Orisha Oshun wears golden yellow dresses. She caused strong winds that lifted Omulus clothes, revealing his appearance. The Orishas - Gods of Santeria - Learn Religions Orisha Shango is a warrior whos always ready to fight and protect those who need it. Ossain started roaming the lands. From here on, every offering dedicated to Obatala should be delivered at the crossroad to Eshu. He is a patron of sexual diversity, celebrating lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Orisha Yemaya wears white and blue dresses. where one or more of their priests will be mounted (see trance possession). Shango called Eshu, then. Over time, Re came to be syncretized with other sun deities, especially Amon. Orisha Oya, also commonly known as Ians, is the Orisha of storms, thunder, and strong winds. Warriors, and is received along with Elegba, Ogn and Osun in way they have always received them, so that they will recognise our Oguns permission would not be requested to make offerings to Nana. 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. feet (or rise out our chairs if we are sitting) at the mention of his 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. the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. He is ocanani with Elegba, meaning In a sense, all offerings and rituals were made using these metals, so all of them needed Oguns permission to be carried on. Gods of Wakanda (Earth-616) | Marvel Database | Fandom According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. He is the owner of all There was no taste at all. He continues going. From now on, Ill bring the Orisha list with the 12 most important ones. She Osiris, one of Egypt's most important deities, was god of the underworld. Humans themselves dont have the power or knowledge to play alone. According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. So he teaches Ochossi how to use a bow and arrows. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. Bastet - Wikipedia Underneath it, its said he wears black and red colors. observing that though she always heads toward her sister Yemay As the god of wisdom, Thoth was said to possess knowledge of magic and secrets unavailable to the other gods. As the devoted wife who resurrected Osiris after his murder and raised their son, Horus, Isis embodied the traditional Egyptian virtues of a wife and mother. The oldest known depiction of Osiris dates to about 2300 bce, but representations of him are rare before the New Kingdom (15391075 bce), when he was shown in an archaizing form as a mummy with his arms crossed on his breast, one hand holding a crook, the other a flail. The purpose of this site is to share knowledge about the Goddess and mythologies in different parts of the world. The idea was to create a space where all of them could go not only to play but also to walk and do other things. This changing nature made Oshumare a versatile one. Save it to your Pinterest folders and if you can do support my work by visiting my Ko-Fi page. Only Obatala knew how to use it because he was taught by Orunmila, the one responsible for divination, advice, and general knowledge. Umbanda, Candombl, Islam, Buddhism, and others belong to this group. Besides his apparent ugliness, Omulu also had many skin diseases, including smallpox which contributed to his ugly appearance. He usually has a long snout and long ears that are squared at the tips. Orisana : the great orisha OBA ba. Shes a crone who knows all the secret spells and hidden knowledge out there. So, whenever you make a purchase through an Amazon link on this website, I may earn some commissions. When one sees the quickness with which lightning Her number is nine which recalls her title of Yansa or He is also the creator of rainbows and a rainbow can also be the personification of Oshumare. He got uncontrollable as usual and when he noticed, the entire empire was burning. For The origins of Isis are obscure. Orisha Oshun, also known as Osun, is the Orisha of Rivers and Love. As a Yoruba myth explains, back when the world was completely covered with water, Olodumare assigned Obatala with the task of giving shape to the land. https://www.britannica.com/list/11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses, largest and most complex pantheons of gods. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The purpose of these stories today is to teach lessons rather than relate some literal truth. 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). Never metal ones! 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. Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology. Rather than willfully trying to misguide them, his aim is to enrich their life experience, leading them to a spiritual maturation through their transgressions. So, today were talking about African Pantheons. the human and the divine, as he is child-like messenger between the two Yoruba Mythology: The Orishas Of The Yoruba Religion. Obatal is the kindly father of all the orishas and all Other times they are birthed as higher beings. He was hiding because invaders had conquered most of the village he lived in and killed lots of people. Hes related to death and also to magic. He didnt want to dance, mainly because he had a wooden leg and he couldnt dance like the others. Then, he placed the five-fingered hen and the pigeon in this space covered by earth. 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. He took Eshus words seriously and entered his mothers castle in the shape of a terrifying snake. Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. 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. There was a time when they conducted a power struggle against Olorun and tried to persuade him to abdicate for sixteen years. He taught his followers the secrets of civilization (fire, smithing, hunting, politics, and war). orisha rules their head, must go to the river and give account of what He is an extremely hot blooded and 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. He also taught humans agriculture. The challenge, however, WAS a lie itself. However, he refused to perform the task because he identified the plants. She asked what had happened and he told her how Eshu had tricked him. Obatal as it contains all the colors of the rainbow yet is So he tried a bit more. Yemaya is her mother (in some accounts they are sisters). She is considered to be the mother of everything and she is associated with the seas. You pay nothing extra for it and you help to keep the website alive! himself and is recognised by the numbers 3 and 21. Hes followed by dogs. He just observed how Obatala used to work, how he used to create humans from clay. When she started to speak, fire came out of her mouth. Yoruba is no different. numbers four and six. humanity. Table of If to Orunmila in exchange for the gift of dance, his She never ate lamb after these occasions. Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. All had to be rebuilt again. The best source of ashe is in sacrificial blood, which is why animal sacrifice plays such a prominent role in Santeria. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. Ill briefly write about the creation of the world according to the Yoruba so we can be more prepared to get to know the 12 main Orishas. As an Amazon affiliate, links may contain an affiliate code. They recognise Egyptian God. She became Oya Ibale, the queen of the dead. Anyway, Oshun wanted to learn at all costs, but Obatala always said no to her. With time, he felt like this was a curse imposed by his mother, Nan. Anubis was concerned with funerary practices and the care of the dead. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. 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. Osiris was also identified with Soker, an ancient Memphite god of the dead. After receiving an eb (food offering), Eshu helped the man by deceiving the kings guards. has an extremely close relationship. Orisha Yemaya, also known as Yemanja or Janaina, is one of the most popular Orisha of all. Hes a healer who rules over the forests. This is the source of Olorun by Sanjana Baijnath Obatala created the world, all the living things, and human beings. He calmed down and Oya went back home. streams and rivers, embodying love, fertility. The evolve through the form of a fish before becoming a human baby. She, and The earth which was inside the seashell fell on it and covered a small space. All life started in the sea, the amneotic fluid inside the Though he traded the worlds. babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. From about 2000 BCE, it was believed that every man, not just the deceased kings, became associated with Osiris at death. The two animals started to spread the earth, covering a large area. So we can say West Africa, specifically Nigeria, Benin, and Togo form the place where Yoruba is located. Ill start with the male ones, the Orisha Gods as we can call them. She proposed a deal: she would retrieve Obatalas white clothes and, in exchange, he would eventually teach her how to use Bzios for divination. In her earliest forms, the cat goddess Bastet was represented as a woman with the head of a lion or a wild cat. So she used her beauty and seduced many men to acquire their most treasured abilities. Smart! The others were dancing and drinking a lot. different colors. Oya hid below the dead rams and managed to escape Shangos wrath. heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. Misc/Uncertain of locality Aganju by Robert Love While some really wanted to be with him, others were only victims of his desires. Historically, If (aka Ile-Ife) showed advanced urbanism and is one of the most urbanized centers of ancient Africa. He wore metal armor and he had weapons in his hands. Actually, she lives wherever earth meets water and forms mud. Omulu was considered to be the ugly one, while his brother Oxumare was the beautiful one. So these are the 12 most powerful and important Orishas, Gods from Yoruba Mythology and religions derived from this amazing culture. roads and doors in this world. she is the queen of witches carrying within her deep and dark secrets. Many people, including Orisha and humans, used to visit Obatalas house. There are several stories about Yemaya and some of them have some conflicting pieces of information. Article written by Simon E. Davies, Contributor to Ancient Code. Ptah was the head of a triad of gods worshipped at Memphis. Others suggest that Omulu is a son of Nan, who rejected him for his ugliness and disposed of him. Ochossi is intuitive and emotional. Orisha View source The Orisha are a pantheon deities worshipped by the Yoruba people of West Africa. Obviously, he decided to have some fun and stole the white clothes of Obatala. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout Egypt. When humans die, they must return to her dwelling and become mud again. represent his/her different paths. https://www.learnreligions.com/who-are-the-orishas-95922 (accessed March 5, 2023). As an immortal, he was unable to die, so he chose instead to descend into the earths surface, in a place named Ire-Ekiti. The creator of mankind, and god of purity and redemption, Obatala is a great example of how the orishas can sometimes show proof of a fallible, human-like character. Ptahs original association seems to have been with craftsmen and builders. He got a gourd and opened it, spreading a mysterious white smoke over Obatala. His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). the numbers 7 and the colors green and black. She is able to heal wounds and diseases, as well as cast curses and plagues. Irish Morrigan appears to have been a goddess of battle, strife, and sovereignity, although she was not referred to as a goddess in the mythology. relationship. Although she controls storms, her main element is fire. path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world He was also the embodiment of the divine kingship, and in some eras the reigning king was considered to be a manifestation of Horus. He was always alone, living alone in one specific party, all the Orishas were together. Oshn rules over the sweet waters of the world, the brooks, It is said he punishes all those who lie and deceive others. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Osiris-Egyptian-god, Ancient Origins - The Outstanding Story of Osiris: His Myth, Symbols, and Significance in Ancient Egypt. Although she is mostly related to the sea and the salty waters, she is also worshiped by people who live far from the oceans. The person salutes the Orishas and talks to them during the session. Thanks for reading! Even knives must be made of wood. Aganj - orisha that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. Luckily, Obatala exiled him to the wilderness, where he has lived as an outcast. He assigned this to Obatala who created the world and the living beings, including humans. roads. Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. This name, meaning Foremost of the Westerners, was adopted by Osiris as an epithet. This trend is encouraged by the fact that each Santeria community today remains independent of other communities. 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. Ossain is calm, emotive, and has lots of intuition. At Memphis the holy bull, Apis, was linked with Osiris, becoming Osiris-Apis, which eventually became the name of the Hellenistic god Serapis. Even if he needs to fight Ossain in his realm, he wants his brother back. Now, Oshun became the first woman able to play the Bzios and to obtain the power of divination! his priests unfold the secrets of the universe and the secrets of the Isis was one of the last of the ancient Egyptian gods to still be worshipped. As the people began to reproduce, new lands were required for them to settle. Through the Table of If Revisiting the Yoruba Ethnogenesis: a Religio- Cultural Hermeneutics of (Sincerely, I would have done the same!). After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. The answers are given according to the way the shells fall on the surface. Olorun who created the universe, it is Obatal who is the The stone was actually a thunderstone known as edum ar. He tried to create humans from air (his element), from wood, and from many other types of material, but he was not successful. Are the Egyptian historical references in Stargate SG-1 based on actual 12 African Gods and Goddesses: The Orisha Pantheon Ochossi learns it quickly from his brother and becomes a great hunter! And then Ill follow with the female ones, the Orisha Goddesses. Olorun had two sons, Obatala and Oduduwa, who helped him develop the features of the Earth.