And also, everyone who visited Obatala should pay tributes to Eshu when leaving. She hid among rams. We also have lots of syncretism involved which contributed to the spread of their worship inside Christian beliefs too. 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. He saw plants capable of healing different kinds of pain, hemorrhages, fever, and much more. Because the right and left eyes of Horus were associated, respectively, with the sun and the moon, the loss and restoration of Horuss left eye gave a mythical explanation for the phases of the moon. Anubis was concerned with funerary practices and the care of the dead. In ancient Greek religion, she was known . gain a better understanding of them and their ways. Orisha Oshumare is the Orisha related to the rainbow and also to beauty and riches. So she challenged him by saying she wouldnt use a knife anymore and her children and followers would not use them either. She is This way, Ossain was capable of identifying them easily. Instead, it signified the renewal of life both in the next world and through ones descendants on Earth. feet (or rise out our chairs if we are sitting) at the mention of his Bastet or Bast (Ancient Egyptian: bstjt, Coptic: , romanized: Oubaste /uast/, Phoenician: , romanized: 'bst, or , romanized: bst) was a goddess of ancient Egyptian religion, worshipped as early as the Second Dynasty (2890 BCE). One was the gods, another was the spirits of deceased humans, who existed in the divine realm and possessed many of the gods' abilities. Olorun who created the universe, it is Obatal who is the above them. It is understood that the orishas wear many masks in order for people to better understand them. Her element is fire and she wears red clothes. Obatala descended from the sky and flipped the seashell on the water. Ancient Code is a website founded in 2012 that covers articles and scientific discoveries that help understand humanitys past, present, and future. In the Middle Kingdom (1938c. Now, its said that albino people are highly protected by Obatala. Obatala created trees, animals, and many other things. Orunla It says that he initially had nothing. Orisha Shango is a warrior whos always ready to fight and protect those who need it. observe the orishas at work in the world and in your own lives you will Oshun, who was passing by, found a naked and ashamed Obatala by the river. Oy on Earth for a time. Angered that his sons alcoholism, Olorun sent his other son, Oduduwa, to salvage the mission. This man proposed a challenge to the king to prove he was no lier. To perform it, Obatala was given a shell full of earth, a five-fingered hen, and a pigeon. Ochossi is intuitive and emotional. People would wait for him to heal them. with quick wits, quick temper and is the epitomy of virility. No one wanted to dance with him as usual. Children are the Fish" to reflect the fact that her children are they are about to do. Ossain used to perform them all and during one of them, he entered the forest. In this role, it is not surprising that he has a very close The origins of Isis are obscure. Though he traded the Before rising to national importance in the New Kingdom (c. 15391292 BCE), the god Amon was worshipped locally in the southern city of Thebes. For example, theres a story in which a king sent a man to trial for making gossip and spreading misinformation inside the kingdom. The goddess Hathor was usually depicted as a cow, as a woman with the head of a cow, or as a woman with cows ears. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. They recognise themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. She always holds a mirror to admire her own beauty and to teach her children to love themselves above all. Omulu got happy! There was a time when they conducted a power struggle against Olorun and tried to persuade him to abdicate for sixteen years. She drumming, women, song and eating. motif found in many other mythologies such as the story of Gaia and Uranos in Greek Mythology and Nut and Geb and Egyptian Mythology. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Slavic Svarog, Possibly god of celestial fire and blacksmithing. The Orishas. observing that though she always heads toward her sister Yemay Oya hid below the dead rams and managed to escape Shangos wrath. One day, Shango Oguns brother wanted to have Oya as a wife. Obatal is the kindly father of all the orishas and all Immediately after drinking it, Ochossi loses his memory and from this moment on he started living with Ossain in the depths of the forests. And by nothing, we can understand no knowledge at all, no job, no riches, no place to live. They teased him so much, that he stood up and danced a bit. The battle started and Shango emerged victorious, against all odds. done in either world without his permission. Youd be right. This is going to be a journey. The Orisha are spirits/deities that reflect one aspect of god. 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. Her name, a The rest is spent in the farm with Oko (a farming god). There is also a more removed being known as Olodumare, who created the orishas but later retreated from his creations. Though it was Olorun had two sons, Obatala and Oduduwa, who helped him develop the features of the Earth. Most had a principle association (for example, with the sun or the underworld) and form. Ossain is calm, emotive, and has lots of intuition. He also demanded that these seven backed yams should be planted in front of everyone. When the smoke disappeared, Obatala noticed his skin color also disappeared. All the touched ones became severely sick! This identification with Osiris, however, did not imply resurrection, for even Osiris did not rise from the dead. In the New World, these beings are commonly seen as family: they marry each other, give birth to others, and so forth. Their union gives birth to Aganju (earth, in a way we can walk upon it) and Yemaya (water). Obviously, he decided to have some fun and stole the white clothes of Obatala. It says the Orisha threw a party and Omulu went wearing his traditional straw clothes. On his head was the atef-crown, composed of the white crown of Upper Egypt and two ostrich feathers. He just observed how Obatala used to work, how he used to create humans from clay. He threatened to kill people there until his mother intervened and offered him the crown as a way to make him stop. Now, you. Elegba is always The intention of this site is not to indoctrinate anyone. with Oy and Oshn. He wears light-green and light-blue clothes and he also has the seven colors of the rainbow around him. Eshu by Akili Mansa Richards. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. Ochossi learns it quickly from his brother and becomes a great hunter! She was the one who gave mud to Obatala when he was creating humans. The saint is a mask of the orisha, and it does no work the other way around. He is a warrior orisha In that sense, they work more like Western pantheons like those of the Greeks or Romans. Luckily, Obatala exiled him to the wilderness, where he has lived as an outcast. He can be represented as an old man or as a young one. In this way, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but in the end, is usually found to be a good one. She seduced Eshu, slept with him, and took Obatalas clothes back. The goddess Isis was the mother of the king and was thus the mother of Horus and consort of Osiris. The This dual role was combined with the Egyptian concept of divine kingship: the king at death became Osiris, though the living king was identified with Horus, a god of the sky. way we make our offerings in the manner they are accustomed to, in the Orisha Ogun is the blacksmith, the one who creates weapons for the other Orishas. One thing that is common among all religions derived from the Yoruba one is the presence of spells, divination methods, and rituals. She is able to heal wounds and diseases, as well as cast curses and plagues. From this moment on, whenever Orunmila was asked to help people with divination, he would also ask Ossain to prescribe herbs for healing. Up there, he put the red powder in his tongue and started spitting fire. The two became friends and Aroni shared with Ossain all the secrets related to herbs, plants, and flowers. He knows all the occult powers and rules. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. By symbolically placing these two double axes on the chest, one can summon Shango for protection. He is a patron of sexual diversity, celebrating lesbian, gay and bisexual people. He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. Historically, If (aka Ile-Ife) showed advanced urbanism and is one of the most urbanized centers of ancient Africa. Today, we refer to these areas as Yorubaland. Now, you might say, thats ridiculous. Role. One day, Ogun arrives from a battle and finds Ochossi scared and isolated. As a prize, he took Eshus gourd for him. Olorun had two sons, Obatala and Oduduwa, who helped him develop the features of the Earth. In the Old Kingdom (c. 25752130 BCE), before Osiris rose to prominence as the lord of the underworld, Anubis was considered the principal god of the dead. 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. Orisha Sango wears red clothes and carries two double axes in his hands. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. Each African city-state had its own single, patron deity. This way, offerings to Nana go directly to her. As an Amazon affiliate, links may contain an affiliate code. 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. Were going to focus on a dozen or so. Her number is nine which recalls her title of Yansa or Forever. Smart! (2021, March 4). Ogun gets worried because he feels like Ochossi needs to know how to defend himself. 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. Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. From this argument, a fight started. He is the owner of all Oya wears a red dress and holds a sword in one of her hands. He also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. The association of jackals with death and funerals likely arose because Egyptians would have observed jackals scavenging around cemeteries. People from other religions usually have some prejudice against macumba, stating it is a form of so-called black magic. He is not associated with volcanoes in Yorbland in West Africa, contrary to what is believed in Cuban-style practice of orisa. I wont enter in details about each one of them as this is not the focus of this article. relationship. streams and rivers, embodying love, fertility. Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. One day, Obatala and Eshu argued about who was the oldest Orisha of all. In the end, he finds Ochossi and peacefully brings him back home. axe. Orisha Oshun, also known as Osun, is the Orisha of Rivers and Love. Catherine Beyer is a practicing Wiccan who has taught religion in at Lakeland College in Wisconsin as well as humanities and Western culture at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. He usually has a long snout and long ears that are squared at the tips. Shes usually considered Yemayas sister, but some tales also describe her as Yemayas daughter. One day she simply decided she wanted to learn the art of divination using Bzios (the divination tool I mention at the beginning of this article), but this art could not be taught to her. He is the repository of ash. Ossain started roaming the lands. Eshu stood at a crossroad and stopped everyone on Obatalas behalf. So, today were talking about African Pantheons. He can see into the distant past and the far-flung future, granting him with a profound wisdom. Seth was the god of chaos, violence, deserts, and storms. He talked to Obatala and assigned him the task of creating land. 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. Amon was a god of the air, and the name probably means the Hidden One. He was usually represented as a man wearing a crown with two vertical plumes. I write this because I was already literally attacked on Twitter because of these differences. People who can play Buzios are actually asking the Orishas for answers. Shango returned home. It is said that Ogun had many lovers. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Hes a healer who knows all the herbs and their properties, as well as how to perform spells and incantations. Later, the sprouting grain symbolized the vital strength of Osiris. Yoruba mythology involves the presence of the supreme being and other more minor "gods" or "spirits" known as orishas (which are both male and female). As Elegba opens the roads, it is In this universalized form Osiriss cult spread throughout Egypt, often joining with the cults of local fertility and underworld deities. The number of orishas varies among believers. Everyone got surprised because he was looking handsome. Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? In the end, all those who wish to offer something to Nana must use wooden tools. Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout ancient Egypt. opportunity to meet the orishas face to face during a bemb She made it. In some traditions, she would welcome the setting sun every night; living people hoped to be welcomed into the afterlife in the same way. her children by watching the rivers and streams she rules over and Some examples of his manifestations are Air, Agodo, Afonja, Obomin, and Lub. Corrections? I hope you could get a clearer picture of them and now youre able to familiarise yourself with these forces. After playtime, they would simply return to the sky. He lived with his mother, Yemaya. Amaunet - The Ogdoad Goddess of the North wind, this carried the rain, she was the female form of the originally androgynous God Amun. Wherever he would go, his fame was already there. Santeros (Santeria priests) do not believe that the orishas and the saints are identical. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. He got uncontrollable as usual and when he noticed, the entire empire was burning. It is said he punishes all those who lie and deceive others. He decides to enter the forest and look for his brother. Simply water. The answers are given according to the way the shells fall on the surface. Theres a story explaining how she became so powerful and able to wield weapons and magic. His animal symbols were the ram and the goose. Obatala sentenced him to live there and not get closer to other Orishas or humans again. 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. All metals and weapons belong to Ogun, the blacksmith Orisha. Archaeologists discover 24 new lines at Nazca, DNA Results Show The Elongated Paracas Skulls Are Not Native American, Ancient people knew that the Earth was round 2000 years before Columbus. The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. This land received the name If (large abode). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). She usually holds a mirror in one hand. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Ill start with the male ones, the Orisha Gods as we can call them. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. and profound lakes she is deep and unknowable. the root of all the paths or manifestations, Olokun is the source of Horus was raised to avenge his fathers murder. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In his fully animal form, he has a thin doglike body and a straight tail with a tuft on the end. Orisha Yemaya wears white and blue dresses. Her other name, Iansa or Ians, means mother to 9 children. To start, Yoruba is a name that encompasses a group of people who live in the region of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa. Some say Shango had 3 wives. According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. Aganju by Robert Love Thanks! 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). One day, Obatala was so busy that he asked Eshu to guard his house and prevent people from entering to offer him gifts. One tradition holds that Horus lost his left eye fighting with Seth, but his eye was magically healed by the god Thoth. Anyway, Oshun wanted to learn at all costs, but Obatala always said no to her. Even knives must be made of wood. This is the list of orisha youll find more information below: Orisha Obatala is also known as Oshala, Orishanla, and Oshaluf. He then shouted: Is the king a king even when he wears no clothes?. The man asked the king to plant seven baked yams and promised that, in twelve days, all of them would have flourished. 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. Once, he wanted to enhance his powers in an absurd way. Osiris was also identified with Soker, an ancient Memphite god of the dead. https://www.learnreligions.com/who-are-the-orishas-95922 (accessed March 5, 2023). After the rulers of Thebes rebelled against a dynasty of foreign rulers known as the Hyksos and reestablished native Egyptian rule throughout Egypt, Amon received credit for their victory. According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. It is said that Omulu and Osumare are brothers. She recognises herself in the colors yellow and ARTWORK: Though a specific number can't be placed on the amount of Orishas, there is an exciting notion around it. 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. Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. However, a deal was made. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. (the Sea) she does so on her own circuitous route. After this, she fled to the top of a mountain, but he followed her. She is a fierce warrior who rides to war with the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. He is revered by all the hunting communities and is often employed by the Orishas as a scout, helping them to locate lost items. Oshosi is the hunter and the scout of the orishas and assumes Thanks! Oshun is also considered a Mother Goddess and its very common for her worshipers to be known as children of Oshun. He is often viewed as a solitary figure who lives in the wilderness, practicing the ancient craft of shamanism. His element is water. Hes deeply related to magic, macumba, miraculous happenings, and divination. order to protect the Guerreros initiate and to open and clear their After his death, he was deified as an orisha. Ochossi develops such a passion for hunting and feeding others, that he enters the forest every day. This trend is encouraged by the fact that each Santeria community today remains independent of other communities. Updates? Other times they are birthed as higher beings. Part of this comes from the fact that these stories come from a variety of different African cities, each of which had their own ideas about the nature of the orishas. This was a necessity when slave-owners refused to allow slaves to practice African religion. It started when Orunmila, a powerful Orisha related to prophecies and divination, assigned Ossain with lots of tasks as if he was his slave. Obatala observed how hard Eshu was working and decided to compensate him. from draught by flying up to heaven (turning into a vulture in the Misc/Uncertain of locality The rest of the population follows Catholicism, Protestantism, Spiritism, or no religion at all. Ogn that clears the roads with his machete. Many countries in the Americas feature the Orishas in their religions. Sometimes they are depicted as once-mortal figures, often leaders, who were elevated by Olodumare to divinity. Apart from these religions, its totally common to find witches and Pagans energetically working with these deities too. He is also the creator of rainbows and a rainbow can also be the personification of Oshumare. Orisha Eshu, also known as Esu or Bar is the trickster one and also the most popular Orisha out there. The challenge, however, WAS a lie itself. So happy that he decided to share the realm of the dead with her. Id like to remind you that there are more than 400 Orishas out there and different places may highlight others as the main ones. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. A central feature of the festivals during the late period was the construction of the Osiris garden, a mold in the shape of Osiris, filled with soil. worlds. The festivals took place in the open, so public participation was permitted. He continues going. She never ate lamb after these occasions. From about 2000 BCE, it was believed that every man, not just the deceased kings, became associated with Osiris at death. different colors. Ogun always wears dark blue clothes and may also wear pieces of armor. Many scholars now believe that no such animal ever existed and that the Seth animal is some sort of mythical composite. Ogun created many things that helped mankind to flourish. In isolation he learned humility, becoming Babal-Ay. He is said to live in the forest with his Orisha brothers part of the time. The idea that rebirth in the next life could be gained by following Osiris was maintained through certain cult forms. Omissions? Orisha Omulu, also known as Obalua or Sopona is the healer, but also the one who spreads diseases. Ochossi leaves again and, this time, he decides by himself to live with Ossain. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. As I mentioned above, Orishas are worshiped not only in their cradle but also in many other countries around the world. Once possessed by his spirit, the devotee experiences a frenzied blood-lust. 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. Instead were going to focus on Yoruba religion from west Africa, and the Orishas that populate Yoruba stories. Underneath it, its said he wears black and red colors. The exact number of orishas is not known . His wife, Isis, reassembled his body and resurrected him, allowing them to conceive a son, the god Horus. His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). She took the less ferocious form of a domestic cat in the first millennium BCE. She, and Creation stories are found throughout the world. Oshn rules over the sweet waters of the world, the brooks, He is recognised in 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. "Mother of Nine" in which she rules over the egun or dead. As you the female orishas but retains the title of Iyalode or great queen. She became Oya Ibale, the queen of the dead. The orishas are equated with a variety of Catholic saints. He got a gourd and opened it, spreading a mysterious white smoke over Obatala. Oduduwa by Jianing Hu It is believed that depictions of Isis with the infant Horus influenced Christian imagery of Mary with the infant Jesus. Their religion is mostly made of customs, practices, and beliefs that are orally passed through generations. 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. where one or more of their priests will be mounted (see trance possession). "The Orishas." The number of orishas varies among believers. 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. As a spirit of Chaos and Trickery, he frequently tempts mortals from their moral path. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. According to the form of the myth reported by the Greek author Plutarch, Osiris was slain or drowned by Seth, who tore the corpse into 14 pieces and flung them over Egypt. Deep in his heart, he didnt believe Oshun would be able to get something back from Eshu. process). Obatala noticed Eshu but I was too late. Orisha Obatala always wears white clothes. Humans themselves dont have the power or knowledge to play alone. all riches which she freely gives to her little sister Oshn. Of course, he drinks it! Egypt had one of the largest and most complex pantheons of gods of any civilization in the ancient world. the cemetery. Theres a story that explains how Eshu gained so much knowledge and became so powerful. It says she wanted to become powerful and stronger than men.
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