Oshun

For the state in Nigeria, see Osun State. For the river in Nigeria, see Osun River.

Oshun
Goddess of Water, Purity, Fertility, Love, and Sensuality
Member of the Orisha
Other names	Ọ̀ṣun, Ochún, Oxúm
Venerated in	Yoruba religion, Dahomey mythology, Vodun, Santería, Candomblé, Haitian Vodou, Dominican Vudú
Animals	Vulture, peacock
Symbols	Abẹ̀bẹ̀, gold, bronze, amber, pumpkin, honey, mead, wine, confections, orange
Color	Yellow, coral, gold, white
Number	Five
Region	Nigeria, Benin, Latin America, Haiti, Cuba
Ethnic group	Yoruba people, Fon people
Festivals	Osun-Osogbo
Genealogy
Parents	Yemoja (mother)
Spouse	Changó, Erinle
Equivalents
Canaanite	Astarte
Greek	Aphrodite
Norse	Freyja, Frigg
Roman	Venus
Hittite	Sauska

Shrine to Oshun in the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

Oshun (also Ọṣun, Ochún, and Oxúm) is the Yoruba orisha associated with love, sexuality, fertility, femininity, water, destiny, divination, purity, and beauty, and the Osun River, and of wealth and prosperity in Voodoo. She is considered the most popular and venerated of the 401 orishas.

In the mythology, Oshun was once the queen consort to King Shango of Oyo, and deified following her death, honored at the Osun-Osogbo Festival, a two-week-long annual festival that usually takes place in August, at the Oṣun-Osogbo Sacred Grove in Osogbo. A violín is a type of musical ceremony in Regla de Ocha performed for Osún. It includes both European classical music and Cuban popular music.

Mythology

According to the Ifa Literary Corpus, Oshun was the only female Irunmole (primordial spirit) sent to assist Shango to create the world by Olodumare, the Supreme God. The other spirits sent ignored Oshun, who went to Shango for guidance. One version of the story claims that female spirits were tempted to take matters into their own hands, but all of their creative attempts failed because they acted without male spiritual leadership. This version was possibly inspired Abrahamic religions, with a patriarchal influence.

Another version, one more consistent with the beginning of the story, claims that the male spirits attempted to make the world without female influence, and this exclusion is what caused the world to fail. Regardless of the version, the myth ends with Shango forcing the other spirits hand to respect Oshun as they would him. Following her death, Olodumare granted her the powers of an orisha.

Worship

Yoruba

Oshun is the divine patroness of the Osun River in Nigeria, which bears her name. The river has its source in Ekiti State in the west of Nigeria and passes through the city of Osogbo, where Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, the principal sanctuary of the deity, is located. Oṣun is honored at the Osun-Osogbo Festival, a two-week-long annual festival that usually takes place in August, at the Oṣun-Osogbo Sacred Grove on the banks of the river.

Brazil

Ọshun was adopted into Afro-Brazilian religions, retaining her role as the goddess of love, beauty, and waters, with the addition of power over wealth and prosperity. Followers seek help for romantic problems from Oshun; the orishá is also responsible for marriage and other relationships. As the orishá of financial life, she is also called the "Lady of Gold". This referred to copper at one time for being the most valuable metal of the time. Oshun is worshiped at rivers and waterfalls, and more rarely, near mineral water sources. She is a symbol of sensitivity and is identified by weeping.

Candomblé

In Candomblé Bantu, Oshun is called Nkisi Ndandalunda, the Lady of Fertility and Moon. Hongolo and Kisimbi have similarities with Oshun, and the three are often confused.

In Candomblé Ketu, Oshun is the deity of fresh water; the patron of gestation and fecundity; and receives the prayers of women who wish to have children and protect them during pregnancy. Osun also protects small children until they begin to speak; she is affectionately called "Mamãe" ("Mama") by her devotees. Plants associated with Osun in Brazil are aromatic, sweet, and often yellow, reflecting the qualities of the Orisha. They include mints (Lamiacaea). Osun is associated with the folha-de-dez-réis (Hydrocotyle cybelleta), a plant of the pennywort family. Many species are brilliant yellow, reflecting Osun's association with gold and wealth. She is also associated with folha-da-fortuna, or Kalanchoe pinnata.

Ozun

Ozun is another major Orisha that is distinct from Oṣun, the latter who is also called "Oshun" and "Ochún" in the Santería religion of the Caribbean (Cuba, Puerto Rico and Trinidad) brought over by Yoruba people during the transatlantic slave trade. While Ozun is a masculine Orisha associated with John the Baptist, Ochún is syncretized with Our Lady of Charity.

Gallery

• 
  An Arugba at the Osun-Osogbo festival
• 
  An Arugba at the Osun-Osogbo festival
• 
  A wood carving of Oshun by Carybé

Further reading

• Ajiabde, G. Olusola. Negotiating Performance: Osun in the Verbal and Visual Metaphors, Bayreuth, Working Papers, 2005.
• Afolabi, Kayode. Osun Osogbo - Sacred People and Sacred Places, Charleston 2006.
• Badejo, Diedre, Oshun Seegesi: The Elegant Deity of Wealth, Power, and Femininity, Asmara 1996.
• De La Torre, Miguel A., "Dancing with Ochún: Imagining How a Black Goddess Became White," in Black Religion and Aesthetics: Religious Thought and Life in Africa and the African Diaspora, Anthony Pinn, ed., Cambridge University Press, pp. 113–134.
• Fakayode, Fayemi Fatunde, Osun: The Manly Woman, Athelia Henrietta Press 2004.
• Murphy, Joseph M.; Sanford, Mei-Mei. Osun Across the Waters: A Yoruba Goddess in African and the Americas. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001.
• Probst, Peter, Osogbo and the Art of Heritage : Monuments, Deities, and Money. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2011.

External links

• Santeria.fr All about Oshun