Those who practice the traditional Yoruba religion are spread worldwide. He is the most feared of the Orisha. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. 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? Some of these divinities are regarded as primordial spirits. WebOrisha embodies. Ayao is an air goddess. She works closely with Osain and is a fierce warrior. Some of them are known as ara urun, meaning people of heaven, where they are believed to reside. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. She guides her followers between the world of the dead and the living, preserving the memories of their ancestors. This is why today Shango is widely worshipped in other religions, including Cuban Santeria, Haitian Vodou, and Brazilian Candomble. An orisha, therefore, is a complex multidimensional unity linking people, objects, and powers. Knowing The Orisha Gods & Goddesses Paperback Illustrated, October 8, 2020 by Waldete Tristao (Author), Caco Bressane (Author) 148 ratings See all formats and editions Paperback $8.99 5 Used from $8.99 15 New from $4.99 Corrections? 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 personification of death, Iku is the deity that takes away the spirits of those who die. Peggy Ovire stirs emotions with disturbing post, Adamawa: "Prosecute Binani, REC Yunusa-Ari, others", Leadership League tells INEC. Weborisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. 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. WebOrisha embodies. Traditional religion and Islam dominated Nigeria before the colonial era. 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. The word orisha is related to several other Yoruba words referring to the head. In some, the supreme being is referenced as Olodumare, in others, it is Olodumare-Oloorun, in still others, Olofin, but all refer to the same entity neither male nor female who both created and is the universe. Submitted by Joshua J. 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 Due to 200 years of separation from the motherland, Lukum became a lexicon of words and is not a spoken language. He embodies the power of the sun, essential for the growth. 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. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. WebFREE DOWNLOAD Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses book in PDF, EPUB and Kindle format. Metaphysical personifications or spirits. Aja by Chase Conley In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. Divination is a practice that plays a major role in the Yoruba religion. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. 2023 All Rights Reserved. Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. These specific forces of nature are part of the orisha because the cult of the orishas directs itself toward them. Babal-Ay (originally Shopona) is a healing god. The number of orishas varies among believers. They are also venerated by the Edo of southeastern Nigeria; the Ewe of Ghana, Benin, and Togo; and the Fon of Benin (who refer to them as voduns). ARTWORK: Yet defining an orisha as a deity does not do justice to the concept, in large part because the term deity often suggests a sort of anthropomorphic supernatural entity. https://www.worldhistory.org/Orisha/. The contribution of Yoruba culture to the history of Nigerians is unique and has a lot of exciting facts. In the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. About 78% of Brazil's population are Yorubas. 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. Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. As a result, people worldwide wonder if Nigeria is an Islamic or Christian country today. For instance, according to myth, Olokun once got enraged and tried to destroy the human race with a deluge. 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. Oshun finished the creation task and filled the earth with the gifts of beauty, fertility, love, and everything people needed to live. The number of orishas varies among believers. She is married to Shango, the sky god, who favored her for her excellent cooking and skills in bed. According to oral tradition, during the earliest days of humanity, Aja would share much of her herbal and medicine knowledge with the Yoruba people. 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. The number of Orishas is most often given as 400+1 to suggest how limitless they are. Yoruba gods and goddesses. Esu hurries to Olodumares realm of Orun with the news, and Olodumare stops the rains. Whether the Orishas then decided to participate in creation is not addressed. Curiously enough, when acting as an agent of cosmic order, Eshu was also referred to as the enforcer of divine and natural laws. Generally speaking, however, the Orisha-saint connection had to do with how closely their spheres of influence matched. They emanated directly from God without any human aid. The ile ori seems to say that a good head (i.e., good character and a good mind) constitutes true wealth. Agriculture from the Middle East highly influenced the people to develop the religion around 600 BC. As a spirit of Chaos and Trickery, he frequently tempts mortals from their moral path. WebLooker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable. 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. Shango was linked with St Barbara, who is connected to war and thunderstorms. Orisha of iron, fire, hunting, politics, and war. Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. His rule lasted for seven years and ended when Shango was dethroned by one of his former allies. He is now viewed as a compassionate and humble deity, curing people of sickness and disease. In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. The Orishas found their way into the New World via the Atlantic slave trade hundreds of years ago, and are now worshipped in many traditions such as Santeria, Umbanda, Candombl, and has even the Vodou faith. Such a disappearance was not true death; rather, it was the occasion of the ancestors metamorphosis into an orisha. In some tales, she is said to be a mermaid. We care about our planet! Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. He subsequently becoming a river god. 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. Golgotha Cross What Is It and What Does It Mean? This list includes the major Orishas honored in the United States, according to scholars and practitioners. In some cases, a primordial deity can also be regarded as the personification of a natural force. The Yoruba people believe that there is a Supreme God, called Oludumare, and that he governs the Earth through a series of minor deities, known as the orishas, that work as his assistants. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. Grieving, her tears created the Oba river which intersects with the Oshun river. Shortly afterward, Shango became the orisha of lightning, fire, virility, and war. Using these sacred materials, he created fields, forests, hills, and valleys. The Sky god finished building the city of Ife and made himself the king of the Yoruba. In this version, the orishas fall into three categories: primordial deities, deified ancestors, and personifications of natural forces. WebIn the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. In one, far back at the beginning of time, Olodumare created the Orishas and spread powers between them randomly. Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. Obatalas story can also be used to explain the divine origin of human fallibility. In the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are divine mediators between Oludumare, the Creator of the world, and humanity. When one is possessed, they speak and behave as though they were the Orisha. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. 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. When associated with the latter, Eshu is the deity of mischief. 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. Each caught powers that enabled them to participate in the creation and oversee different spheres of influence. Orisha worshippers see the tamed natural force and the deified ancestor as indissolubly linked. Oya is a storm goddess who wields fire and magic (which she stole from her husband, Shango). Esu, for example, as a deity of crossroads, acts as a psychopomp a guide for the souls of the dead bringing them to the afterlife and comforting them while, at the same time, he may have had a hand in the circumstances that led to their death. These masquerades are performed twice a year, as well as during funeral rites. Weborisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. 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). Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. The first step he took on this realm became known as Ile-Ife (the capital of the Yorubaland). Get or read online Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses books directly on your Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses Book PDF | Download Or Read Online Yoruba gods and goddesses. 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 In West African religions and in traditions that have been influenced by them, primordial divinities are those that existed long before the creation of the world as it is now known. (2). Mark has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt. He reigned for seven years, constantly waging battle against other nations, bringing prosperity to the Oyo Empire. Web. She is a patron of herbs and spell-craft. In Yoruba tradition, Olokun is commonly depicted as a hermaphrodite. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. 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 following is a list of Yoruba orisha (r), or deities. 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. 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. 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. There are at least 401 recognized Orishas in the Yoruba pantheon. Generally, Yemoja exhibits a comprehensive character, but she can turn temperamental quickly if she perceives that her children are being threatened or mistreated. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. They told him that they ignored Oshun for being young and a woman. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. The number of orishas varies among believers. 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 orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. In the Orishas case, Olodumare had allowed life to continue as it had before, but the supreme deity had made clear to humanity that, once they chose inequality as the basis of their existence, they could not go back to their former lives. "Orisha." She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. Yoruba Gods and Goddesses mesmerize ordinary people and scientists. 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.

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