Orisha

As Orishas ( Orisa; Portuguese Orixá; Spanish Oricha; Yoruba Orisa ) the gods in the religion of the Yoruba and to the related Afro-American religions, such as the Cuban Santería and Brazilian Candomblé and Umbanda of are called.

The Orisa are characterized by proximity and familiarity with the people, which in him reveal himself initiated by trance states.

" The Orixá is a pure force, intangible ASE, which makes a man only noticeable when in a personified by them. This from Orixá chosen one, one of his descendants is, elégùn, the one who have the privilege of concoction, gun, learns from him. He is, to Earth to return to his carrier so that the Orixá is given the opportunity to greet the proof of the respect of his descendants, who called him, and to receive. "

All Orisa are a force of nature in combination, are the water, the earth, the air and the fire in its various subdivisions, that is, they are personified forces of nature. For the celebrations that show off a kind of theatrical staging of the complex Yoruba mythology, each is a certain music, that is its own drumbeat and chants, and dance steps with the relevant bodies and in particular hand movements own. Between the Orisa there are various relationships, love affairs and disputes. Like humans, they transgress boundaries and break taboos, whereby not only the gods, but also the earthly life of its dynamic sound.

About the Orishas is Olorun. He is the only omnipotent. His power is so great that it would be too dangerous for the faithful to make direct contact with him. Therefore, there are no ceremonies that appeal to Olorun directly. In contrast, the Orishas have human traits with faults and weaknesses. They serve as intermediaries between the people and Olorun. The Orishas are basically all the same powerful, but Obatala and Yemayá is assigned a major role. Another special role has Eshu. He is more human than the other Orishas and is more likely attributed to the spirits. He's doorkeeper and messenger of the gods and should be welcomed by all the rituals first and also get his first offerings.

Orisha in Africa

In the Yoruba with the center in Ile- Ife, there are hundreds of Orishas. The Orishas differ regionally in their meaning, their dimensions and their relationships, which are handed down in stories ( Patakis ).

In Africa, the worship of Orisa is inherited in masculine line from generation to generation within families. Since the exogamous women in traditional society and yorubanischen virilokal marry, they bring various other cults in the clan of the husband, but they do not receive greater importance.

Since 2005, the Grove of the Orisha Osun a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ifá oracle of the Orisha Orunmila is a UNESCO masterpiece of humanity.

Orisha in America

The Oracle of Ife, in Brazil by throwing the cowries by a Mãe -de- santo ( Ialorixá ) or a pai -de- santo ( Babalorixá ) should be consulted. Orunmila - Ifá is one of the most important Orisa, but this term refers also to the Ifá oracle, which consists of 16 Hauptodú ( chapters ) and a total of 256 Odu is that reports on the individual Orisa.

When slaves transported to America disappeared regional and ineffective for life in the Diaspora Orishas. In the Cuban Santería only a few dozen orishas are worshiped here much less varied than that of the Yoruba. You are assigned to colors, numbers, plants, sounds, rhythms, favorite food and favorite beverages.

In America, the Orishas are connected in most religions syncretic with Catholic saints. In Haitian voodoo the Orishas correspond to partially identical Loas. The Brazilian Candomblé has three main nations. Every nation has a different language, different songs, prayers and sanctuaries. The Orishas, N'kissis and Voduns have some similarities, but still there are different saints.

The Sudanese cultures are represented for example known from the Yoruba group, which also recognized as Nago, and as Ketu, which is represented by the nations and pray for the Orishas:

• Ketu
• Efan
• Ijexá
• Nagô Egba
• Rowdy do Rio Grande do Sul
• Xambá de Pernambuco

The group of Dahomey is represented by Jeje nations and who Vodun as sacred:

• Fon
• Ewe
• Mina
• Fanti
• Ashanti

The Bantu civilizations of the "Contra Costa " are represented by " Moçambiques " (rabbit fish and Angicos ) after being reduced to the group Bantu peoples. This nation has the Nkissi as sacred:

• Candomblé Bantu
• Angola
• Congo
• Cabinda