Religion In Yoruba- Orisha Oshun - Admission/Application Essay Example

? Number] Religion in Yoruba- ORISHA OSHUNI Introduction Yoruba is one of the four official languageswhich are spoken in Nigeria. Yoruba is also a member of Volta-Niger branch of Niger Congo family of languages. About 22 million people spoke this language in southwest Nigeria, Togo, Brazil and the USA (Engler 2012, p.13) Oshun seems to like a fair skin bronzed colour woman who has very good smile. She loves to have the finest thing in life and sometimes she is never satisfied. In Yoruba religion, Oshun is an Orisha who represents love, beauty, closeness, wealth and diplomacy. It is in the group of the Head’s Oshas. She is a very beautiful woman, cheering and smiling always. Sometimes she is very sad and suffered. She symbolizes the ruthless punishment and also represents the religious rigor. She is the only one who is capable to appear before Olofin to request for the human beings. She is also known for healing the sick and bringing fruitful and she specially watches the poor and brings all those things which they need badly. Oshun is the Orisha of the fresh water. He was the only one who requested the intervention of women in the Orisha meetings. Oshin is the owner of sweet river waters. She shared a very close connection with Ochanala and she was also very close to Olofi (Engler 2012, p.14) Beliefs and Practices in Yoruba religion There are several components in the beliefs and practices of Yoruba religion which have colossal magnitude and virtue in the sight of its followers. They believe that there is one God who created and controls the whole universe. There are some forces of nature that deals with the affairs of men on earth and which govern the universe in general as well. They believe in prediction. They also believe in the magical and mechanical use of the herbs. (Engler 2012, p.15) Yoruba now have developed strong beliefs. It beliefs that all human beings hold what is known as “Ayanmo” and it is expected that they will become quickly adopt the will with “Olodumare”. Furthermore the actions and thoughts of every person interrelate with other lively organs which include the earth itself. Every one tries to rise above and find them self in “Orun-Rere”. Those ones who do not continue to grow morally, they find them selves in “Orun-Apadi” (Engler 2012, p.17). Life and death are considered as survival of the human being and spirit changes towards transcendence. This type of change is mostly found among the Orichas. Those who are well balanced, they can use the simplest form of the connection between their “Oris” in a very positive way. In the prayers “Ori Orun” has ben known as to produce an immediate sensation of happiness (Engler 2012, p.19). One of the Yoruba accounts of creation says that during a certain stage of this procedure, the truth confirmed the fit for human habitation of newly planets. Oshun the Goddess lady The Yoruba goddess is very well known as Yeye. She rules the river which sustains life. Her speciality was that she has the aspects love, prettiness and the talent. Oshun realm also contains priestesses’ dance of the streams and she rules in the waterfalls in which her voice carries with the water’s sound. Due to her attributes in which she cares the sick, look after the needy and answering the needy who cry. Her devotees loved Oshun very well all around the world. As being a love goddess, Oshan is described as a good-looking, delightful and young woman. She is a goddess with great pride and her beautiful pottery in which water is filled with fragrance or river stones. Millions of empowered with her unique beauty, love and courage. One will be energize and renew with the spirit of her dance and courageous unselfish heart. Oshun is completely force of harmony. We see harmony as we feel a love of beauty and delight. The spirit of her dance and courageous unselfish heart uplifts anyone just like the fresh water. (Murrell 2009, p.6) Engler (2012, p.22) illustrates that in Nigeria Oshun is forever honered with an annual ceremony which is called “Ibo-Osun”. It is a feast of yams which begins in the evening. In that feast women dance for the godds and hoping that they will be selected as her favourites. Women who are selected; then they are granted a fresh name which contains that kind of the goddess. For those who have the wish to have children, they especially consult with the Oshun. In the West African Oshun spelled as “Osun”. It tends to be fish in the fresh water, without any effort Oshun murmurs to all livelihood belongings and also animals naturally hear her. Oshun is considered as the means that attach all worlds, from largest animal to smallest animal. According to the belief of the elders in Yoruba, Oshun is the hidden mother which is present every where. In Yoruba there are references after reference to the beauty of Oshun, but beauty is mostly defined as culturally or societal. Those who are in touch with that type of energy, they carry themselves and can behave as the most beautiful star. Every one is inspired with the Oshun and tried to be like her (Murrell 2009, p.7) Authority of Oshun in Yoruba Religion According to Engler (2012, p.32), Oshun has the power of desire and she frequently make use of this power to change things. Due to her femaleness Oshun removed her divine energy in creating the world. In Yoruba culture, it is consider that Oshun is the mean to sustain the life. Oshun is related with the “vulture”. Ohun changed herself into the type of a “vulture” so that she can take off to the heavens, intervene the humans and also she can save her children. According to the elders of Yoruba; Oshun is the hidden mother which is present at every crowd. Therefore she believed in omnipresent and omnipotent. According to them, in Yoruba, Oshun is considered to the forces of attraction. So this represents that there is no one who is the enemy of water and for that reason everyone need the water and one should respect it. Oshun is a force of harmony and harmony means loveliness, believe as love and delight. Oshun is also considered as the chief of the market. Oshun always settle for the equality and she never give up her dominance. On the present, Oshun is an energy force focused and she is connected closely and is comfortable with all sensual pleasures. If some one wants to give one word description of the energy, it would be “Sensuous”. Influence of Oshun Oshun holds eminent position in Yoruba Religion and is highly influential. The supremacy of Oshun lies in the heart of her followers. In every eve and festival, Oshun is claimed to be present and followers regard her presence conscientiously. For example, Oshun’s presence in every marriage ceremony of Yoruba religion is claimed by its followers because Oshun is considered to be Omnipotent. Moreover they hold special place for her coming, so that people would show gratitude and respect to Oshun (Awolalu, 1996, p.124). Adegbite (1988, p.22) illustrates that Oshun’s role in the creation of this world is highly regarded by the devotees of Yoruba religion. The believe system prevalent in them asserts that she was the only female from the group sent by realm of spirits to create planet earth. Due to this deem, Oshun is renowned as the greatest mother and every follower of this religion prays to Oshun for her forgiveness and mercy. Oshun followers have maintained their everyday activities in such a manner that they would recall Oshun again and again. Oshun’s Supremacy The mystical feature of Oshun’s creation from water is extremely dominant and Yoruba’s followers states that water is imperative and essential for life therefore no one can be the adversary of Oshun. The followers love their goddess in every manner. The traditional sermons hold prestigious position among them. Anyone opposing Oshun has to face the wrath of its followers because they are deeply sanctified by her. The famous believe in Yoruba religion prevails that Oshun has saved the world so it’s their sacred duty to save the planet (Awolalu, 1996, p.109). The peacock’s feathers of yellow fan along with five gold bracelets are the power objects of Oshun. The followers symbolically utilize these things in there every day endeavours in order to depict that they are faithful to Oshun. They also have a special dance which is believed to be the dance of Oshun. Every step and every move of that special dance is declared to be Oshun’s dance movements. They perform dances at their religious functions to please the goddess (Adegbite 1988, p.24) Work Cited Engler, Steven. “Umbanda and Africa, “Nova Religion: The journal of Alternative and Emergent Religious 15.4 (2012): 13-35. Awolalu, J. Yoruba beliefs and sacrificial rites, Athelia Henrietta Pr, 1996 Murrell, Nathaniel Samuel. Afro Caribbean Religions: An Introduction to their Historical, Cultural and Sacred Traditions, Temple University Press, 2009 Adegbite, A., "The drum and its role in Yoruba religion," Journal of religion in Africa (1988): 15-26. Read More