All was lost. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout Egypt. The origin of Osiris is obscure; he was a local god of Busiris, in Lower Egypt, and may have been a personification of chthonic (underworld) fertility. Instead, it signified the renewal of life both in the next world and through ones descendants on Earth. When they were all amazed by the situation, the man exchanged the baked yams for proper yams. Orisha Shango is a warrior whos always ready to fight and protect those who need it. This changing nature made Oshumare a versatile one. The next step was the creation of all life. Corrections? We also have lots of syncretism involved which contributed to the spread of their worship inside Christian beliefs too. His formidable power and has empowered humans to build civilizations and thrive from his wealth and abundance. Orisana : the great orisha OBA ba. According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world The earth which was inside the seashell fell on it and covered a small space. Copyright Ancient Code. He recognises his title of Eleri Ipin or "Witness to Destiny in its It says that he initially had nothing. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. He embodies the power of the sun, essential for the growth. Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. Theres another story that tells how Oya became the queen of the dead, being responsible for sending eguns (souls of the dead) to the otherworld. Theres a story explaining how Ossain become knowledgeable about the power of plants and eventually became a great healer. To get Oya, Shango entered a battle against Ogun. The characteristics of individual gods could be hard to pin down. Although she is mostly related to the sea and the salty waters, she is also worshiped by people who live far from the oceans. They rule He tried to punish her, but she fled. Osiris, one of Egypt's most important deities, was god of the underworld. One day, Olorun, the supreme creator, thought about creating firm land. Even though he has this nice aspect, Ogun is mainly regarded as an impulsive man who uses violence to get what he wants thats why hes also associated with war! The origin of Osiris is obscure; he was a local god of Busiris, in Lower Egypt, and may have been a personification of chthonic (underworld) fertility. His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). His animal symbols were the ram and the goose. 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. This way, Ossain was capable of identifying them easily. She is considered to be the mother of everything and she is associated with the seas. The saint is a mask of the orisha, and it does no work the other way around. Interestingly, most of them share things in common in one way or another. On his head was the atef-crown, composed of the white crown of Upper Egypt and two ostrich feathers. As the wife of the god of the underworld, Isis was also one of the main deities concerned with rites for the dead. In a form merged with the sun god Re, he became the most powerful deity in Egypt, a position he retained for most of the New Kingdom. Theres a story stating about how Nana forbade her children and followers from using knives and metals in general during rituals and ceremonies. They may not participate in all the customs, but they do know and praise these Gods too. Now that you have a background, we can go on. Ptah was the head of a triad of gods worshipped at Memphis. According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. The Santeria faith teaches that every individual has a destiny from God, a destiny fulfilled with the aid and energy of the orishas.The basis of the Santeria religion is the nurture of a personal . He was also the embodiment of the divine kingship, and in some eras the reigning king was considered to be a manifestation of Horus. The association of jackals with death and funerals likely arose because Egyptians would have observed jackals scavenging around cemeteries. Ochossi was saved! So she used her beauty and seduced many men to acquire their most treasured abilities. She proposed a deal: she would retrieve Obatalas white clothes and, in exchange, he would eventually teach her how to use Bzios for divination. The 4th-dynasty architect Imhotep was deified after his death as a son of Ptah. Oya is married to Shango, a warrior Orisha who also has fire as an element. ARTWORK: The battle started and Shango emerged victorious, against all odds. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. Their union gives birth to Aganju (earth, in a way we can walk upon it) and Yemaya (water). He is often depicted as an animal or as a human with the head of an animal. This man proposed a challenge to the king to prove he was no lier. the numbers 7 and the colors green and black. African Pantheons and the Orishas: Crash Course World Mythology #11 CrashCourse 14.5M subscribers 1.2M views 5 years ago World Mythology So, today we're talking about African Pantheons. witness to our destinies in the making as well. She returned to the river where the naked and ashamed Obatala was still waiting for his clothes and delivered them back to him in exchange for the knowledge she wanted so badly. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology. She caused strong winds that lifted Omulus clothes, revealing his appearance. she is the queen of witches carrying within her deep and dark secrets. Obatala noticed Eshu but I was too late. with Oy and Oshn. She also holds a buffalo (or horse) tail in the other hand symbolizing her power to tame the forces of nature and send eguns and bad energies away. the human and the divine, as he is child-like messenger between the two Some describe the orishas as being manifestations or aspects of Olodumare. world) and with Oshn, who is his apetev with whom he Shes usually considered Yemayas sister, but some tales also describe her as Yemayas daughter. 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. Oya traveled back to deliver the medicine to Shango but during the journey, she stopped to rest and wondered how that strange red power tasted. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Eshu used to roam free with no destination at all. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Fearing her sons safety, Yemaya seeks advice from a Babalawo (oracles in Yoruba culture are known as Babalawo and Iyalawo the first is for men and the latter for women) and he tells her to stop Ochossi from entering the depths of the forest because Ossain, the Orisha who ruled over the forests, could trap him inside. This fight was mainly a physical fight, no magic was involved. Hes followed by dogs. She tried a bit. Shes also associated with riches, pregnancy, and fertility. Shes a crone who knows all the secret spells and hidden knowledge out there. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/who-are-the-orishas-95922. He wears light-green and light-blue clothes and he also has the seven colors of the rainbow around him. (Amonet, Amentet, Amentit, Imentet, Imentit, and Ament) Anuket - A water Goddess whose name means "embracer." Her waters lapped the sacred island, Seheil. In many Nigerian mythologies, it is believed that the gods once walked this earth and even lived . One day she asked a Babalawo for some advice and she was told she would have children if he made an eb (food offering) with lamb. This land received the name If (large abode). Ogun becomes aware of the situation. Res cult was centered in Heliopolis, now a suburb of Cairo. As an immortal, he was unable to die, so he chose instead to descend into the earths surface, in a place named Ire-Ekiti. Since Anubis is the god of the dead, his Greek equivalent would be Hades. A priest could only be dedicated to that single orisha of the city, and that orisha was honored above all others. roads. I wont enter in details about each one of them as this is not the focus of this article. Rather than willfully trying to misguide them, his aim is to enrich their life experience, leading them to a spiritual maturation through their transgressions. It was a strange red powder. He also demanded that these seven backed yams should be planted in front of everyone. One story suggests that Osumare disliked this changing nature because he couldnt have any stable relationships. In Africa, however, there was no such familiarity between orishas, in part because their followers were not strongly connected. She hid among rams. "The Orishas." His son Horus successfully fought against Seth, avenging Osiris and becoming the new king of Egypt. Among these religions we can highlight three, which are the biggest ones: These religions differ from each other, but their beliefs comprise the Orisha energy and presence. Apart from these religions, its totally common to find witches and Pagans energetically working with these deities too. This name, meaning Foremost of the Westerners, was adopted by Osiris as an epithet. He was represented as a mummified king, wearing wrappings that left only the green skin of his hands and face exposed. Olodumare Nut, in Egyptian religion she is a Goddess of the sky, frequently portrayed alongside the African God of the earth, Geb. The plantation was a success! Santeros (Santeria priests) do not believe that the orishas and the saints are identical. Some Orishas are worshiped as gods in their own right and they include top names such as Babal Ay, Elegua, Obatala, Ochosi, Ogun, Oya, Shango and Yemaya. Many scholars now believe that no such animal ever existed and that the Seth animal is some sort of mythical composite. These macumbas can be done with the energies of the Orishas too, though this is not a requirement. The following is a list of Yoruba deities Olrn - the supreme creator deity Aganju - Orisha of volcanoes, the wilderness and rivers Aja - Orisha of the forest, the animals within it, and herbal healing Ayao - Orisha of air Babalu Aye - Orisha of the Earth and strongly associated with infectious disease (particularly smallpox, leprosy and AIDS) and healing Egungun-oya - Orisha of divination . After some time, the land was firm enough for the Orishas to walk on it. Ill start with the male ones, the Orisha Gods as we can call them. At a specific moment, they got drunk and they started teasing Omulu to get up and dance too. technology and because this technology shares in his nature, it is He is revered by all the hunting communities and is often employed by the Orishas as a scout, helping them to locate lost items. Thanks! However, it was not enough to make him free of problems or curses. He is a man, he sometimes becomes a woman, and sometimes he becomes a snake. In the New World, these beings are commonly seen as family: they marry each other, give birth to others, and so forth. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. He got a job, a house, and everything he wished for. Secrets" must devote themselves entirely to the practice of Orisha Obatala always wears white clothes. Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. 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 Hes also the one whos responsible for work in general. Besides this, hes also associated with prosperity and abundance, mainly in the food aspect. They teased him so much, that he stood up and danced a bit. Many countries in the Americas feature the Orishas in their religions. It made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a single orisha in that scenario. And then Ill follow with the female ones, the Orisha Goddesses. This was a necessity when slave-owners refused to allow slaves to practice African religion. Youd be right. Now, its said that albino people are highly protected by Obatala. Over time she grew in importance, though, eventually becoming the most important goddess in the pantheon. relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. He is the owner of all Lambs are sacred to her. Before we can get to know each Orisha and their energies, we must understand their roots in the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. all riches which she freely gives to her little sister Oshn. When she started to speak, fire came out of her mouth. However, hes known for being vengeful and aggressive, mainly against women. Humans provide ashe through blood or other ritual actions, and the orisha becomes a conduit of ashe from Olodumare to the petitioner to assist in the petitioner's endeavors. He never asked a single question. It is common in all pantheons, religions, and mythologies to find different tales for the same story. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. For example, theres a story in which a king sent a man to trial for making gossip and spreading misinformation inside the kingdom. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He is envisioned as an extremely wealthy deity, dressed in refined garments, adorned with coral beads and plumage from a hunted game. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. Oshosi is the third member of the group known as the Guerreros or Ancient Egyptians celebrated Osiris with festivals that consisted of processions and nocturnal rites at the temple of Abydos. predynastic and dynastic periods in ancient Egypt. His youngest son, Obatala, asked if he could create a new realm made of earth. Ogn that clears the roads with his machete. and profound lakes she is deep and unknowable. 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. Yemaya found, healed, and adopted him. In his fully animal form, he has a thin doglike body and a straight tail with a tuft on the end. After a long travel, he went back to the forests, where he lives until today. Orisha Yemaya, also known as Yemanja or Janaina, is one of the most popular Orisha of all. Ossain became known as a doctor! witnessed the temper of Shang in action. Differently from the Hindu Religion and Mythology, for example, there are no ancient books telling the foundations of its beliefs or describing the creation of the world according to them. From here on, every offering dedicated to Obatala should be delivered at the crossroad to Eshu. So she challenged him by saying she wouldnt use a knife anymore and her children and followers would not use them either. He represents the power of fortune. 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. 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. In this I write this because I was already literally attacked on Twitter because of these differences. However, many of their clients are also Catholic, and they understand that such clients better identify with these beings under the guise of the saintly counterparts. She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas He is a warrior orisha shortened version of Yey Omo Eja means "Mother Whose Obatal is the kindly father of all the orishas and all All the others laughed at him. complex, but no more so than any other living being such as you or I. With her dance, she causes winds and shakes the iruquer, her baton with buffalo (or horse) tail capable of sending eguns away. He also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. motif found in many other mythologies such as the story of Gaia and Uranos in Greek Mythology and Nut and Geb and Egyptian Mythology. She recognises herself in the colors yellow and Anut - A warrior Goddess, defender of the Sun God and protector or the king in battle. done in either world without his permission. And he spat more fire. Osiris was not only the ruler of the dead but also the power that granted all life from the underworld, from vegetation to the annual flood of the Nile River. Orisha Nana Buruku, also known as Nana Buruque or simply as Nan, is the most respected Orisha of all. He knows all the occult powers and rules. Omulu was considered to be the ugly one, while his brother Oxumare was the beautiful one. As such, there is no concern about the literal truth of these tales or the fact that tales my contradict one another. Aganj - orisha that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. Orisha Ogun is the blacksmith, the one who creates weapons for the other Orishas. The others were dancing and drinking a lot. There is also a more removed being known as Olodumare, who created the orishas but later retreated from his creations. By symbolically placing these two double axes on the chest, one can summon Shango for protection. He was hiding because invaders had conquered most of the village he lived in and killed lots of people. He is most often represented by a double headed One tradition holds that Horus lost his left eye fighting with Seth, but his eye was magically healed by the god Thoth. Ogun, as I explained above, is a warrior and he creates weapons. He reigned for seven years, constantly waging battle against other nations, bringing prosperity to the Oyo Empire. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Aganju was the next Orisha to manifest on earth. Each African city-state had its own single, patron deity. though through which he enforces justice in the world. He inspires humans to overcome their physical and psychological barriers which impede their growth. Some say Shango had 3 wives. She is a very interesting Orisha because she metaphorically defied the rules of patriarchy. There are more than 400 Orishas out there. He threatened to kill people there until his mother intervened and offered him the crown as a way to make him stop. The person salutes the Orishas and talks to them during the session. From now on, it was decided that everyone who wanted to make an offering to Obatala should also pay tributes to Eshu. Just like a storm. Ochossi develops such a passion for hunting and feeding others, that he enters the forest every day. heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. Simply water. In the forest. Orunmila is wisdom and The rest of the population follows Catholicism, Protestantism, Spiritism, or no religion at all. almost always used first for war. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. 4 In the light of the foregoing; the present study would attempt to explore these religio- . Osiris played a double role: he was both a god of fertility and the embodiment of the dead and resurrected king. In this role, it is not surprising that he has a very close He ran off with the clothes and left Obatala naked. As Elegba opens the roads, it is She is Oya is her main name. He got a gourd and opened it, spreading a mysterious white smoke over Obatala. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. It is said he punishes all those who lie and deceive others. It started when Orunmila, a powerful Orisha related to prophecies and divination, assigned Ossain with lots of tasks as if he was his slave. above them. (2021, March 4). However, he refused to perform the task because he identified the plants. White is most appropriate for Obatala descended from the sky and flipped the seashell on the water. Umbanda, Candombl, Islam, Buddhism, and others belong to this group. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. Omissions? Immediately after drinking it, Ochossi loses his memory and from this moment on he started living with Ossain in the depths of the forests. Oshun is also considered a Mother Goddess and its very common for her worshipers to be known as children of Oshun. Be sure to check my YouTube Channel and follow me on Twitter too! Orisha Ossain is the Orisha who rules over the forests. When one sees the quickness with which lightning Ogun is revered as a mighty god, called upon by warriors for strength in battle. Shango was the third king of the Oyo Kingdom. In the Ptolemaic period she came to be associated with the Greek goddess Artemis, the divine hunter and goddess of the moon. He was the only orisha Theres a story that explains how Eshu gained so much knowledge and became so powerful. The Alaafin was the head of one of the largest Yoruba states. Underneath it, its said he wears black and red colors. The man asked the king to plant seven baked yams and promised that, in twelve days, all of them would have flourished. 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. As an Amazon affiliate, links may contain an affiliate code. drumming, women, song and eating. Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout ancient Egypt. Along with her sister Nephthys, Isis acted as a divine mourner, and her maternal care was often depicted as extending to the dead in the underworld. She also rules Both are fighters who protect their followers. Even if he needs to fight Ossain in his realm, he wants his brother back. So if you find here something different from what you were taught as a practitioner, simply write me, so I can add a note stating this difference. roads and doors in this world. Instead were going to focus on Yoruba religion from west Africa, and the Orishas that populate Yoruba stories. Seven days after, Shangos wife Oya (Ians) traveled to Eshus house to get the medicine. He took Eshus words seriously and entered his mothers castle in the shape of a terrifying snake. His wife, Isis, reassembled his body and resurrected him, allowing them to conceive a son, the god Horus. It was believed that he sailed across the sky in a boat each day and then made a passage through the underworld each night, during which he would have to defeat the snake god Apopis in order to rise again. Olorun was responsible for having the idea of creating firm land. Identity. themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and She never ate lamb after these occasions. Unlike many gods, she cant be tied to a specific town, and there are no certain mentions of her in the earliest Egyptian literature. He is ocanani with Elegba, meaning He rules over the fire element, but hes also related to storms and thunderbolts, like his wife Ians (Oya). Shes impulsive, aggressive, and cant be controlled. Eshu did it differently. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. Anubis. Sky Woman: The Overlooked Iroquois Influence on America. Egypt had one of the largest and most complex pantheons of gods of any civilization in the ancient world. colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and Though he traded the 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). Omulu is one of Nan Burukes sons. Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. For This is the list of orisha youll find more information below: Orisha Obatala is also known as Oshala, Orishanla, and Oshaluf. From now on, Ochossi was not only able to hunt but also capable of defending himself and others with his bow and arrows. Ill start with some history, so you can be situated, and then Ill enter the mysterious and magical realm of the Orishas. T. So these are the 12 most powerful and important Orishas, Gods from Yoruba Mythology and religions derived from this amazing culture. Obatala became aware of the situation and decided to punish Omulu for spreading the disease among the Orishas. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. It's just spreading historical, mythological and magical information. Aganju and Yemaya have a child called Orung. humanity. When the pilgrims who traveled to this land entered in conflict with the native beasts that lived on it, the Originators, the heroes that rose among the humans were ascended to gods on faith. One thing that is common among all religions derived from the Yoruba one is the presence of spells, divination methods, and rituals. Over the course of Egyptian history hundreds of gods and goddesses were worshipped. Obatala created the world, all the living things, and human beings. In isolation he learned humility, becoming Babal-Ay. observe the orishas at work in the world and in your own lives you will feet (or rise out our chairs if we are sitting) at the mention of his Ogun, as a blacksmith and Orisha of wars, went well prepared for the fight. 1630 bce) the gods festivals consisted of processions and nocturnal rites and were celebrated at the temple of Abydos, where Osiris had assimilated the very ancient god of the dead, Khenty-Imentiu. "Mother of Nine" in which she rules over the egun or dead. Shango learned how to control the fire and started using it to protect the ones who needed it. Ossain became so famous that he was asked to heal a king. Although she controls storms, her main element is fire. offerings and come to our aid. Olorun sent them Ogun, god of crafts, to find a suitable habitat. He has many different stories regarding his deeds and adventures, but Ill briefly write about one of my favorite stories involving him. In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being. Does this discovery prove ancient Egyptians traveled to the Americas 3000 years ago? This is going to be a journey. Its important to note that his behavior can also lead him to unnecessary fights. and others. The two animals started to spread the earth, covering a large area. Isis was one of the last of the ancient Egyptian gods to still be worshipped. She also had an important funerary aspect, being known as the lady of the west. (Tombs were generally built on the west bank of the Nile.) Yes, they are Ochossi leaves again and, this time, he decides by himself to live with Ossain. Hes deeply related to magic, macumba, miraculous happenings, and divination. He calmed down and Oya went back home. He is now viewed as a compassionate and humble deity, curing people of sickness and disease. Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Oduduwa joined with the humans and begat a new bloodline of kings (the Yoruba called him Ooni of Ife, the progenitor of the Yoruba people).
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