He is also the owner of all heads and the mind. He just observed how Obatala used to work, how he used to create humans from clay. orisha rules their head, must go to the river and give account of what This man proposed a challenge to the king to prove he was no lier. Beyer, Catherine. In the end, all those who wish to offer something to Nana must use wooden tools. His element is the earth. Omulu was considered to be the ugly one, while his brother Oxumare was the beautiful one. roads. In her path of Okutti While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. At Memphis the holy bull, Apis, was linked with Osiris, becoming Osiris-Apis, which eventually became the name of the Hellenistic god Serapis. Ogun by Eran Fowler And, of course, he got mad. And he spat more fire. Everything consists of songs, stories, and practices. The party was over. Be sure to check my YouTube Channel and follow me on Twitter too! His priests, the babalawos or "Fathers of the All the others laughed at him. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of Luckily, Obatala exiled him to the wilderness, where he has lived as an outcast. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. 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. Using these sacred materials, he created fields, forests, hills, and valleys. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. After this, she fled to the top of a mountain, but he followed her. Aganj - orisha that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. Eshu did it differently. Obatal is also the only orisha that has both male All the touched ones became severely sick! His animal symbols were the ram and the goose. It's just spreading historical, mythological and magical information. over maternity in our lives as she is the Mother of All. 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. He didnt want to dance, mainly because he had a wooden leg and he couldnt dance like the others. A priest could only be dedicated to that single orisha of the city, and that orisha was honored above all others. Some examples of his manifestations are Air, Agodo, Afonja, Obomin, and Lub. order to protect the Guerreros initiate and to open and clear their they are of one heart. He decided to stay alone in a corner, sitting down. 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.) From about 2000 BCE, it was believed that every man, not just the deceased kings, became associated with Osiris at death. One day, Orung waited for his father to be absent and raped Yemaya. Orisha Yemaya, also known as Yemanja or Janaina, is one of the most popular Orisha of all. Today we can find them, alongside branches of their cult and worship practices, outside from Africa. Ogn that clears the roads with his machete. As the goddess of the sky, Nut engulfed the sun at night and brought it back again at the beginning of the day. Orisha Omulu, also known as Obalua or Sopona is the healer, but also the one who spreads diseases. This identification with Osiris, however, did not imply resurrection, for even Osiris did not rise from the dead. Oya hid below the dead rams and managed to escape Shangos wrath. 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. From now on, Ill bring the Orisha list with the 12 most important ones. Besides his apparent ugliness, Omulu also had many skin diseases, including smallpox which contributed to his ugly appearance. Babal-Ay (originally Shopona) is a healing god. 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). Umbanda, Candombl, Islam, Buddhism, and others belong to this group. In the New World, Africans from many city-states were thrown together into common slavery. His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. Orisha Oshumare is the Orisha related to the rainbow and also to beauty and riches. Oya wears a red dress and holds a sword in one of her hands. 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. her children by watching the rivers and streams she rules over and Humans themselves dont have the power or knowledge to play alone. Though a specific number can't be placed on the amount of Orishas, there is an exciting notion around it. Ogn is the god of iron, war and labor. worlds. Sometimes they are depicted as once-mortal figures, often leaders, who were elevated by Olodumare to divinity. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. Identity. He is the owner of all Talisman. The stone was actually a thunderstone known as edum ar. All was lost. The Yoruba people thrived in the region of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa. Ogun, as a blacksmith and Orisha of wars, went well prepared for the fight. He is not associated with volcanoes in Yorbland in West Africa, contrary to what is believed in Cuban-style practice of orisa. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. She made it. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). He also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. 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 . When one sees the quickness with which lightning 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 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. Oshn is knowledge, for wisdom without knowledge is useless, and Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. So, today were talking about African Pantheons. Ogun becomes aware of the situation. Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? To acknowledge the An interesting piece of data that will illustrate how Orishas are present in these religions and also in others through syncretism: in Brazil, around 3.2% of the population follow the so-called other religions. different colors. It says she wanted to become powerful and stronger than men. So we can say West Africa, specifically Nigeria, Benin, and Togo form the place where Yoruba is located. Unlike many gods, she cant be tied to a specific town, and there are no certain mentions of her in the earliest Egyptian literature. 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. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. 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. Erinle is a wilderness god, associated with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry. Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. most often approach to aid us in money matters. Res cult was centered in Heliopolis, now a suburb of Cairo. It is said that Omulu and Osumare are brothers. This way, Ossain was capable of identifying them easily. So these are the 12 most powerful and important Orishas, Gods from Yoruba Mythology and religions derived from this amazing culture. Also observe how the Oya married Shango and lived with him in his palace in Oyo. Learn Religions. Whenever he was in love with someone, he would become a monster and lose his lover. According to the Osiris myth, Anubis embalmed and wrapped the body of the murdered king, becoming the patron god for embalmers. Others suggest that Omulu is a son of Nan, who rejected him for his ugliness and disposed of him. Yes, they are colors red and black or white and black are his and codify his These supernatural entities usually referred to as deities are actually emanations or avatars of the supreme being Olodumare. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. done in either world without his permission. His element is water. 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 Shango's case, he was considered the grandson of the Orisha Oduduwa in Yoruba mythology. Ogun created many things that helped mankind to flourish. Osiris, one of Egypts most important deities, was god of the underworld. They were here long before we came. Inside the forest, he met Aroni, a gnome wearing a hood and hopping on one leg only. Basically, in the beginning, there was only water. humanity. Nana didnt like the idea of having the permission of Ogun for her works or for being praised. She caused strong winds that lifted Omulus clothes, revealing his appearance. babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. Hes also the one whos responsible for work in general. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. His colors are red and white and he recognises himself in the Of course, he drinks it! Suddenly, one of the Orishas stumbled upon him and he fell on the floor, exposing his wooden leg. The number of orishas varies among believers. Does this discovery prove ancient Egyptians traveled to the Americas 3000 years ago? Omulu got happy! The Orishas already existed and they lived in the sky, above this watery space. These gods, the Orisha, were Thoth, Kokou, Mujaji, Ptah, Nyami and Bast . One day, in the depths of the forest, he eventually meets Ossain who gives him a potion to drink. Now, you. "The Orishas." Some describe the orishas as being manifestations or aspects of Olodumare. Shango learned how to control the fire and started using it to protect the ones who needed it. Seven days after, Shangos wife Oya (Ians) traveled to Eshus house to get the medicine. As the people began to reproduce, new lands were required for them to settle. Orisha Sango wears red clothes and carries two double axes in his hands. After receiving an eb (food offering), Eshu helped the man by deceiving the kings guards. There are more than 400 Orishas out there. and female paths. He wore metal armor and he had weapons in his hands. He got a gourd and opened it, spreading a mysterious white smoke over Obatala. Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. He wears light green and blue clothes. path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world But they cant figure out what animal hes supposed to be. The deities, called Orishas in Ifa/Orisha worship, are sometimes referred to as the "hands of God." They are heavenly intercessors in the lives of humans who may be engaged for blessings or . 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. In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being. Ossain became so famous that he was asked to heal a king. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. One day, Shango Oguns brother wanted to have Oya as a wife. shortened version of Yey Omo Eja means "Mother Whose In the New World, these beings are commonly seen as family: they marry each other, give birth to others, and so forth. It is believed that depictions of Isis with the infant Horus influenced Christian imagery of Mary with the infant Jesus. The challenge, however, WAS a lie itself. He is said to live in the forest with his Orisha brothers part of the time. Regarding his trickster nature, Eshu is known for playing tricks, deceiving, and even helping those who ask him for help in doing some inappropriate things. 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. Orisa ojenia: the orisha that made and created life and existence to mankind. You pay nothing extra for it and you help to keep the website alive! roads and doors in this world. The orishas are equated with a variety of Catholic saints. He also taught humans agriculture. As a prize, he took Eshus gourd for him. One tradition holds that Horus lost his left eye fighting with Seth, but his eye was magically healed by the god Thoth. Creation stories are found throughout the world.