Each African city-state had its own single, patron deity. Olodumare, in response, created a great drought that none of the orishas could reverse. Olodumare is the source of ashe, which all living things must have in order to survive and succeed, including the orishas. Some describe the orishas as being manifestations or aspects of Olodumare. Ochún(identified with the Virgin Mary and St. Philomena). The first book to explore these ancient African stories in English, Teachings of the Santería Gods recounts more than 100 of these sacred parables, including many stories reassembled from the oral tradition of the African diaspora. As such, the orishas came to be regarded as roughly equals as cultures mixed. Difference between Yoruba òrìṣà worship and what is practiced among Afro-Hispanics It may have to do with Francis's common depiction of holding rosary beads, which resembles Orunla's divination chain. Olorun is the owner of Heaven, known as Orun. Many legendary characters have more than one name. Orisha Shrines – photos of Santeria style shrines for many Orishas. 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. These are the orisha you pray to and offer sacrifice and food, alcohol, offerings. She is also often understood to be the older sister of Oshun, who oversees the rivers. They believe in the white god and saints as well. He is forced to use a twisted tree branch as a crutch, which is a common symbol for him. He is the one who communicates most directly with the Orichas, teaching them what humans need to know to lead healthful, moral, respectful lives on Earth. The table of Ifa, the most complex of divination methods used by trained Santeria priests represents him. Eleguá(identified with St. Michael, St. Anthony of Padua, or the Holy Child of Atocha); 2. The number of orishas varies among believers. Olodumare relented and returned the water to the world, and the peacock transformed into a vulture. While other orishas have different "paths," or aspects to them, Orunla has only one. Sacrifice: Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid for the sins of mankind. Ogún – … She is particularly associated with feminine beauty, as well as relationships between people in general. The Roman Catholic element in Santeria is most obvious in the way Orishas are associated with Catholic Saints such as: Saint Barbara [Shangó], who … . Gods are often known by several names. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. The Orishas: Orunla, Osain, Oshun, Oya, and Yemaya, The Orishas: Aganyu, Babalu-Aye, Chango, and Eleggua, Ebbos in Santeria - Sacrifices and Offerings, An Introduction to the Basic Beliefs of the Vodou (Voodoo) Religion, Satanic Figures Across Multiple Religions, M.A., History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. . Thus Orunla has the knowledge of the ultimate destiny of each soul, which is an important facet of Santeria practice. Instead, he is consulted through various divination methods. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. Obatalá, the goddess of creation and peace, dresses in white and associated with the Virgen de la Merced (the Virgin of Mercy). The Lukumi Pantheon – an article by Willie Ramos with a list of Orishas worshiped by the Lukumi/Santeria and associated sects. Our Lady of Charity is also the patron saint of Cuba, where Santeria originates. Updated March 07, 2017 The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. The number of orishas varies among believers. According to Lefever (1996, cited by Burgman, C.), there were originally hundreds of gods, however nowadays only 16 are known, each of which is associated with a Catholic figure: Agayú and Saint Christopher; Babalú Ayé and Saint Lazarus, Eleguá and Saint Anthony of Padua; Ibeji and Saint Damian; Inhle and Saint Raphael Sometimes they are depicted as once-mortal figures, often leaders, who were elevated by Olodumare to divinity. The Magical Buffet, October 2010 “Two words sum up Teachings of the Santeria Gods: Spirit of the Odu. The orishas are equated with a variety of Catholic saints. Here, we will di… To move contrary to it creates discord, so believers look for insight as to their destiny and what they might currently be doing that runs contrary to that. Her colors are white and blue. Olorun: These religions have one supreme "god" Olorun, the source of "ashe", the spiritual … She is associated with Our Lady of Candlemas, St. Teresa and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. the Virgin Mary, and Jesus of Nazareth); 3. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. Yemayá(also identified with the Virgin Mary); 4. . Teachings Of The Santeria Gods ( 0 reviews ) Drawing from diloggun, or the sacred divination of Santeria, Teachings of the Santeria Gods taps into the rich stories of Yoruba, African culture to provide parables for living for those in all paths of life. They worship Chango, Obatala or Oshun as they kneel in church. She is a rather tempestuous, commanding orisha, responsible for windstorms and electrocution. The complete alphabetical list of Yoruba Gods and Goddess names. The drum is the music of the African gods. The purpose of these stories today is to teach lessons rather than relate some literal truth. For the full alphabetical list of alternative names, check out Godchecker's list of Caribbean deity names. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Oya rules the dead and is involved with the ancestors, cemeteries, and the wind. The more love and respect given to all the gods, the greater their protection. 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. Humans and orishas, however, provide ashe to each other through a variety of rituals. The Orishas are Olodumare’s eldest children and have been imbued with a portion of Her aché. The word "santería", often used by colonial Europeans to describe the religion of Africans whose origins are Yoruba (present-day Nigeriaand its surrounding environments), can be loosely translated from Spanish as "way of the saints". In one tale, the orishas decided that they no longer needed Olodumare. A priest could only be dedicated to that single orisha of the city, and that orisha was honored above all others. Followers of Santeria make animal sacrifices to their gods. If you include nicknames, official titles and honorifics, some gods have hundreds of names! The Yoruba people are based in Nigeria, Benin and Togo. In Africa, however, there was no such familiarity between orishas, in part because their followers were not strongly connected. Not wanting to completely abandon their religious beliefs, the slaves associated their gods and goddesses with Christian saints, thereby masking their beliefs from their masters. ", The Magical Buffet, October 2010 “Two words sum up Teachings of the Santeria Gods: Spirit of the Odu. The first book to explore the sacred myths of Santería • Includes more than 100 myths, stories, and histories about the odu and the orishas • Reassembles the oral fragments from the African diaspora into coherent stories • Demonstrates that the African peoples, specifically the Yoruba, were deeply spiritual At the core of the diloggún--the sacred divination system of S In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being. Most Òrìṣà are said to have previously existed in the spirit world (òrún) as Irumole, and then become incarnated as human beings here on Earth. The number of orishas varies among believers. 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. Other Orishas succumbed to the same fate: Changó – Saint Barbara. Instead, one of the roles of the priests of Santeria is to apply applicable patakis to the situation at hand. Not surprisingly, she wears blue and white, and is associated with the Virgen de Regla. Contrary to many mythologies showing nature gods and wild and untamed, Osain is a distinctly rational figure. A pipe might also represent him. Changó(identified with St. Barbara and St. Jerome); 5. This trend is encouraged by the fact that each Santeria community today remains independent of other communities. They are called orisha. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. This helped the religion to survive. Yemayá – Our Lady of Regla. It is a syncretic religion that comprises elements of both Yoruba (West African) tradition and Roman Catholicism. For example, it is much more common for a practitioner of Santeria to call Babalú Ayé by the name Saint Lazarus. In the table below is a list of the Greek Gods and Heroes and their Roman equivalents: Greek Name Roman Name Role Zeus Jupiter King of the Gods Hera Juno Goddess of […] In the New World, these beings are commonly seen as family: they marry each other, give birth to others, and so forth. The saint is a mask of the orisha, and it does no work the other way around. 1st Corinthians 10:20 “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” After reading this, go read these: Santeria: A mix of African Voodoo and Catholicism and Santeria: A mix of … His colors are green, red, white and yellow. During the years of slave trading, many West African slaves were sent to Cuba and Haiti. Orisha-worshiping religions are religions of practice rather than belief. They have been tasked with maintaining this Earth, watching over the affairs of humanity and each has dominion over a portion of nature. In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being. A water deity is a deity in mythology associated with water or various bodies of water. Just as the saints serve as emissaries to the creator god in the Catholic religion, so Santería has a creator god and a huge number of lesser deities, or saints, known as orishas. Water deities are common in mythology and were usually more important among civilizations in which the sea or ocean, or a great river was more important. The orishas rule over every aspect of nature and human endeavor. "Loaded with stories that provide entertainment and unique perspectives, Teachings of the Santeria Gods is an excellent book for those looking to learn about Santeria or African folklore. She is also a warrior, sometimes depicted as putting on pants or even a beard to go to war, particularly at Chango's side. This was a necessity when slave-owners refused to allow slaves to practice African religion. It is understood that the orishas wear many masks in order for people to better understand them. In the New World, Africans from many city-states were thrown together into common slavery. . He also looks out for the home. Another important focus of worship of water deities were springs or holy wells. Elegguá – Saint Anthony or the Holy Infant of Atocha. Olodumare alone is self-sustaining, not needing ashe to be provided by another source. The demon-gods of Vodun, the religion of the Yoruba The Vodun religion has numerous names: Voodoo, Santeria, Kongo, Macumba, Umbanda, Quimbanda, Candomble, Palo, etc. Iku is the spirit of death. She is also an orisha of mystery, reflected in the depths of her waters. Yemaya is the orisha of lakes and seas and the patron of women and of motherhood. Working toward one's destiny is to promote harmony. Yemaya is maternal, dignified and nurturing, the spiritual mother of all. Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. There is no expectation that each community would function exactly alike or understand the orishas in exactly the same way. As such, these stories give multiple origin stories for the orishas. The Orishas: Aganyu, Babalu-Aye, Chango, and Eleggua, The God of Wealth and Other Deities of Prosperity and Money, Key Nature Goddesses From Around the World, Satanic Infernal Names of Biblical and Hebraic Origin, The Five Element Symbols of Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Spirit, Faravahar, the Winged Symbol of Zoroastrianism, Geometric Shapes and Their Symbolic Meanings, M.A., History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Worshipers also honor the Orishas, the demigods or saintly manifestations of Oludumare, and their deceased ancestors. Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Ifá is the patron of impossible things and the god of fertility and palm trees. A variety of deities (called orishas or orichas) are worshipped by Santeros. Ancestor worship: Christians worship God alone. Her color is maroon. She is also associated with rivers and other sources of fresh water. The primary ones are: 1. He was the first owner of the Table of Ifá. Oshun is the seductive orisha of love and marriage and fertility, and she rules the genitals and the lower abdomen. Orishas (Deities) Worshiped in Yorubaland – a list compiled for the Old Naija blog of deities worshiped in Nigeria and surrounding areas. Orunla was present at the creation of humanity and the forging of souls. The slaves smile and lie. These gods of Santeria or orisha are assigned to different people. The best source of ashe is in sacrificial blood, which is why animal sacrifice plays such a prominent role in Santeria. Oshún – Our Lady of Charity of Cobre. rounding out this partial list is Bacoso, the king and founder of … In that sense, they work more like Western pantheons like those of the Greeks or Romans. Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. He is most often associated with Pope St. Sylvester I, but he is also sometimes associated with St. John, St. Ambrose, St Anthony Abad, St. Joseph, and St. Benito. for the guidance of all creation and of humanity in particular, on how to live and be successful on Àiyé (Earth). The Orichas act as intermediaries between human beings and God. Gods of Santeria – Orisha These gods of Santeria have different abilities and powers. They trust Him to care for them. She is a goddess of transitions and change. Elegua, the playful messenger of the gods… It is an Afro-Caribbean religion that emerged out of Spanish colonialization of Cuba. Come and visit us at the Carribean and get to know the Santeria Religion. Followers worship and pray to many lesser gods. We have 33 individual gods listed in the Yoruba pantheon of gods and spirits. He is also the only orisha to not manifest through possession in the New World (although it does sometimes happen in Africa). He is the patron of hunters even though Osain himself has given up the hunt. Others are said to be humans who are recognised as deities upon their de… Their religion dates back to the Stone Age, but was influenced by the spread of … The Seven African Powers refer to the seven Orishas that we call upon in times of need. Some say she is the ultimate ruler of fire but allows Chango to use it. There are many other such deities and lesser spirits also worsh… They take the worshippers' messages to the Orishas. Everything in Santeria is done to the beat of the sacred drums. Fans, seashells, canoes, coral, and the moon all represent her. Orunla is most commonly associated with St. Francis of Assisi, although the reasons are not obvious. Obatalá (identified with Our Lady of Mercy, a.k.a. Santeros (Santeria priests) do not believe that the orishas and the saints are identical. Osain is a nature orisha, ruling over forests and other wild areas as well as herbalism and healing. There is also a more removed being known as Olodumare, who created the orishas but later retreated from his creations. Anna Jedrziewski, New Age Retailer, September 2010 "Loaded with stories that provide entertainment and unique perspectives, Teachings of the Santeria Gods is an excellent book for those looking to learn about Santeria or African folklore." In the native religion of the Yoruba people, Orisha (spelled òrìṣà in the Yoruba language, orichá in Cuban practice and orixá in Brazilian practice of Latin America) are spirits sent by Olodumare. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. She is associated with Our Lady of Regla, the protector of sailors. 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. Santeria Vodun Yoruba ... the transcendent, one, great God who rules and sustains the universe. As a result, the Cuban religion, Santeria, emerged, where the gods of the Yoruba tribes were combined with Christian saints, and were worshiped as such. The patakis, or stories of the orishas, are not standardized and are frequently contradictory. Although formerly having a human appearance (as other orishas have), Osain has lost an arm, leg, ear and eye, with the remaining eye centered in the middle of his head like a Cyclops. When the Orishas grant a request, the drums are played in thanksgiving and in joy. We have tried to collect as many Holy Aliases as possible. Other times they are birthed as higher beings. Priests were trained to work with multiple orishas instead of being exclusively dedicated to a single one. St. Philip and St. Joseph are also sometimes equated with Orunla. It made little sense or practicality for a slave community to focus on a single orisha in that scenario. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas . Goddesses Of Yoruba Mythology. To save the parched world Oshun transformed into a peacock and ascended to Olodumare's realm to beg his forgiveness. Santeria teaches that there is one main god who is not knowable. She is also associated with tuberculosis and intestinal disorders. Often depicted with their images linked together in a chain circling an image of the crucified Jesus, these deities represent all that is sacred and powerful in Santeria. Fire, a lance, a black horsetail, or a copper crown with nine points all represent Oya, who is also associated with copper in general. Orunla, or Orunmila, is the wise orisha of divination and human destiny. Olofi is the third manifestion of God. A peacock feather, fan, mirror, or boat may represent her, and her colors are red, green, yellow, coral, amber, and violet. And like the saints, you can find an orisha for anything that ails you. 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