the same divine spark as human beings. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. 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. 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 Orishas are not always causing trouble for Olodumare, however, and most of the time are attentive to their responsibilities. Golgotha Cross What Is It and What Does It Mean? During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). and Loss. Eshu by Akili Mansa Richards. Esu knew their plan, however, because he was present in the doorway when they formed it but did not warn Olodumare of their intentions. They were given aid, however, through the efforts of the Orishas. He can see into the distant past and the far-flung future, granting him with a profound wisdom. Her emblem is a large seashell which she uses as a currency. Mark, Joshua J.. Angered that his sons alcoholism, Olorun sent his other son, Oduduwa, to salvage the mission. Prophet's Birthday: history of the holiday, when is it in 2022? Mark, J. J. This beautifully illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the gods of the African diaspora known as the Orishas. She is the mother of Yemaja. 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. Some of them are known as ara urun, meaning people of heaven, where they are believed to reside. Oshun can be spiteful, Shango impatient, Esu deceitful, Yemaya wrathful, and so on. 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. Due to 200 years of separation from the motherland, Lukum became a lexicon of words and is not a spoken language. 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. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. 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). 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. The animating force is known as Ashe (or Ase) and is essentially life itself as it is in constant motion and transformation. 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. He taught his followers the secrets of civilization (fire, smithing, hunting, politics, and war). Oshun transformed into a peacock and flew to Orun/Orunmilla (Heaven) to tell Olodumare that the Orishas were remorseful. This beautifully illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the gods of the African diaspora known as the Orishas. Orisha worshippers see the tamed natural force and the deified ancestor as indissolubly linked. anting him with a profound wisdom. Sign up now for weekly facts, the latest blogs, and interesting features. In this context the altar may be referred to as the orisha or as the orishas face. (2). Orisha devotion became a profound influence upon the emergence of such new religions as Vodou in Haiti and Santera in Cuba. An Ajogun is a supernatural being who causes trouble, encourages misunderstandings, brings illness, and causes accidents. 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