Orishas of Santeria

Orishas of Santeria




Agallu The Orisha of transporters, rivers, the earth and volcanoes. Agallu was a very important Orisha in Africa and stil is considered one of the most powerful. Agallu and Yemaya are the children of Obatala and Oddudua. They married and are the parents of Chango. The Ceiba is considered to belong to Agallu and to be a holy tree which shelters the dead. His river forms the boundary between the land of the living and the land of the dead.
Elegba The Orisha of communication. Acts as a messenger between people and the other Orishas. A child at times, at others an old man. His colors are red and black or white and black. He is recognised by the numbers 21 and 3. He is really two Orisha in one, Eleggua and Echu. He is the first to receive any offering to the orishas because without him there is no communication possible. His favorite gifts are candies, candles, toys, rum and cigars. Nothing can be done without his approval.
Ibeii The Divine Twins. Both are healers and help to maintain good health. The twins are often represented by a monkey. They are also known as the Melli. Wooden statues are made and consecrated to represent the Orisha Ibeii. In Nigeria their names are Taiwo and Kehinde, but in Cuba they are Taebo and Kainde. They are considered to be the children of Shango and Ochun, however they were raised by Yemaya. They must never be separated or it will result in a loss of magical power.
Inle Orisha which represents the spirit of good. He has never done evil to anyone, he is a fisherman and hunter as well as a healer. Many invoke him to cure illnesses. His wife is Abbata who is represented as a serpent. Inle was formerly with Yemaya. While they lived together he learned her secrets. When he left her, she cut his tongue out so he does not speak of them. When Inle is contacted witht the shell oracle he speaks through Yemaya because he cannot speak. His symbol is a metal arrow wrapped with two serpents like a caduceus.
Obatala Obatalá is the kindly father of all the orishas and all humanity. He is also the owner of all heads and the mind. Though it was Olorun who created the universe, it is Obatalá who is the creator of the world and humanity. Obatalá is the source of all that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. He is the oldest of the Orishas, King of the Dead, and the first ancestor of the Yoruba. He has a warrior side though through which he enforces justice in the world. His color is white which is often accented with red, purple and other colors to represent his/her different paths. White is most appropriate for Obatalá as it contains all the colors of the rainbow yet is above them. Obatalá is also the only orisha that has both male and female paths. Invoked for health, peace and harmony.
Obba The legitimate wife of Shango. She is the Orisha of the home and marriage. She represents the devoted wife who waits at home for her husband. The story is told that she was tricked by Oshun into preparing a stew of her ear for Shango to attempt to stop him from cheating on her. It did not work, and now when she appears she hides her missing ear with her hand or a head wrap. She is nevertheless invoked to aid faultering marriages and end infidelity. She is the treasurer of the Orishas and is represented by a jewelbox. She can be quite influential in bringing money and prosperity into the home.