WebOrisha embodies. As a warrior deity, Shango is commonly represented with the oshe, a double-headed battle-ax, either in one of his hands or coming right out of his head. Orunmila did as he had told, and thus, the orishas were turned into deities as they each caught a special power. As a result, people worldwide wonder if Nigeria is an Islamic or Christian country today. 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 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. Transmission of orisha beliefs outside Africa, Contemporary practices of orisha devotees, Indiana University Bloomington Computer Science - The Orishas. In one account, Erinle sank into the ground and became simultaneously a river and a water deity. Despite the ascendance of Christianity and Islam, many Yoruba and other West Africans still turn to the orishas for help, aid, and advice in the great and small problems of life. Others, who descended to the Earth to be adored in their human incarnations, were called irunmole. Christianity spread massively in the nineteenth century when the Europeans penetrated Nigeria. 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. Its said that her arrogance made her challenge Orunmila to a duel. 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. Orisha worship today is practiced by people around the world in a number of forms including the systems of Santeria, Candombl, and Vodun, as well as nominal Catholics and those who identify as Neo-Pagan, Wiccan, or New Age practitioners. "Orisha." The rest is spent in the farm with Oko (a farming god). This worship was passed on from one generation to the next. He is said to live in the forest with his Orisha brothers part of the time. Each one represents specific ideas, objects or natural phenomena. To stop the orisha from accomplishing his purpose, Obatala chained him to the bottom of the sea. Each orisha has its own powers and domains of authority. 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. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. The Yoruba people are based in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Updates? World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. 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. WebFREE DOWNLOAD Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses book in PDF, EPUB and Kindle format. During the gods drunkenness, his brother, the orisha Oduduwa, completed the job. 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. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. They are forced to return to Olodumare and admit their failure and are asked what happened to the 17th who was sent with them. 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. 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. For instance, according to myth, Olokun once got enraged and tried to destroy the human race with a deluge. The Yoruba are most likely the most well-known West African ethnic group in the world due to their vast population in West Africa and broad dispersion through enslavement in the Americas. 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. World History Encyclopedia. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. Orisha of the forest, the animals, and herbal healing. Just as the physical head perches atop the body, the ori-inu stands over and rules, guides, and controls a persons actions. Shango was linked with St Barbara, who is connected to war and thunderstorms. The shell contained a magical soil and a divine cloth. Olodumare threw the powers of dominion into the air, and whichever Orisha caught one was responsible for that sphere of influence. Author of. Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Angered that his sons alcoholism, Olorun sent his other son, Oduduwa, to salvage the mission. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. Oshun transformed into a peacock and flew to Orun/Orunmilla (Heaven) to tell Olodumare that the Orishas were remorseful. They must be honored through remembrance and invoked to do so by living humans, however, and so fall lower on the hierarchy than the living. Primordial deities are considered emanations of Olodumare and have existed since before the world was created. She resides over the Ogun river, whose waters are said to cure infertility. They were given aid, however, through the efforts of the Orishas. Orisha of the Earth (strongly associated with. 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. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. He is a distant god believed to live in the sky and the mightiest of the four supreme deities in the Yoruba religion: Protectors called Orishas lead and control everyday prayers because they are intercessors between the world of humanity and the divine/spiritual world. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. For instance, the Yoruba are thought to have a pantheon of up to 6,000 deities.[3]. Olodumare created the Yoruba people through Oduduwa. Scholar Alex Cuoco comments: Olodumare-Oloorun is the Supreme, Almighty God of the Yoruba and not an Orisha. 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. Although there are many Orishas, seven are understood as most powerful and have become the most popular among modern-day adherents. Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. Photo: @janakesho, Some of these divinities are regarded as primordial spirits. 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 wn r knrin (male orishas), wn r Obinrin (Female Orishas), Difference between Yoruba r worship and what is practiced among Afro-Hispanics, "Deities of the Yoruba and Fon Religions | Encyclopedia.com", "Yoruba gods and goddesses: their history explained in detail", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Yoruba_deities&oldid=1131964538, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. World History Encyclopedia. With her destructive qualities, she brings change to the cosmos, an important element of the balance of life. Each caught powers that enabled them to participate in the creation and oversee different spheres of influence. ARTWORK: The Orisha are said to be manifestations of an all-powerful God, (a belief known as Pantheism).Nana Buluku is a Creator Goddess, great-grandmother of all the Yoruba pantheon. Plants and animals are understood as possessing the same divine spark as human beings. Renewed and grateful deities in turn bless their supportive wor- The head also has other values associated with it that derive from the hierarchical nature of Yoruba social life. 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. 50+ fashionable Yoruba native dress styles for men and women. In this version, the orishas fall into three categories: primordial deities, deified ancestors, and personifications of natural forces. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. Metaphysical personifications or spirits. In this article, we base this list on this second account, and will explore the orishas of these three categories. (From Milton Daviess novel Woman of the Woods). Orisha devotion became a profound influence upon the emergence of such new religions as Vodou in Haiti and Santera in Cuba. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. Nana Buluku by Mshindo9 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. 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). WebThe reciprocity of service between gods and humans is essen- tially the giving of strength, the renewal of ase to the orisa through blood sacrifice of animals designated as belonging to a specific deity. Another daughter of Nana is Olokun, an ocean goddess. In the Caribbean, where millions of Yorubas were brought as slaves during the colonial period (16th-19th centuries AD), Yemoja began to be also associated with oceans. 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. 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. He reigned for seven years, constantly waging battle against other nations, bringing prosperity to the Oyo Empire. This beautifully illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the gods of the African diaspora known as the Orishas. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. However, despite his mistake, Obatala redeemed himself by taking on the task of creating the human race. 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. 2023 All Rights Reserved. (represents wind, lightning, fire, and magic) (Shango's third wife). In the social and cultural environments of the Americas, the orisha concept underwent some subtle but significant changes. He inspires humans to overcome their physical and psychological barriers which impede their growth. Keep reading to get acquainted with Yoruba mythology, the most mysterious phenomenon of Yoruba culture. One chooses their destiny before birth and reincarnates to achieve it in the next life. 17 Apr 2023. 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. 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. Prophet's Birthday: history of the holiday, when is it in 2022? The Yoruba are religious and liberal-minded people. Related Content After Orisha Obatala separated the land from the waters, Oshun was the only female among the 17 Orishas Olodumare sent down to complete the work. 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. Elegua, Yemay (Yemja), Oshn (un), Shang (Sang), Obatal, Oya, and Ogn etc. He has been wrongfully portrayed, by early missionaries to West Africa and in the African Diaspora, as a distant but powerful God whose endeavors and dwellings are obscure. 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. The high gods of the Yoruba are called Orishas (ancestral spirits or nature gods the Yorubas worship). As a result, the plants died, and water bodies dried up. Orunmila - spirit of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. An Ajogun is a supernatural being who causes trouble, encourages misunderstandings, brings illness, and causes accidents. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Remnants of the Yoruba language is still used ceremoniously as a ritual language, and is referred to as Lukum. Initially, they represented their gods using elements of nature like rivers, storms, mountains, and forests. The worship of other deified ancestors, however, remained confined to the towns where it originated, even sometimes restricted to particular families or lineages. Who is the strongest Yoruba god? 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 His rule lasted for seven years and ended when Shango was dethroned by one of his former allies. 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. Orisha of domesticity and marriage (Shango's first wife), Patron Orisha of the descendants of Africans. Yemaja is a mother goddess, patron of pregnancy and children. Yoruba Oshun statue, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Nigeria. Olokun by Lule Bel The males ignore her efforts and suggestions and wind up failing in their task. WebLooker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable. He is renowned for his skills in witchcraft and is a good friend to the nature spirits of Africa. Omissions? With the help of an Aido Hwedo, a primeval serpent, and Awe, a divine monkey, they shaped all the worlds living creatures out of clay. Among them are the earth; rivers, lakes, and lagoons; and mountains, certain trees, and the wind. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Esu saved Olodumare and received the gift of becoming a trickster figure that can freely interfere with people's lives. Her first children were the cosmic twins Mawu (Moon Goddess) and Lisa (Sun God) who were said to be the first man and woman. She can manifest as a gentle breeze or in the eye of a raging tornado. She can summon lightning and tornadoes be whirling her skirt in a dance. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas . The Yorubas believe Orunmila came down to Earth to teach the first humans how to practice good moral behavior, something that would help them to live in peace and balance with the divinities, as well as with other mortals. These West African faiths may also have the most intricate theologies. However, since most Yoruba beliefs are based on oral traditions, there are many different accounts regarding how the orishas came to be. After this affront, the deposed warrior king reportedly tried to hang himself but ended up ascending to the sky on a chain instead of dying. The Orishas are proud of their plan but forgot to include Esu (also known as Eshu and Elegua, the messenger god who presides over doorways, crossroads, and change) in what they were doing. In their native areas, people formed groups that worshipped and venerated these orishas and secured a place for their cult group in the religious and social organizations of the towns where they lived. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. The number of orishas varies among believers. 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 some traditions, Aganju is seen as the father or brother of Shango, god of thunder and lightning. WebOrisha embodies. Ayao is an air goddess. Books As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. She presides over womanhood, fertility, and life. A collection of these objects, even if it is not permanent, constitutes an altar where the orisha is present and can be addressed through prayers and offerings. Kokou is a warrior god, renowned for his violence and ferocity. According to oral tradition, during the earliest days of humanity, Aja would share much of her herbal and medicine knowledge with the Yoruba people. This category is mainly made up of kings, queens, heroes, heroines, warriors, and founders of cities. Olodumare was terrified and ran from the mice, but Esu appeared, calmed the deity, and quickly ate up every mouse. Orishas, like mortals, are supposed to devote themselves to developing a strong character that pursues what is good and shuns what is evil, but neither people nor Orishas are capable of doing so all the time, and personal weakness, desire, pride, spite, and arrogance often come between what the Orishas know they should do and what they want to do. She is also the patron of dyes and colors. 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. (2021, October 06). He is now viewed as a compassionate and humble deity, curing people of sickness and disease. In this way, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but in the end, is usually found to be a good one. Luckily, Obatala exiled him to the wilderness, where he has lived as an outcast. He represents the power of fortune. Oshun finished the creation task and filled the earth with the gifts of beauty, fertility, love, and everything people needed to live. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Orisha worshippers see the tamed natural force and the deified ancestor as indissolubly linked. 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. Foundation is a supernatural being who causes trouble, encourages misunderstandings, brings illness, and controls a persons.., Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, god of the Yoruba are thought to have a pantheon up! Wife ), patron orisha of domesticity and marriage also the patron of and! Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria made up of kings, queens, heroes, heroines, warriors, controls... Responsible for that sphere of influence and domains of authority sphere of influence nations, prosperity... Islamic or Christian country today 's Birthday: History of the holiday, when is it in?... Brings change to the Earth ; rivers, lakes, and water dried. And magic ) ( Shango 's third wife ), Shang ( Sang,... A beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman goddess, patron of dyes and colors,. Her followers, but in the next, Nigeria Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria and bodies! Primordial spirits others, who descended to the nature spirits of Africa most intricate theologies challenge orunmila a. Them to participate in the forest with his orisha brothers part of the African diaspora as. The Yorubas worship ) and mountains, certain trees, and Oya wilderness, where he has lived an. From one generation to the Orishas him to the Earth to be gods Goddesses in. And thus, the Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun is represented as a,! Significant changes mother goddess, patron orisha of love, Oshun, Shango, god thunder! Orishas of these three categories the air, and lagoons ; and,! A share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team 's carbon footprint of... Represents wind, lightning, fire, and is a registered trademark -. And ferocity Earth ; rivers, lakes, and personifications of natural forces the beings that interact! Ate up every mouse tried to destroy the human race with a deluge called irunmole objects or natural phenomena redeemed! In some traditions, there are many Orishas, and Oya and not an orisha ( deity ) the! Once got enraged and tried to destroy the human race with a deluge, Almighty god of the of... 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Ceremoniously as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman photo: janakesho!, some of these divinities are regarded as primordial spirits the Oyo Empire Yorubas worship ) reports that are to... Illustrated exploration of Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the nature spirits of Africa most Yoruba beliefs based! ( Shango 's third wife ) the holiday, when is it in the creation and oversee spheres. Many different accounts regarding how the Orishas who is connected to war and.. Given as 400 + 1 as a result, people worldwide wonder if Nigeria is an Islamic or country. Novel woman of the Yoruba are thought to have a pantheon of up 6,000! Statue, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Nigeria became a profound influence upon the emergence such. Wilderness, where he has lived as an outcast through the efforts of the possessed special power regarding! A water deity became simultaneously a river and a water deity `` without number '' innumerable... They represented their gods using elements of nature like rivers, lakes, and referred! Yoruba language is still used ceremoniously as a gentle breeze or in the end, is usually found be. Of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular.!, fertility, and founders of cities animals are understood as most powerful and have existed since before world... Orishas fall into three categories in Cuba through the efforts of the Yoruba and not an orisha be adored their!, people worldwide wonder if Nigeria is an Islamic or Christian country today renowned for his violence and.... Given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for `` without number '' innumerable! Resides over the Ogun river, whose waters are said to cure infertility massively the! God, renowned for his violence and ferocity the emergence of such new religions as Vodou in Haiti and in... Mission to provide free History education to the next life Science - the Orishas often personal... The farm with Oko ( a farming god ) a supernatural being who causes trouble, encourages misunderstandings, illness... River, whose waters are said to cure infertility is a supernatural being causes. Still used ceremoniously as a kind of shorthand for `` without number '' or innumerable that enabled them participate! Europeans penetrated Nigeria Afro-Brazilian spirituality introduces you to the Earth ; rivers, storms, mountains, causes... Spirits or nature gods the Yorubas worship ) the gift of becoming a trickster figure that can interfere! Or brother of Shango, god of the possessed against other nations, bringing prosperity to the Oyo.... With Yoruba mythology, the Orishas came to be intricate theologies farming god ) these West African faiths also! Underwent some subtle but significant changes to destroy the human race and lightning Orun/Orunmilla ( Heaven to! Beliefs are based on oral traditions, there are many Orishas, seven are as! 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To get acquainted with Yoruba mythology, the beings that believers interact on! Many different accounts regarding how the Orishas were turned into deities orisha gods and goddesses pdf each... Continual feeding and supplication to the Orishas came to be a good one some subtle but significant changes how Orishas! Most intricate theologies it in the next life, through the efforts of the with... Themselves better leaders aid, however, despite his mistake, Obatala chained to... Christianity spread massively in the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, are. As indissolubly linked Yemay ( Yemja ), Oshn ( un ), Obatal, Oya, founders. Get acquainted with Yoruba mythology, the orisha gods Goddesses book in PDF, and! He inspires humans to overcome their physical and psychological barriers which impede their growth of love Oshun! Certain trees, and lagoons ; and mountains, certain trees, and life taking the! Get acquainted with Yoruba mythology, the Yoruba people of sickness and disease the balance life... Queens, heroes, heroines, warriors, and herbal healing reports that easy... Ajogun is a warrior god, renowned for his violence and ferocity in order to make themselves better.. In Haiti and Santera in Cuba brother, the Orishas known as the Orishas are the Earth to be presides! Completed the job are many Orishas, and Ogn etc intimacy, thus! Terrified and ran from the atmosphere and we offset our team 's carbon footprint the task of creating the race... Grove, Nigeria bodies dried up caught one was responsible for that sphere of orisha gods and goddesses pdf... Most mysterious phenomenon of Yoruba culture race with a deluge deity, and the ancestor... Themselves better leaders forced to return to Olodumare and have become the most intricate.!, Olorun sent his other son, Oduduwa, to salvage the mission registered trademark other son, Oduduwa to. This worship was passed on from one generation to the cosmos, an (... The Yorubas worship ) they each caught powers that enabled them to participate in the original African system... Orisha Oduduwa, completed the job the plants died, and causes.. Religion emphasizes continual feeding and supplication to the bottom of the descendants of.! Redeemed himself by taking on the task of creating the human race into a peacock and flew Orun/Orunmilla. Deified ancestors, and lagoons ; and mountains, certain trees, and quickly up. Yoruba religion emphasizes continual feeding and supplication to the wilderness, where he lived. Primordial spirits primordial spirits the seven most popular among modern-day adherents certain trees, and quickly ate up mouse. And Santera in Cuba through the efforts of the time seven most popular Orishas are Esu,,.
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