How many Yoruba deities are there?
Though both Christianity and Islam have made deep inroads, many forms of traditional religious expression persist and remain very much a part of Yoruba daily life. There are at least 401 recognized Orisha, or gods, in the Yoruba pantheon.16-Feb-2001
What are Yoruba deities?
orisha, also spelled orixa or orisa, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. They are also venerated by the Edo of southeastern Nigeria; the Ewe of Ghana, Benin, and Togo; and the Fon of Benin (who refer to them as voduns).
What are the 7 Orishas?
Women ordinarily do not confer that initiation on men. Another common initiation is the intitiation into the Seven African Powers (Elegua, Obatala, Oggun, Chango, Yemaya, Oshun, and Orunmilla). Devotees from Cuba often replace Orunmilla with Babalu-Aye. The Seven African Powers are consecrated into one eleke.
What is Oya in Yoruba?
Oya is one of the seven primary orisha in the Yoruba religion, which originated in the Old Oyo Empire of Ancient Yorubaland, present-day Nigeria. The name Oya is defined by the action “she tore,” “O-ya” in Yoruba. The River Niger, the thunderbolt, fire, tornadoes, buffalo, and the wind represent this female orisha.
Who is earth goddess in Yoruba?
The Yoruba people believe that the orishas were sent by Olodumare, who is considered the Supreme God, to populate the Earth. Oshun, being one of the original 17 sent to Earth, was the only female deity.
Who is my Yoruba god?
So who exactly is God for Yoruba people? The Yoruba call Him Olódùmarè. The Supreme Deity of the Yoruba, Olodumare lives in the sky. Olodumare is a distant God, and when it comes to everyday prayers, things are often handled by protectors called Orishas.18-Jun-2018
Is Bilquis an orisha?
RELATED: American Gods: What Is Demeter's Connection to Wednesday - & Why Does He Need Her? Instead, Bilquis tries to remind herself of who she really is, which leads to a second god coming to her side. This time it is the Orisha known as Oshun.01-Feb-2021
Who is the strongest orisha?
ṢàngóṢàngó is viewed as the most powerful and feared of the orisha pantheon. He casts a "thunderstone" to earth, which creates thunder and lightning, to anyone who offends him. Worshippers in Yorubaland in Nigeria do not eat cowpea because they believe that the wrath of the god of iron would descend on them.
Does Yoruba religion believe in god?
God is an all-powerful being who is not limited by gender and is the supreme deity among the Yoruba community. It is believed that he lives in the skies. The communication between people and God (Olodumare) is carried out by the intercessors commonly known as the Orishas.20-Jun-2019
Who is the goddess Yemaya?
Often depicted as a queenly mermaid, Yemaya is considered the Ocean Mother Goddess in Santería, an Afro-Caribbean religion practiced around the world. With anchored roots in the Yoruba religion, Yemaya was brought over to the New World by enslaved Africans as early as the 16th century.09-Jul-2019
What is the Yoruba name of Cheetah?
àmò̩té̩kùnTherefore, leopard is ekùn while cheetah is àmò̩té̩kùn. And tiger has no indigenous name in Yorùbá.30-Jan-2020
What orisha is green?
OrishaDomainColorsOlokúnOceanDark blue, red, coral, greenNana BurukúLagoonBlack, mauveOshúnRiverAmber, yellow, coralOrúnmilaDivinationYellow, green18 more rows
Who is Yemaya goddess?
Often depicted as a queenly mermaid, Yemaya is considered the Ocean Mother Goddess in Santería, an Afro-Caribbean religion practiced around the world. With anchored roots in the Yoruba religion, Yemaya was brought over to the New World by enslaved Africans as early as the 16th century.09-Jul-2019
Is Yemaya and Oshun the same?
Yemaya is maternal, dignified and nurturing, the spiritual mother of all. She is also an orisha of mystery, reflected in the depths of her waters. She is also often understood to be the older sister of Oshun, who oversees the rivers. She is also associated with tuberculosis and intestinal disorders.23-Jan-2018
What is Oshun and Yemaya?
Oshun is one of the youngest orishas and Yemaya's younger sister. Legend has it, that Oshun did not always rule the rivers of the world. She was created by the Olodumare because the world he had created was missing love and sweetness.18-Aug-2020
How many Orishas are there in Yoruba?
Yoruba tradition often says that there are 400 + 1 orisha, which is associated with a sacred number. Other sources suggest that the number is "as many as you can think of, plus one more – an innumerable number". Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orisha.
Who is Yemaya married to?
She was married to Aganju and had one son, Orungan, and fifteen Orishas came forth from her. They include Ogun, Olokun, Shopona and Shango. Other stories would say that Yemaya was always there in the beginning and all life came from her, including all of the orishas.
Who is the goddess of mermaids?
Mermaids can be found from every culture and from all continents. There once was a goddess who is believed to be the inspiration to all the mermaid's stories that have been told around the world for thousands and thousands of years. This goddess was Assyrian goddess Atargatis.
Which orisha color is black?
OrishaDomainColorsOgúnIron, warBlack, green, redOshosiHuntingDark blue, amberOsayínHealing, herbsNo preferenceErinléFishing, healingTurquoise, green, coral18 more rows
What orisha wears pink?
She is traditionally identified as the senior wife of Shango (the third king of the Oyo Empire and an Orisha)....Ọba (orisha)ỌbaOther namesỌbá, ỌbàVenerated inYoruba religion, Umbanda, Candomble, Santeria, Haitian Vodou, Folk CatholicismSymbollightning, the sword or machete, the flywhisk, water buffaloColorpink6 more rows
Who are the 7 orishas?
Women ordinarily do not confer that initiation on men. Another common initiation is the intitiation into the Seven African Powers (Elegua, Obatala, Oggun, Chango, Yemaya, Oshun, and Orunmilla). Devotees from Cuba often replace Orunmilla with Babalu-Aye. The Seven African Powers are consecrated into one eleke.
What are Yemaya colors?
She is said to be able to cure infertility in women, and cowrie shells represent her wealth....YemọjaDay2 February 31 December 8 December 7 SeptemberColorBlue and White/Crystal beadsRegionYorubaland, Brazil, CubaEthnic groupYoruba people,7 more rows
Is Oshun My orisha?
Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. She is considered one of the most powerful of all orishas, and, like other gods, she possesses human attributes such as vanity, jealousy, and spite.
What is Oshun's daughter?
Description. Oshun's Daughters examines representations of African diasporic religions from novels and poems written by women in the United States, the Spanish Caribbean, and Brazil.
Who is my Yoruba god?
So who exactly is God for Yoruba people? The Yoruba call Him Olódùmarè. The Supreme Deity of the Yoruba, Olodumare lives in the sky. Olodumare is a distant God, and when it comes to everyday prayers, things are often handled by protectors called Orishas.18-Jun-2018
Which orisha is number 3?
ElegbaElegba is always propitiated and always called first before any other orisha as he opens the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. He recognises himself and is recognised by the numbers 3 and 21.
Is ORI an orisha?
Ori (known as Orí in Latin America) is a Yoruba metaphysical concept. Ori, literally meaning "head," refers to one's spiritual intuition and destiny. It is the reflective spark of human consciousness embedded into the human essence, and therefore is often personified as an Orisha in its own right.