And he spat more fire. The person salutes the Orishas and talks to them during the session. In that sense, they work more like Western pantheons like those of the Greeks or Romans. 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. Obatala created trees, animals, and many other things. the human and the divine, as he is child-like messenger between the two anting him with a profound wisdom. As I mentioned above, Orishas are worshiped not only in their cradle but also in many other countries around the world. Thanks for reading! Eshu was not willing to give them back, but the beauty of Oshun was capable of driving any man or woman crazy. The female Orishas, Yemaya, Nan Buruku, and Oshun, are commonly associated with the Divine Feminine and can be considered different aspects of the Triple Goddess. Oy on Earth for a time. He took his clothes off and hang them on a tree. relationship. Slavic Svarog, Possibly god of celestial fire and blacksmithing. He is also the creator of rainbows and a rainbow can also be the personification of Oshumare. Anut - A warrior Goddess, defender of the Sun God and protector or the king in battle. Ossain started roaming the lands. Ogun becomes aware of the situation. Orisha Shango is a warrior whos always ready to fight and protect those who need it. This is the source of One day, Obatala decided to bathe in a river. the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of She tells her son to avoid going to the forest, but he doesnt listen to her. Olorun by Sanjana Baijnath Erinle is a wilderness god, associated with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry. Oshumare met Eshu, the trickster Orisha. Orunmila's relationship with Osayn (the secrets of the plant 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. Shango returned home. 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). 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. These devotees often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain. Scholars have suggested that the Greek word Aiguptosthe source of the name Egyptmay have started as a corruption of Hwt-Ka-Ptah, the name of one of Ptahs shrines. Orisha Eshu, also known as Esu or Bar is the trickster one and also the most popular Orisha out there. Learn Religions. People who were watching suggested Eshu could make use of his magical power to beat Obatala. This helped the religion to survive. He was represented as a mummified king, wearing wrappings that left only the green skin of his hands and face exposed. Many people, including Orisha and humans, used to visit Obatalas house. Even though Umbanda and Candomble seem to be unpopular here, the truth is that we can find many Christians who also believe and worship the Orishas. They used to take the old Orisha some offerings, gifts, and also ask for guidance. Hes followed by dogs. Yemaya found, healed, and adopted him. Ogun always wears dark blue clothes and may also wear pieces of armor. The challenge, however, WAS a lie itself. To acknowledge the 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). humanity. Orunla She is a very interesting Orisha because she metaphorically defied the rules of patriarchy. creator of the world and humanity. At Memphis the holy bull, Apis, was linked with Osiris, becoming Osiris-Apis, which eventually became the name of the Hellenistic god Serapis. Agemo - the chameleon servant of the supreme god Olorun. This way, offerings to Nana go directly to her. Its said there are over 400 different Orishas out there! Olorun agreed and gave Obatala a shell to help fashion this new world. colors red and black or white and black are his and codify his Eshu stood at a crossroad and stopped everyone on Obatalas behalf. Shango noticed she had taken the medicine and he got mad at her. His element is wind. It's just spreading historical, mythological and magical information. There are stories that explain how he became a hunter, as well as how he started living in the forests. Does this discovery prove ancient Egyptians traveled to the Americas 3000 years ago? 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. 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. While he was bathing, Eshu, the trickster, appeared and saw the situation. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. One powerful talisman of Polish Catholicism. that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. A common divination tool is called bzios (In English it is called Cowrie Shells reading) which consists of 16 shells that are thrown on a prepared surface. Ogun by Eran Fowler When Omulu knew that Obatala was going to his house, he fled to the forests and hid there. Babal-Ay (originally Shopona) is a healing god. Hes a healer who rules over the forests. Forever. "The Orishas." Even knives must be made of wood. He is not associated with volcanoes in Yorbland in West Africa, contrary to what is believed in Cuban-style practice of orisa. As an Amazon affiliate, links may contain an affiliate code. Orisha Yemaya wears white and blue dresses. He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. Elegba is always The battle started and Shango emerged victorious, against all odds. Ochossi was saved! At the beginning of Yoruba mythology, the universe was composed of two elements, the ethereal sky above and a watery chaos below. Orisha Oshumare is calm and tranquil. In underworld scenes showing the judgment undergone by the deceased after their deaths, Thoth is depicted as weighing the hearts of the deceased and reporting the verdict to Osiris, the god of the dead. Both are fighters who protect their followers. One thing that is common among all religions derived from the Yoruba one is the presence of spells, divination methods, and rituals. 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. It was a strange red powder. Orisha Obatala always wears white clothes. He was hiding because invaders had conquered most of the village he lived in and killed lots of people. He threw his stone on Ogun and Oguns body went ablaze. It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. He tried to punish her, but she fled. This fight was mainly a physical fight, no magic was involved. Osiris was one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and Madonna. 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. He stayed at Obatalas for 16 years! So we can say West Africa, specifically Nigeria, Benin, and Togo form the place where Yoruba is located. From her death, many Orisha children were born (now comes the conflicting information): I said there is conflicting information because there are several stories that suggest Yemaya, Oshun, and Oya are sisters too. He learned how to impress others with his beauty as a woman and also as a man; he also learned how to scare people as a snake or even as a snake-monster being. Before rising to national importance in the New Kingdom (c. 15391292 BCE), the god Amon was worshipped locally in the southern city of Thebes. Greco-Roman authors connected Osiris with the god Dionysus. Chinese Yu-huang Shang Ti, the Jade Emperor. The truth is that macumba is a collection of rites and spells that may be performed to attract, banish, bind or release energies, spirits, material goods, and whatever the practitioner desires. Hes the one who provides food and protection for all people. the numbers 7 and the colors green and black. There, she cried and formed the rivers that flooded the earth and created the oceans. This dual role was in turn combined with the Egyptian concept of divine kingship: the king at death became Osiris, god of the underworld; and the dead kings son, the living king, was identified with Horus, a god of the sky. gold and her number is five. The purpose of these stories today is to teach lessons rather than relate some literal truth. Aganju by Robert Love From Ogun, she learned how to wield the sword; From Oxaguia, she learned how to wield the shield; From Eshu, she learned how to use the magical power of fire; From Shango, she learned the power of make justice and how to use thunderbols; From Omulu, however, she wasnt able to learn anything as she couldnt seduce him. Creation". other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. The number of orishas varies among believers. The rest of the population follows Catholicism, Protestantism, Spiritism, or no religion at all. Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? observe the orishas at work in the world and in your own lives you will It started when Orunmila, a powerful Orisha related to prophecies and divination, assigned Ossain with lots of tasks as if he was his slave. 2023 All Rights Reserved. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. Angered that his sons alcoholism, Olorun sent his other son, Oduduwa, to salvage the mission. Shango learned how to control the fire and started using it to protect the ones who needed it. They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. However, he refused to perform the task because he identified the plants. Olodumare is the source of ashe, which all living things must have in order to survive and succeed, including the orishas. He recognises Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The saint is a mask of the orisha, and it does no work the other way around. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. From now on, Ill bring the Orisha list with the 12 most important ones. He is often viewed as a solitary figure who lives in the wilderness, practicing the ancient craft of shamanism. makes short work of a tree or a fire rage through an area, one has As you already know, Ogun is a violent warrior. In any form, hes a wise one. She recognises herself in the colors yellow and The main ones are Umbanda and Candomble (Brazil), Santeria (Cuba), and Vodou (Haiti). It made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a single orisha in that scenario. ARTWORK: He represents the power of fortune. He is a man, he sometimes becomes a woman, and sometimes he becomes a snake. Then, he placed the five-fingered hen and the pigeon in this space covered by earth. Now, you. All metals and weapons belong to Ogun, the blacksmith Orisha. He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. Catholic. Her name, a the root of all the paths or manifestations, Olokun is the source of Oshosi is the hunter and the scout of the orishas and assumes In this way, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but in the end, is usually found to be a good one. Orunmila is wisdom and In the end, all those who wish to offer something to Nana must use wooden tools. The characteristics of individual gods could be hard to pin down. All my work here is free. Each region has their own main Orishas and stories may also vary. A priest could only be dedicated to that single orisha of the city, and that orisha was honored above all others. Sometimes they are depicted as once-mortal figures, often leaders, who were elevated by Olodumare to divinity. Osiris, one of Egypt's most important deities, was god of the underworld. She never ate lamb after these occasions. Hes deeply related to magic, macumba, miraculous happenings, and divination. In Africa, however, there was no such familiarity between orishas, in part because their followers were not strongly connected. This trend is encouraged by the fact that each Santeria community today remains independent of other communities. Just like her mother, shes also calm and tranquil. One was the gods, another was the spirits of deceased humans, who existed in the divine realm and possessed many of the gods' abilities. So, today were talking about African Pantheons. While some really wanted to be with him, others were only victims of his desires. After playtime, they would simply return to the sky. Shes also associated with riches, pregnancy, and fertility. Humans and orishas, however, provide ashe to each other through a variety of rituals. His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. Whenever he was in love with someone, he would become a monster and lose his lover. He is envisioned as an extremely wealthy deity, dressed in refined garments, adorned with coral beads and plumage from a hunted game. She caused strong winds that lifted Omulus clothes, revealing his appearance. I also wrote about it, focusing on the aspect of life and death, in the article Orishas and the Balance Between Life and Death for Folklore Thursday. During the night, Shango took the mysterious red powder and climbed to the top of a mountain. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Osiris and Horus were thus father and son. Oshn rules over the sweet waters of the world, the brooks, After this, she fled to the top of a mountain, but he followed her. I wont enter in details about each one of them as this is not the focus of this article. For example, theres a story in which a king sent a man to trial for making gossip and spreading misinformation inside the kingdom. It is said he was the emperor of Oyo, today Nigeria. This name, meaning Foremost of the Westerners, was adopted by Osiris as an epithet. numbers four and six. He stood up using his walking stick and touched each one with it. Over the course of Egyptian history hundreds of gods and goddesses were worshipped. relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. He didnt need them. offerings and come to our aid. Her other name, Iansa or Ians, means mother to 9 children. They were about to kill him too! Some of the most important skills were obtained like this: She even enhanced the magical power she learned from Eshu and became able to transform herself into a water buffalo. He reigned for seven years, constantly waging battle against other nations, bringing prosperity to the Oyo Empire. He ordered all the sorcerers of the empire to produce some kind of magical potion for him, but all of them failed. In this region, the powerful Oyo Empire flourished. White is most appropriate for According to the Osiris myth, Horus was the son of Isis and Osiris, magically conceived after the murder of Osiris by his brother Seth. But not a river or an ocean. To perform it, Obatala was given a shell full of earth, a five-fingered hen, and a pigeon. and female paths. Smart! Beyer, Catherine. from draught by flying up to heaven (turning into a vulture in the She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas Ill start with the male ones, the Orisha Gods as we can call them. roads and doors in this world. In the Ptolemaic period she came to be associated with the Greek goddess Artemis, the divine hunter and goddess of the moon. Shes also the wife of Obatala, the Creator. Orisha View source The Orisha are a pantheon deities worshipped by the Yoruba people of West Africa. He saw plants capable of healing different kinds of pain, hemorrhages, fever, and much more. Oya hid below the dead rams and managed to escape Shangos wrath. When she offered mud, he was finally able to create perfect human beings. Back to Oyo, Oya delivered Shango the red powder. In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being. Santeros (Santeria priests) do not believe that the orishas and the saints are identical. In the end, he finds Ochossi and peacefully brings him back home. The origins of Isis are obscure. They rule He taught his followers the secrets of civilization (fire, smithing, hunting, politics, and war). the role of translator for Obatal with whom he has a very close They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In her path of Okutti path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world This way, Ossain was capable of identifying them easily. Even if he needs to fight Ossain in his realm, he wants his brother back. Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. With time, he felt like this was a curse imposed by his mother, Nan. A central feature was the construction of the Osiris garden.. All the touched ones became severely sick! 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. Since Anubis is the god of the dead, his Greek equivalent would be Hades. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology. babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. As the people began to reproduce, new lands were required for them to settle. They teased him so much, that he stood up and danced a bit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address!
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