After some time, the land was firm enough for the Orishas to walk on it. Their union gives birth to Aganju (earth . However, Yemaya couldnt forgive Ochossi for disobeying her and she doesnt accept him back at home. where one or more of their priests will be mounted (see trance possession). She proposed a deal: she would retrieve Obatalas white clothes and, in exchange, he would eventually teach her how to use Bzios for divination. 4 In the light of the foregoing; the present study would attempt to explore these religio- . He is also the creator of rainbows and a rainbow can also be the personification of Oshumare. colors red and black or white and black are his and codify his 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. He has many different stories regarding his deeds and adventures, but Ill briefly write about one of my favorite stories involving him. Beyer, Catherine. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology. Ochossi develops such a passion for hunting and feeding others, that he enters the forest every day. He is the repository of ash. He embodies the power of the sun, essential for the growth. He is recognised in Table of If to Orunmila in exchange for the gift of dance, his He was usually represented as a jackal or as a man with the head of a jackal. He is not associated with volcanoes in Yorbland in West Africa, contrary to what is believed in Cuban-style practice of orisa. Back to Oyo, Oya delivered Shango the red powder. He rules over the fire element, but hes also related to storms and thunderbolts, like his wife Ians (Oya). Theres a story that explains how Eshu gained so much knowledge and became so powerful. People who were watching suggested Eshu could make use of his magical power to beat Obatala. 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The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. way we make our offerings in the manner they are accustomed to, in the You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourseThanks to the following Patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:Mark, Les Aker, Bob Kunz, Mark Austin, William McGraw, Jeffrey Thompson, Ruth Perez, Jason A Saslow, Eric Prestemon, Malcolm Callis, Steve Marshall, Advait Shinde, Rachel Bright, Ian Dundore, Tim Curwick, Ken Penttinen, Dominic Dos Santos, Caleb Weeks, Frantic Gonzalez, Kathrin Janen, Nathan Taylor, Yana Leonor, Andrei Krishkevich, Brian Thomas Gossett, Chris Peters, Kathy \u0026 Tim Philip, Mayumi Maeda, Eric Kitchen, SR Foxley, Tom Trval, Andrea Bareis, Moritz Schmidt, Jessica Wode, Daniel Baulig, Jirat--Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourseTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourseTumblr - http://thecrashcourse.tumblr.com Support Crash Course on Patreon: http://patreon.com/crashcourseCC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. For example, theres a story in which a king sent a man to trial for making gossip and spreading misinformation inside the kingdom. 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. Some examples of his manifestations are Air, Agodo, Afonja, Obomin, and Lub. Santeros (Santeria priests) do not believe that the orishas and the saints are identical. Ochossi is intuitive and emotional. Hes the one who provides food and protection for all people. He is a warrior orisha Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. After playtime, they would simply return to the sky. Orisha Nana wears purple dresses. Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. 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. Wherever he would go, his fame was already there. He refused. Eshu did it. This identification with Osiris, however, did not imply resurrection, for even Osiris did not rise from the dead. His wife, Isis, reassembled his body and resurrected him, allowing them to conceive a son, the god Horus. Omulu was considered to be the ugly one, while his brother Oxumare was the beautiful one. 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. roads. opportunity to meet the orishas face to face during a bemb As such, these stories give multiple origin stories for the orishas. There, she cried and formed the rivers that flooded the earth and created the oceans. Slavic Svarog, Possibly god of celestial fire and blacksmithing. They were about to kill him too! unfolding of our lives. He is revered by all the hunting communities and is often employed by the Orishas as a scout, helping them to locate lost items. He is a man, he sometimes becomes a woman, and sometimes he becomes a snake. Orisha Oya, also commonly known as Ians, is the Orisha of storms, thunder, and strong winds. 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. When they were all amazed by the situation, the man exchanged the baked yams for proper yams. When one sees the quickness with which lightning These Are The 10 Avatars Of Vishnu, One Of The Main Ancient Hindu Deities, 14 Massive Monoliths Of The Ancient World. The 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. He also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. 12. Shango called Eshu, then. Eshu by Akili Mansa Richards. During the night, Shango took the mysterious red powder and climbed to the top of a mountain. From now on, Ill bring the Orisha list with the 12 most important ones. Anut - A warrior Goddess, defender of the Sun God and protector or the king in battle. This is going to be a journey. Forever. Oshn rules over the sweet waters of the world, the brooks, No life existed in this water, though. Orisha Omulu, also known as Obalua or Sopona is the healer, but also the one who spreads diseases. Now, you might say, thats ridiculous. Obatala became albine. For some reason, Oshumare was cursed to live as a shapeshifter. In the Greco-Roman period she was identified with the Greek goddess Aphrodite and her cult spread as far west as Great Britain and as far east as Afghanistan. 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. 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. The idea that rebirth in the next life could be gained by following Osiris was maintained through certain cult forms. He was the only orisha He is said to live in the forest with his Orisha brothers part of the time. 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. She Kokou is a warrior god, renowned for his violence and ferocity. almost always used first for war. As the wife of the god of the underworld, Isis was also one of the main deities concerned with rites for the dead. By about 2400 bce, however, Osiris clearly played a double role: he was both a god of fertility and the embodiment of the dead and resurrected king. Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. Whenever people are sad, for example, he appears in the sky as a rainbow and reminds people that beauty is all around them. "The Orishas." Crash Course is on Patreon! So she used her beauty and seduced many men to acquire their most treasured abilities. Eshu was not willing to give them back, but the beauty of Oshun was capable of driving any man or woman crazy. Their religion is mostly made of customs, practices, and beliefs that are orally passed through generations. According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. In order to do so, Ossain should remove the native plants. Peacocks and vultures are hers and we use Oy on Earth for a time. gold and her number is five. But not a river or an ocean. Identity. Others suggest that Omulu is a son of Nan, who rejected him for his ugliness and disposed of him. Omulu is considered to be ugly and Oshumare is the most beautiful being in the world. It is said she had some children, but two of them symbolize opposite aspects of life. Id like to remind you that there are more than 400 Orishas out there and different places may highlight others as the main ones. In some traditions, she would welcome the setting sun every night; living people hoped to be welcomed into the afterlife in the same way. 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. The saint is a mask of the orisha, and it does no work the other way around. Explore the Osiris shaft, a symbolic tomb of the god Osiris. 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. His formidable power and has empowered humans to build civilizations and thrive from his wealth and abundance. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. This is the source of babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. Today its known as Yorubaland. 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. He stayed at Obatalas for 16 years! The number of orishas varies among believers. Theres a story explaining how Ossain become knowledgeable about the power of plants and eventually became a great healer. After his death, he was deified as an orisha. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. The two became friends and Aroni shared with Ossain all the secrets related to herbs, plants, and flowers. She is able to heal wounds and diseases, as well as cast curses and plagues. Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout ancient Egypt. Thanks! She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas Each region has their own main Orishas and stories may also vary. 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). Yemaya found, healed, and adopted him. It is understood that the orishas wear many masks in order for people to better understand them. Ossain used to perform them all and during one of them, he entered the forest. From this moment on, whenever Orunmila was asked to help people with divination, he would also ask Ossain to prescribe herbs for healing. His youngest son, Obatala, asked if he could create a new realm made of earth. His son Horus successfully fought against Seth, avenging Osiris and becoming the new king of Egypt. Ill start with the male ones, the Orisha Gods as we can call them. over maternity in our lives as she is the Mother of All. One of several deities associated with the sun, the god Re was usually represented with a human body and the head of a hawk. The challenge, however, WAS a lie itself. Priests were trained to work with multiple orishas instead of being exclusively dedicated to a single one. Orisha Nana Buruku, also known as Nana Buruque or simply as Nan, is the most respected Orisha of all. Oya wears a red dress and holds a sword in one of her hands. Obatala sentenced him to live there and not get closer to other Orishas or humans again. Here are a few of the most important deities to know. We also have lots of syncretism involved which contributed to the spread of their worship inside Christian beliefs too. Her other name, Iansa or Ians, means mother to 9 children. Basically, in the beginning, there was only water. He decides to enter the forest and look for his brother. Nothing can be It was a strange red powder. 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. It made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a single orisha in that scenario. His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). These devotees often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain. After trials and errors, he finally managed to create human beings who populated the land and worshiped the Orishas as their creators and natural sources of power. Orisa ojenia: the orisha that made and created life and existence to mankind. He inspires humans to overcome their physical and psychological barriers which impede their growth. All had to be rebuilt again. He didnt need them. Though he traded the his title of Eleri Ipin or "Witness to Destiny in its wife of Ogn. way they have always received them, so that they will recognise our He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. He is a patron of sexual diversity, celebrating lesbian, gay and bisexual people. She also rules Many scholars now believe that no such animal ever existed and that the Seth animal is some sort of mythical composite. 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. One tradition holds that Horus lost his left eye fighting with Seth, but his eye was magically healed by the god Thoth. Ikol means Messenger of the House (of Olodumare). 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). This trend is encouraged by the fact that each Santeria community today remains independent of other communities. She seduced Eshu, slept with him, and took Obatalas clothes back. On his head was the atef-crown, composed of the white crown of Upper Egypt and two ostrich feathers. Shes also the wife of Obatala, the Creator. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Erinle by Mod Nomad T. From this argument, a fight started. In isolation he learned humility, becoming Babal-Ay. In this role, it is not surprising that he has a very close Anubis. 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. Ogun created many things that helped mankind to flourish. Although she controls storms, her main element is fire. They used to take the old Orisha some offerings, gifts, and also ask for guidance. Orisana : the great orisha OBA ba. It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. He calmed down and Oya went back home. Osiris played a double role: he was both a god of fertility and the embodiment of the dead and resurrected king. Orisha Ossain is the Orisha who rules over the forests. 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. over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. 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. The plantation was a success! Osiris was also identified with Soker, an ancient Memphite god of the dead. Everyone got surprised because he was looking handsome. He has a warrior side Egyptian God. She asked what had happened and he told her how Eshu had tricked him. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. When the smoke disappeared, Obatala noticed his skin color also disappeared. 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. Her number is nine which recalls her title of Yansa or But they cant figure out what animal hes supposed to be. As Elegba opens the roads, it is It is said he was the emperor of Oyo, today Nigeria. Chinese Yu-huang Shang Ti, the Jade Emperor. To acknowledge the One day, Olorun, the supreme creator, thought about creating firm land. Anubis was concerned with funerary practices and the care of the dead. Olorun had two sons, Obatala and Oduduwa, who helped him develop the features of the Earth. "Mother of Nine" in which she rules over the egun or dead. She can bring destruction and also prepare the soil for a new beginning. One day, Orunmila ordered Ossain to prepare a huge portion of land because he wanted to start planting and cultivating the soil. As an Amazon affiliate, links may contain an affiliate code. It says she wanted to become powerful and stronger than men. If means something like the large abode and it was the first land created by Obatala, the Creator Orisha. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Alaafin was the head of one of the largest Yoruba states. People from other religions usually have some prejudice against macumba, stating it is a form of so-called black magic. Ptahs original association seems to have been with craftsmen and builders. white which is often accented with red, purple and other colors to The battle started and Shango emerged victorious, against all odds. 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. In the Ptolemaic period she came to be associated with the Greek goddess Artemis, the divine hunter and goddess of the moon. And then Ill follow with the female ones, the Orisha Goddesses. Immediately, Ogun, even though he was tired, initiates a fight against all the invaders and defeats them all! Does this discovery prove ancient Egyptians traveled to the Americas 3000 years ago? Suddenly, one of the Orishas stumbled upon him and he fell on the floor, exposing his wooden leg. He did so and the king offered him lots of riches. He was also the embodiment of the divine kingship, and in some eras the reigning king was considered to be a manifestation of Horus. Orisha Oshun wears golden yellow dresses. She tells her son to avoid going to the forest, but he doesnt listen to her. and female paths. Simply water. Aganj - orisha that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. For example, one of the most famous ones tells how the seas and oceans were created. (2021, March 4). Hathor embodied motherhood and fertility, and it was believed that she protected women in childbirth. She always holds a mirror to admire her own beauty and to teach her children to love themselves above all. She hid among rams. done in either world without his permission. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. They may not participate in all the customs, but they do know and praise these Gods too. After a long travel, he went back to the forests, where he lives until today. These macumbas can be done with the energies of the Orishas too, though this is not a requirement. Underneath it, its said he wears black and red colors. In this way, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but in the end, is usually found to be a good one. The others were dancing and drinking a lot. Oshumare met Eshu, the trickster Orisha. And also, everyone who visited Obatala should pay tributes to Eshu when leaving. Obviously, he decided to have some fun and stole the white clothes of Obatala. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. Eshu stood at a crossroad and stopped everyone on Obatalas behalf. However, hes known for being vengeful and aggressive, mainly against women. from draught by flying up to heaven (turning into a vulture in the witnessed the temper of Shang in action. His element is the earth. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. the female orishas but retains the title of Iyalode or great queen. They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. Everything consists of songs, stories, and practices. his priests unfold the secrets of the universe and the secrets of the In a sense, all offerings and rituals were made using these metals, so all of them needed Oguns permission to be carried on. Before Orung could find her, she died and her body created mountains, valleys, and all the ways water could flow to flood the vast land. 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. She is the youngest of So we can say West Africa, specifically Nigeria, Benin, and Togo form the place where Yoruba is located. This land received the name If (large abode). Ochossi and Ogun are brothers. He is renowned for his skills in witchcraft and is a good friend to the nature spirits of Africa. People would wait for him to heal them. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. In addition, the Ifa Oracle also applies the same underlying principle in conceiving of the Orisha Deities not as actual Physical Gods, but as mere expressions of the Cosmic forces of Nature in the Moral and Physical planes of the Universe like Thought, Creation, Karma, Justice, Will, and Fertility in the same way as the Deities of Ancient Kemet . the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. The Orishas. Nut, in Egyptian religion she is a Goddess of the sky, frequently portrayed alongside the African God of the earth, Geb. Both continued fighting and Obatala eventually won it. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. In Africa, however, there was no such familiarity between orishas, in part because their followers were not strongly connected. propitiated and always called first before any other orisha as he opens Orisha Shango is a warrior whos always ready to fight and protect those who need it. Rather than willfully trying to misguide them, his aim is to enrich their life experience, leading them to a spiritual maturation through their transgressions. Oy is the ruler of the winds, the whirlwind and the gates of He talked to Obatala and assigned him the task of creating land. 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. themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Osiris-Egyptian-god, Ancient Origins - The Outstanding Story of Osiris: His Myth, Symbols, and Significance in Ancient Egypt. Over the course of Egyptian history hundreds of gods and goddesses were worshipped. Osiris was not only ruler of the dead but also the power that granted all life from the underworld, from sprouting vegetation to the annual flood of the Nile River. Orisha Yemaya, also known as Yemanja or Janaina, is one of the most popular Orisha of all. Though it was He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. All life started in the sea, the amneotic fluid inside the During the 123 years when the Polish state was absent from the map of Europe, religion played an important role in the preservation of Polish identity both among Poles at home and the many who emigrated, by choice or otherwise. Seths appearance poses a problem for Egyptologists. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of https://www.britannica.com/list/11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses, largest and most complex pantheons of gods. they rule over. It is said that Ogun had many lovers. Orisha Ochosi, also known as Oxossi or Od, is the hunter. It's just spreading historical, mythological and magical information. Yes, they are You pay nothing extra for it and you help to keep the website alive! The rest is spent in the farm with Oko (a farming god). 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. She protects women, children, and fishermen. As the god of wisdom, Thoth was said to possess knowledge of magic and secrets unavailable to the other gods. Obatal is also the only orisha that has both male It says the Orisha threw a party and Omulu went wearing his traditional straw clothes. To get Oya, Shango entered a battle against Ogun. Hes a healer who rules over the forests. she is the queen of witches carrying within her deep and dark secrets.