Yoruba

Orishas (Deities) worshipped in Yoruba Land

 
Orisa sango
An Orisha(also spelled Orisa or Orixa) is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of God in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system.
*. Olorun(Olorun, Olodumaré, Olofin)- God, the creator.
*. Eshu(Eleggua, Exú, Eṣu, Elegba, Ellegua, Legbara, Papa Legba)- Eshu is the messenger between the human and divine worlds, Orisha of duality, crossroads and beginnings, and also a phallic and fertility deity (an Embodiment of Life). Eshu is recognized as a trickster.
*. Ogoun(Ogun, Ogúm, Ogou)- warrior deity; divinity of iron, war, labour, sacrifice, politics, and technology (e.g. railroads, tools, man-made objects).
*. Ochosi(Oxósse, Ocshosi, Osoosi, Oxossi)- hunter and the scout of the orishas, deity of the accused and those seeking justice or searching for something. His domain are the forests.
*. Babalu Aye(Soponna, Shonponno, Sakpata, Shakpana, Xapanã, Omulo, Omulu, Asojano, Shokponna, Obaluaye, Obaluaiê, Obaluaê, Abaluaiê, Babaluaiê, Zodji, Dada Zodji, Obaluaiye)- divinity of disease and illness (particularly smallpox, leprosy, and now AIDS), also orisha of healing and the earth, son of Iemanja.
*.Ozain(Osain, Osanyin, Ozain, Osain, Ossanhe)- Orisha of the forest, he owns the Omiero, a holy liquid consisting of many herbs, the liquid through which all saints and ceremonies have to proceed. Ozain is the keeper and guardian of the herbs, and is a natural healer.Kosi Ewe, Kosi Orisha! – Without leaves, there are no Orishas!.
*. Ochumare(Oshumare, Oxumare)- rainbow deity, represented by the snakes. Divinity of movement and activity, guardian of children and associated with the umbilical cord.
*. Nana Buluku- One of the oldest Orishas. She gave the mud to Oxalá so he could mold mankind with it. Owner of the swamps.
*. Oshun(Oshún, Ọṣun, Oxum, Ochun, Osun, Oschun)- divinity of rivers and waterfalls, love, feminine beauty, fertility, and art, also one of Shango’s lovers and beloved of Ogoun.
*. Oba(Ọbà, Obba)- Shango’s jealous wife, and a great warrior, divinity of marriage and domesticity, daughter of Iemanja. Her domain are all river with dangerous currents and mostly the whirlpools formed in it.
*.Yewá(Ewá)- Orisha related to the virginity, chastity of a person. Also related to the winter, to the snow, fog and mist and the cold.
*. Oya(Oyá, Oiá, Iansã, Yansá, Iansan, Yansan)- warrior deity; divinity of the wind and of the lightning, sudden change, hurricanes, tornadoes and the gates to the underworld. She is a powerful sorceress and primary lover of Shango.
*.Logunede(Logun Ede, Lógunède, Laro)- The prince. Orisha that lives six months in the water eating fish with his mother Oshun and six months on land with his father Oxossi in the forest hunting. Orisha of art, prosperity and love.
*.Ayra(Ayrà)- Warrior that wears white. One of the Orishas related to the Lightning and the Wind. Often mistaken for Shango, is an Orisha of its own which wears only white, never ever another color and also never wears a crown.
*. Iyemanja(Yemaja, Imanja, Yemayá, Jemanja, Yemalla, Yemana, Yemanja, Yemaya, Yemayah, Ymoja, Yemojá)- divine mother, divinity of the water and loving mother of mankind, daughter of Obatala and wife of Aganju. Her domain is all body of water but mostly an estuary, where the river meets the sea. One of the most important Orisha on the Yoruba pantheon.
Yemaja
*. Shango(Ṣango, Shangó, Xango, Changó, Chango, Nago Shango)- warrior deity ; divinity of thunder, fire, sky father, represents male power and sexuality. In Brazilian Candomblé Xangô is a male Orixá which lived as a King and became saint after his death.
*. Obatala(Obatalá, Oxalá, Orixalá, Orisainlá, Oshala, Orishala)- Orisha of peace. An arch-divinity, father of humankind, divinity of light, spiritual purity, and moral uprightness. Orixá funfun – Owner of the white.
*. Orunmila(Orunla)- divinity of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight. Orunmila is the Orixá and Ifá is the divinatory system from which he talks through. They are both close conected.
*.Iroko(Iroco, Tempo, Kitembo, Roco, Loko)- The Orisha of the sacred tree called Iroco. Responsible for the seasons of the year.
*.Otin(Oti)- Protector of the animals. A huntress, wife of Oxossi. Daughter of Erinlé, was born with three breasts (some itons say she had four breasts).
*. Ibeji(Ìbejì, Ìgbejì)- The sacred twins, represent youth, happiness and vitality.
*. Erinle(Inle, Ibualamo)- orisha of medicine, healing, and comfort, physician to the gods. The fisher.
*. Olokun(Olóòkun, Olocum, Lokun)- Owner and Ruler of the oceans, the abyss, and signifies unfathomable wisdom. Father of Iemanja, lives in the deep ocean.
*. Aganju(Aganyu, Agayu)- Father of Shango, he is also said to be Shango’s brother in other stories. Aganju is said to be Shango’s brother in other stories. Aganju is said to be the Orisha of volcanoes.
*.Oko(Orisha Oko, Okko)- orisha of agriculture and the harvest.
*. Ori- Ruler of the head.
*. Okê- Orisha owner of the mountains.
*. Oduduwa(Odudua, Oòdua)- The first human.
*. Ajaka(Bayani, Babayanmi, Dada Ajaca, Dada Baldone)- The protector of the children not yet born. Orisha of the fruits and vegetables.
*. Olóssa(Oloxá, Olossa)- Orisha of the lakes and lagoons. Mostly the lagoons next to the ocean. Wife of Olokun. Represented by the crocodiles.
*. Ajé Saluga(Ajé Ṣaluga, Ajé Saluga, Ajé Chaluga, Ajé-Kalagá, Ajé Xalugã, Kowo, Cobo)- Orisha of good luck and prosperity. The foam of the waves, the shells on the beach.
*. Oranyan(Oranian, Òrànmíyàn)- The son of Oduduwa. A warrior of two colors skin, one side white and the other black.
*. Boromu- Orisha related to the desert. Guardian of the cemetery and the bones of those who left us. Husband of Yewá.
*. Axabó- An Orisha of culture. She is part of Shango’s family. Not much is known about her. Worshiped in the Candomblé temples of Salvador – BA – Brazil. Plays as lyre.
*. Iyami Oxorongá(Iyami-Ajé, Ìyá Nlá)- The sorceress. Only worshiped by women.
*. Egungun- The spirits of our ancestors.
*. Onilé(Oluaye, Aiyê, Ilê)- The Orisha owner of the earth. She is one of the first Orishas to be greeted in a ceremony.
*.Iku – Death himself. The Orisha of death.
Source: http://en.m.wikipedia.org
 

Cite this article as: Teslim Omipidan. (November 10, 2014). Orishas (Deities) worshipped in Yoruba Land. OldNaija. Retrieved from https://oldnaija.com/2014/11/10/orishas-deities-worshipped-in-yoruba-land/

16 Comments

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    PAUBLO

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