Who is Obatala Santeria?
Obatalá (also known as Ochalá or Oxalá; Orichalá or Orixalá) is the oldest “orisha funfun” (“white deity”), referring to purity, both physically and symbolically as in the “light” of consciousness. In Santería, Obatalá is syncretized with Our Lady of Mercy and Jesus Of Nazareth.
What are the characteristics of Obatala?
In addition to purity, Obatala is associated with the characteristics of wisdom, compassion, peace, honesty, purpose, the New Year, forgiveness, resurrection, and ethics.
What does it mean to be a son of Obatala?
In the Orisha faiths, Obatalá is the sky father, son/daughter of the one God (Olodumare), and creator of Earth and humans. Yoruba culture of modern Nigeria, Benin and Togo is considered the mother culture of the Orisha faiths, but there are related traditions up and down the West Coast of Africa.
Who is the strongest Orisha?
Ṣàngó
Ṣàngó 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.
How many Orishas can you have?
Number. Yoruba tradition often says that there are 400 + 1 orishas, 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 orishas.
What is Obatalá in the Santería?
¿Quién es Obatalá en la Santería o Regla de Osha-Ifá? Obbatalá, según refieren las leyendas yorubas, es el Padre de muchos otros Orishas como Shangó, Oshún, Elegua, Oggun, entre otros, y se le considera, además, padre de todas las personas.
What is Obatala’s Orishas?
Obatala along with Oshun, Yemaya and Changó is one of the four pillar orishas that every olorisha receives at his kariocha initiation. Obatala is unique in that half of his roads are female and half are male.
How do you honor Obatala Orisha?
Obatala prefers his offerings be made on Sunday. Decorate his altar with a sacred crown or dove-handled bell, representing his status as a king and his belief in purity and justice. A white peace and wisdom candle or 7 Day Obatala Orisha candle can also be placed on his shrine.
Why is Obatala’s shrine higher than other Orisha shrines?
To reflect his place of importance in the Lukumí pantheon, Obatala’s shrine is always placed higher than any other orisha in the home. Obatala is the owner of all heads, because it is said that he molded the bodies of humans before Olodumare breathed life into them.