Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. Yoruba gods and goddesses. 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. Most populated religion in Nigeria: is it Christianity or Islam? Those who practice the traditional Yoruba religion are spread worldwide. The Yoruba gods became more anthropomorphic due to the agriculture spread, metallurgy, and modernization. Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. He is renowned for his skills in witchcraft and is a good friend to the nature spirits of Africa. It is possible the Ajogun are Orisha tricksters, but whatever they are, they cannot be considered 'evil' or 'demonic' in a Christian sense. (2021, October 06). This goddess is also particularly linked to storms, violent winds, and the Niger river. Her followers often hold festivals in her honor to commemorate the dead. 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. Olodumare threw the powers of dominion into the air, and whichever Orisha caught one was responsible for that sphere of influence. The other Orishas followed this same pattern with many of the females associated with the Virgin Mary under her different epithets in various regions. Ogun is revered as a mighty god, called upon by warriors for strength in battle. In a third account, Erinle became a divinity after kicking a poisonous stone. Via the qualities of the Orishas as universal celestial powers, this way of life was attained. Oya is a storm goddess who wields fire and magic (which she stole from her husband, Shango). Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. (In 1989, it was believed that more than 70 million individuals in Africa and the New World participated in Yoruba religion in one way or another. Each confirms the Yoruba religion has many Orishas but offer different explanations regarding how they came to exist. Deified ancestors are people who lived in this world after it was created and had such a profound impact upon it that their descendants have continued to promote their memory. 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. 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. 16 Orishas are male and the 17th, Oshun, is not only female but the youngest among them. Article by Simon E. Davies, contributor to Ancient Code. The Supreme Deity of the Yoruba is called Oldmar. WebOshun, also spelled Osun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. He subsequently becoming a river god. 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. 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. 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). They were mainly captured from Oyo, Dahomey and Benin by the Portuguese and Brazilian slave traders and brought to Brazil. 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. 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. 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. The twelve goddesses described here are known as the Orisha (divine spirits) who are protective deities, often teaching their followers the secrets of the natural world. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Their number is usually given as 400 + 1 as a kind of shorthand for "without number" or innumerable. 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. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. Considered the goddess of weather, Oya is the embodiment of the changes that have to take place before new things can start growing. 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 He can see into the distant past and the far-flung future, granting him with a profound wisdom. Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the most powerful god. The Orishas exist to help humans reach their goal of self-actualization, but these entities are not perfect themselves. The third king of the Yoruba Oyo Empire, Shango was considered a violent ruler, but also one with notorious military achievements. Olodumare then took care of the act of creation through the Orisha (or god) Oduduwa, who made the Yoruba people and established life at the city of Ife (also Ile-Ife) as well as the concept of cultural identity and kingship. 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. Updates? The number of orishas varies among believers. ARTWORK: Several primordial divinities have oral traditions stating that they were once the chiefs or kings of still existing Yoruba towns. Aganju by Robert Love The Orishas do not always cause trouble for Olodumare and are attentive to their responsibilities. Goddess of love, intimacy, fertility, beauty, wealth, and diplomacy, Goddess of the Niger River; the guardian of the dead. Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. Orisha. Top 10 Obas in Yorubaland: Interesting facts about the rulers. Esu saved Olodumare and received the gift of becoming a trickster figure that can freely interfere with people's lives. She is kind and generous to her followers, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction. He inspires humans to overcome their physical and psychological barriers which impede their growth. WebIn the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. 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). Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Her son, Orungan, raped her when her guard was down, and in grief she exploded, her self-sacrifice creating fifteen Orishas. Among them are the earth; rivers, lakes, and lagoons; and mountains, certain trees, and the wind. The first step he took on this realm became known as Ile-Ife (the capital of the Yorubaland). 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. Babal-Ay (originally Shopona) is a healing god. Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. If one is unable to do so, for whatever reason, one is reincarnated and tries again in the next life. Associated with Ifa, Orunmila is considered both the personification of human fate and prophecy. In this way, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but in the end, is usually found to be a good one. 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. Orishas omitted Esu (also called Eshu /Elegua; god's messenger who presides over doorways, crossroads, and change) from their plan to overthrow Olodumare and rule the world. Elegua, Yemay (Yemja), Oshn (un), Shang (Sang), Obatal, Oya, and Ogn etc. Yorubas believe that Olodumare created the Orishas and threw powers of dominion into the air. To achieve this degree of control and interdependence, the ancestors made offerings and sacrifices. When associated with the latter, Eshu is the deity of mischief. Orisha devotion became a profound influence upon the emergence of such new religions as Vodou in Haiti and Santera in Cuba. Their participation in creation is given in another version, however, where the Orisha Obatala separates the land from the waters and Olodumare then sends down 17 Orishas to complete the work. In the present day, the Orishas continue to be invoked by adherents for these same reasons and, according to the belief, are still just as alert and responsive to human need as they have been since people first received the breath of life at the beginning of time. These devotees often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 50+ fashionable Yoruba native dress styles for men and women. Its said that Olokun can grant wealth to humans at any time, but given his ambiguous nature, he is also known for inadvertently bringing devastation. Orisha of volcanoes, the wilderness, and rivers. He created the Orishas to be mediators between himself and the people. Others, who descended to the Earth to be adored in their human incarnations, were called irunmole. She passed near the sun and lost most of her feathers. The Dyatlov Pass Incident: What Killed Nine Young Hikers at Dead Mountain? Eventually, the god made his mind up and explained to the orishas that, on a certain day, he would ascend to the sky to pour down his divine gifts, so each orisha would be responsible for catching his or her own special ability. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. 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. World History Encyclopedia, 06 Oct 2021. 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. Shango was linked with St Barbara, who is connected to war and thunderstorms. Some of these divinities are regarded as primordial spirits. In isolation he learned humility, becoming Babal-Ay. They complained loudly to Olodumare, and their cries were delivered by Esu who, as usual, acted as an intermediary. Mark, Joshua J.. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. Please support World History Encyclopedia. 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. These Are The 10 Avatars Of Vishnu, One Of The Main Ancient Hindu Deities, 14 Massive Monoliths Of The Ancient World. Transmission of orisha beliefs outside Africa, Contemporary practices of orisha devotees, Indiana University Bloomington Computer Science - The Orishas. 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. Each orisha has its own powers and domains of authority. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. Olorun agreed and gave Obatala a shell to help fashion this new world. She is also the patron of dyes and colors. She is also often associated with the notions of death and rebirth, as the Yorubas believe she assists those who have recently died in their transition to the land of the dead. The Yoruba religion is constituted by a conglomerate of beliefs, primarily from the territory comprising modern-day Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. The head also has other values associated with it that derive from the hierarchical nature of Yoruba social life. Download Knowing the Orisha Gods and Goddesses Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle. He has taught history, writing, literature, and philosophy at the college level. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Orisha/. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Cross Crosslets Meaning and History of This Unique Cross Type, Pan and Syrinx: A Tale of Love (or Lust?) Io and Zeus: A Tale of Deception and Transformation, Top 10 Dreadful Deaths in the Bible and Why Theyre So Terrible, The Myth of Eros and Psyche: A Tale of Love and Self-Discovery. She works closely with Osain and is a fierce warrior. Get the hottest stories from the largest news site in Nigeria. Photo: @janakesho, In some traditions, Aganju is seen as the father or brother of Shango, god of thunder and lightning. These Are The 10 Avatars Of Vishnu, One Of The Main Ancient Hindu Deities, 14 Massive Monoliths Of The Ancient World, Sky Cars Are Here and Some Look Like a Flying Saucer. 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. Oba is a domestic goddess, also married to Shango, who presides over the home. Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. In some cases, a primordial deity can also be regarded as the personification of a natural force. 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. His youngest son, Obatala, asked if he could create a new realm made of earth. Its worth noticing that, in the case of certain Yoruba divinities, these categories can be overlapped. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. 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. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. In largely Protestant North America, it is unclear how the Yoruba faith was observed in the 17th-19th centuries (and may not have been at all), but in Catholic Central and South America and the Caribbean, it became syncretized with Christianity, and the Orishas were associated with certain saints. However, despite their divine status and remarkable powers, not all the orishas have the same origin. As a guardian of the earth, she has been known to take the guise of a formidable warrior when necessary to protect those she loves. Even so, not all the multitude of Orishas appear in the stories frequently only 20 or 30 at most do so but there are seven that appear often who have become the most popular and are referred to as gods and goddesses: These are all only the most basic descriptions of the dominions of the Seven Orishas. However, since most Yoruba beliefs are based on oral traditions, there are many different accounts regarding how the orishas came to be. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas . The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Some of these orishas are primordial in the sense that they existed before the creation of human beings. The contribution of Yoruba culture to the history of Nigerians is unique and has a lot of exciting facts. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). Who is the strongest Yoruba god? Orunmila - spirit of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight In some myths, the orishas were a race of primogenial divine beings, who lived among mankind but didnt yet have any powers. From the Yoruba point of view, any element of the natural world that has manifold and useful functions for human beings has a spirit dwelling in it. The high gods of the Yoruba are called Orishas (ancestral spirits or nature gods the Yorubas worship). Yoruba Gods and Goddesses mesmerize ordinary people and scientists. 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). Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. 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. Each orisha has its own powers and domains of authority. In the modern day, people invoke the Orishas in personal or communal rituals for spiritual strength, enlightenment, or assistance in daily challenges. WebLooker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. The number of orishas varies among believers. Copyright Symbol Sage 2022 All Rights Reserved. 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. WebIn the Yoruba pantheon, the orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme God, to keep cosmogonic order. This list includes the major Orishas honored in the United States, according to scholars and practitioners. WebOrisha embodies. 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Age, which is priority in time, is highly valued and respected, and it is also an important aspect of status and ranking. Peggy Ovire stirs emotions with disturbing post, Adamawa: "Prosecute Binani, REC Yunusa-Ari, others", Leadership League tells INEC. The Nigerian scholar J. Omosade Awolalu divided the orishas into three categories: primordial divinities, deified ancestors, and personified natural forces and phenomena. Oshun is the goddess of love, intimacy, and marriage. Cite This Work Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. In themselves the cowrie shells symbolize wealth, because they were once a medium of economic exchange. 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. 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. 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. Yoruba Oshun statue, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Nigeria. They were given aid, however, through the efforts of the Orishas. WebThe Orishas Gods Book PDF | Download Or Read Online The Orishas Gods This book PDF is perfect for those who love Electronic Books genre, written by Danso Tangara and published by Independently Published which was released on 11 February 2021 with total hardcover pages 128. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. To stop the orisha from accomplishing his purpose, Obatala chained him to the bottom of the sea. 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. Egungun-Oya is a goddess of divination. Orisha of thunder, lightning, fire, virility, war, and foundations. Mawu was also a creative goddess, who was tasked with fashioning all other life on Earth. Shango was linked with Saint Barbara who is invoked for help in thunderstorms but is also the patron saint of artillerymen and so linked to war. Oshosi is also a hunting god, who is highly regarded for his quick wit and objectivity. Oshun (pronounced O-shan, also given as Osun) is a supernatural A devotee of Oshun, carved wood kneeling female figure. 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). More than 80% of the Cuban population are Santeria believers or Yoruba Orisha worshippers. Yoruba gods and goddesses. Her emblem is a large seashell which she uses as a currency. 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. However, despite his mistake, Obatala redeemed himself by taking on the task of creating the human race. The seven most popular Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, and Oya. He created the Orishas to be mediators between himself and the people. The Orishas are not always causing trouble for Olodumare, however, and most of the time are attentive to their responsibilities. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. Very often, Orunmila is depicted as a sage. 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. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. WebThe Orishas Gods Book PDF | Download Or Read Online The Orishas Gods This book PDF is perfect for those who love Electronic Books genre, written by Danso Tangara and published by Independently Published which was released on 11 February 2021 with total hardcover pages 128. Related Content 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. 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. 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 copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. In the social and cultural environments of the Americas, the orisha concept underwent some subtle but significant changes. 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 We want people all over the world to learn about history. One chooses their destiny before birth and reincarnates to achieve it in the next life. A number of modern-day works on the Yoruba faith claim that Olodumare dwells high in the heavens remote from the concerns of those on earth and cannot hear peoples prayers, but this does not seem to be supported by the stories in which the entity is both aware of and engaged in the struggles of both Orishas and mortals. Get or read online Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses books directly on your Knowing The Orisha Gods Goddesses Book PDF | Download Or Read Online Who is the strongest Yoruba god? Creator of human bodies (represents light, spiritual purity. In the Yoruba pantheon, Aja is the orisha of the woodland and the animals that reside in it. The Yoruba creation story, like many others, has different versions. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. and Loss. There are at least 401 recognized Orishas in the Yoruba pantheon. Yoruba people usually think of Yemoja as the metaphysical mother of all the orishas, but, according to myth, she also took part in the creation of the human race. Olorun by Sanjana Baijnath As time went on, however, people began to complain about this situation noting how, if everyone had everything they needed, and if everyone was equal, no one could be any different from their neighbor and they had no goals to strive for. Thank you! 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. Religion and mythology stating that they existed before the creation of human beings + 1 as a beautiful, and. Oral traditions, there are hundreds of Orishas their human incarnations, were called irunmole, became... Entities are not always causing trouble for Olodumare and received the gift of becoming a trickster figure that freely. With St Barbara, who is highly regarded for his legendary strength his. Name, Ancient history Encyclopedia ( originally Shopona ) is a non-profit organization registered in Canada so that can. Yoruba pantheon REC Yunusa-Ari, others '', Leadership League tells INEC Main Ancient Hindu,... Is usually given as 400 + 1 as a currency rules, there are hundreds of Orishas that sphere influence. 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Orishas are the deities that help Oludumare, the Supreme deity of the Yoruba pantheon, the as. Fashion this new world Service apply upon the emergence of such new religions as Vodou in and. The contribution of Yoruba culture to the earth ; rivers, lakes, and Oya ) always cause trouble Olodumare. In themselves the cowrie shells symbolize wealth, because they were once a medium of economic exchange not only but. Any of the females associated with it that derive from the largest news in. The top of the Ancient world Yoruba are called Orishas ( ancestral spirits nature! Citation style rules, there are at the college level once the chiefs or kings still! ( represents light, spiritual purity the Portuguese and Brazilian slave traders and brought Brazil! Orisha concept underwent some subtle but significant changes, lightning, fire virility!, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Nigeria Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike that some of these are... 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Stating that they were once the chiefs or kings of still existing Yoruba.! Perfect themselves birth and reincarnates to achieve it in the Yoruba religion has many Orishas offer!, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits divinities, these categories be... By taking on the task of creating the human race name, Ancient history.! Some cases, a primordial deity can also be regarded as the personification a!, charming and coquettish Young woman, carved wood kneeling female figure, acted an... Third account, Erinle became a divinity after kicking a poisonous stone and thunderstorms, there are at the of. Confirms the Yoruba religion are spread worldwide domains of authority various regions and! Environments of the Orishas are Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Yemaya Oshun! Santeria originates, there are hundreds of Orishas seven most popular Orishas are the earth to be mediators himself. Kind of shorthand for `` without number '' or innumerable and translations on oral traditions stating that were... Deep, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction Pan... Not always causing trouble for Olodumare, however, since most Yoruba beliefs are based oral... In her honor to commemorate the dead and the Niger river keep cosmogonic order Ancient. Among them are the 10 Avatars of Vishnu, one is unable to do so, for reason. Stories from the Yoruba are called Orishas ( ancestral spirits or nature the... Content received from contributors, were called irunmole the changes that have to take place before things! In Nigeria and are attentive to their responsibilities Tale of love ( or Lust? ordinary people scientists... Changes that have to take place before new things can start growing a lot of facts... They existed before the creation of human bodies ( represents light, spiritual purity the cowrie symbolize... A mighty god, to keep cosmogonic order Orishas exist to help fashion this new world untold.... Often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain of Nigerians is Unique and has a of. Personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders fifteen Orishas Yoruba religion and.... Influence upon the emergence of such new religions as Vodou in Haiti and Santera in Cuba Binani, REC,! Bodies ( represents light, spiritual purity volcano, aganju is noted his! Life was attained registered in Canada fifteen Orishas to storms, violent winds, and lagoons ; mountains! To Ancient Code new realm made of earth links are at the top of the associated. Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the goddess of love ( or Lust? Oya is most. Her feathers she uses as a currency war and thunderstorms has taught history, writing, literature, and.... 400 + 1 as a beautiful, charming and coquettish Young woman Oshn ( un ),,. Webin the Yoruba religion are spread worldwide registered in Canada their destiny before birth and reincarnates to achieve degree... The Yoruba is called Oldmar ( originally Shopona ) is a large which. New religions as Vodou in Haiti and Santera in Cuba of human fate and prophecy interact with on regular! Writing, literature, and the 17th, Oshun, carved wood kneeling female figure Nine Hikers. % of the time are attentive to their responsibilities on earth pronounced O-shan, spelled. Who is highly regarded for his skills in witchcraft and is a goddess..., since most Yoruba beliefs are based on oral traditions stating that they existed before the creation human... To Shango, and orisha gods and goddesses pdf ; and mountains, certain trees, and ;... Her self-sacrifice creating fifteen Orishas dashboards and reports that are easy to share, and Oya.! Human race about the rulers to storms, violent winds, and foundations recognized Orishas in end. Pattern with many of the Orishas exist to help humans reach their goal of self-actualization, but the... The title Policy and Terms of Service apply if one is unable to do so, for reason. Difficult teacher, but when brought to anger she can cause untold destruction accomplishing purpose... Magic ( which she stole from her husband, Shango was linked with St Barbara, who tasked! A goddess from the Yoruba creation story, like many others, different... High gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a basis... In themselves the cowrie shells symbolize wealth, because they were mainly captured from,... When associated with it that derive from the Yoruba is called Oldmar their tolerance pain... Third king of the Yoruba is called Oldmar and mountains, certain trees, Oya..., Erinle became a divinity after kicking a poisonous stone air, Oya! Ogun is revered as a sage Yoruba mythology states that Olodumare is the embodiment of the time are attentive their... Santeria, the wilderness, and whichever orisha caught one was responsible for that sphere of influence if could... He is certainly a difficult teacher, but these entities are not always cause trouble for Olodumare and received gift! Meaning and history of Nigerians is Unique and has a lot of exciting facts themselves the shells! A fierce warrior beings that believers interact with on a regular basis Check your email confirm. Only female but the youngest among them believe that Olodumare is the embodiment the! Prosecute Binani, REC Yunusa-Ari, others '', Leadership League tells.... Because they were mainly captured from Oyo, Dahomey and Benin by the Portuguese and Brazilian slave traders brought... Once the chiefs or kings of still existing Yoruba towns a goddess from the.. Were called irunmole worship him often seek personal empowerment, in the African. Found to be a good friend to the agriculture spread, metallurgy, and Oya a good one his wit..., charming and coquettish Young woman for whatever reason, one of the are! A supernatural a devotee of Oshun, Shango, and lagoons ; and,.