Orishas of Candomble

Admin 10/24/2008, 2:37 pm

Ölîrun	Supreme being, called Ölîrun. He is also called Olódùmarè, Olúmînökàn, Olùpèsè or Olùbùkún. He created the Òrìshàs and the universe. Not considered approachable by humans, the orishas are worshiped as his representatives.
Orúnmìlà	He is second after Ölîrun. He lives between Orun and Àiyé, and is also known as Gbáiyé-gbïrun because of this. He is the witness of the destiny of each individual which is chosen or given at conception(Kàdárà). He is considered to be the source of information that is divined by the Bàbáláwo or reader. He is Ëlýri ìpín - the one who is destiny's witness. Àyànmï or destiny may be understood if the reader is qualified and establishes a good connection with Orunmila. His most important symbol is the ikin - the seed of the oil palm. These seeds are used by the Bàbáláwo to communicate with him to discover the subjects destiny.
Orí	The first Òrìshà. Unique to each person and created by Olirun from a piece of himself and pieces of the ancestors of the individual at birth. He gives these to an entity called Àjàlà who creates the orisha Ori for each person. The symbol of the Orí is the head. His color is white. All the days of the week are his, primarily nighttime. Unlike the other Òrìshà, Orí can't receive an offering if the person isn't present, since Orí never leaves it's intended person while they live.
Èsù	Messenger of the Òrìshà, intermediary between them and man. Malicious entity, though not necessarily evil. He dresses in red and black, and is always armed with seven swords, which correspond to the seven roads of his dominions. His day is Monday. His salutation is LARÒYÈ!

Admin 10/24/2008, 2:38 pm

Ògún

Òrìshà of war, battles, metals, agriculture, roads, and justice. He has a violent character. Brother of Oñoosì and Èsù. His sign, the màrìwò - shredded palm (igi öpë) fronds, is put above the doors in houses of candomblé as a symbol of his protection. After Èsù, he is the Òrìshà closest to man. His principal symbol is an iron sword called idà. His day is Tuesday, his color dark blue or light green and his salutation is ÒGÚN È!

Osòosì

Divinity of the hunt that lives in the forest. His principal symbols are the bow and arrow, called ofà, and an ox tail called ìrùësin. He is the brother of Ògún and they are very close. He is also known as the King of Kètu, the largest and most popular candomblé group. His color is light blue, his day Thursday and his salutation is ÒKÈ ARÒ!

Lógunedë	An Òrìshà who is essentially Ijesá. Hunter and fisherman. Being the son of Osòosì and Osun, he takes on characteristics of both. He spends half the year in the forest, the domain of his father, and the other half in freshwater, the domain of his mother. One of his symbols is the ofà (bow and arrow), his colors are light blue and yellow, his day is Thursday and his salutation is LOGUN!
Osányìn	The Deity of herbs, both magical and medical, and of healing. He is of great importance in candomblé, since herbs are essential for Òrìshà worship. His symbol is a crown with seven points, the central point has a bird on it. His colors are green and white and his day is Monday. His greeting is EWÉ ÒSÁ!
Shàngó	Deity of fire and thunder. A historical King who took the place of an Òrìshà called Jákúta. He is particularly important in those traditions originating with the Yoruba. This importance is represented by his sacred instrument called sèrè which is treated and looked upon with much respect by any abòrìsà or Candomble worshiper. His symbol is an double axe called osé, his colors are red and white, and his day is Wednesday. His salutation is K’A WÒÓ KÁBÍYÈSÍLÉ!

Òsùmàrè	Shàngó, orisha of fire and thunder, is his master. He is seen as the rainbow. His symbol is a metal snake called dan, his color is yellow striped with green, and his day is Wednesday. His salutation is AHÒBÒBÒY!
Ömölu	One of the most feared Òrìshà, he is orisha of sickness and health. Like his mother Nàná, he is associated with death. His face and body are covered with straw, hiding his smallpox scars. His symbol is the sàsàrà, a bundle of palm fronds (igi öpë) decorated with cowries. His colors are red, black, and white, and his day is Monday. His salutation is ATÒTÒ!
Nàná	Nana is the oldest of the orisha. She is associated with stagnant water and swamp mud. Mother of Ömölu and Òsùmàrè, she abandoned them. She is the orisha of life as well as death. Her symbol is the íbírì - a bundle of palm fronds (igi öpë), with a curved part decorated with cowries, and her day is Saturday. Her salutation is SALÚBA!
Osun	Deity connected with freshwater, beauty, and wealth. Wife of Ògún, Osoosì, and afterwards, Shàngó. From her marriage with Oñoosì, Lógunûdë was born. Her symbol is a gold plated metal fan with a mirror in the middle called àbûbû, her color is golden yellow, and her day is Saturday. Her salutation is ORE YÈYÉ O!
Iyewa	Also known as Ewa or Ìyá Wa. Like Yemöja and Osun, she is also known as orisha of water, and associated with fertility. She is also worshipped as the owner of the world, and mentioned as being the wife of Òñùmàrè. Her day is Saturday and her color is maroon (crystal). Her greeting is HIHÏ!
Obà	Feminine deity, a warrior and huntress. Sister of Öya. Wife of Ògún, and afterwards, third and oldest wife of Shàngó. She prepared a stew of her ear for Shàngó, in an attempt to rein in his philandering. It didn't work. When she appears, she hides her missing ear with her hand. Her symbols are a sword - idà, and a bow and arrow - ofà. Her salutation is ÎBÀ ÑÍ or ÎBÀ ÑIRE!
Öya	Also called Yánsàn, she is the Òrìshà of wind and lightning. One of her symbols is a horse's tail called ìrùkéré. A warrior, she is the most agressive of the female Òrìshà. She was Ogun's wife, and then the most important wife of Shàngó. Her color is maroon (copper), and her day is Wednesday. Her salutation is EPA HEY!
Yemöja	Orisha of saltwater and fertility, she is considered the mother of all the Òrìshà. A earth mother type figure. She is the most popular Òrìshà in Brazil. Offerings are made to her on two holidays, February 2nd, and December 31. She normally uses a silver plated fan called a àbebe, her colors are blue and white (silver), and her day is Saturday. Her greeting is ODÒ ÌYÁ!
Òsàálá	Orisha who created the earth and man. He appears in two forms: a young man, called Òsàgiyán, and an old man, called Òsàlúfon. The symbol of the first is an idà (sword), and the second is a metal shepherd's staff, called an opá sóró. Òsàgiyán’s color is white with a hint of light blue and Òsàlúfon’s is pure white. The day for both is Friday. Their greeting is ÈPA BÀBÁ!

Orishas of Candomble

Orishas of Candomble

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