Ọrunmila
| Ọrunmila | |
|---|---|
Wisdom, Knowledge, Ifa Divination, Philosophy, Fate, Destiny, Prophecy, Civilization, Enlightenment, First Babalawo | |
| Member of Santeria, Haitian Vodou, Folk Catholicism | |
| Major cult center |
|
| World | Yorubaland |
| Weapon | Opele |
| Artifacts | |
| Symbol |
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| Adherents | |
| Color | White, Yellow, Green |
| Gender | Male |
| Region | Nigeria, Benin, Latin America |
| Ethnic group | Yoruba |
| Personal information | |
| Parents | Alayeru and Oroko |
| Siblings | Ọsanyìn |
| Part of a series on |
| Yorùbá people |
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Ọrunmila (Yoruba: Ọ̀rúnmìlà, also Ọrúnla[1] or Orúla in Latin America) is the Orisha of Wisdom, knowledge, and Divination, is the creator of Ifá and Babalawo concept. He is a high priest of Ifá.
Historical and literary sources
Following the categories developed by the Nigerian scholar Peju Yemaje, Orunmila is recognized as a primordial Orisha, an ara orun, one that existed before the creation of humanity and resides in Heaven, as opposed to irun-male or irunmole, sacred beings living on Earth.[2]
He is praise named "Igbákejì Olódùmarè" (second in command to
Orunmila is considered a
Priesthood and initiation
Awo in every tradition study the 256 Odu; each Odu is traditionally considered to include stories and prayers that have been passed down from the time that Orunmila walked the Earth as a prophet.[4][5][6]
Some initiatory lineages have only male priests of Orunmila, while other lineages include female priestesses. The term "Awo", meaning "secret" is a gender-neutral title for an initiated priest of Orunmila. The debate surrounding gender is a result of diversity in the history of Ifá in various locations. In Latin America and some areas of West Africa, only men may become full priests of Orunmila, while in other regions of West Africa the priesthood is open to women. Ifá practitioners believe in duality in life: males exist because of the female essence and females exist because of the male essence, so every major rite or ceremony includes both genders.[7]
Every Ifá stanza has one portion dedicated to the issue of teaching the Iwa that Ifá supports. This Iwa, which Ifá teaches transcends religious doctrine, is central to every human being, and imparts communal, social and civic responsibility that
References
- ISBN 9780253206381. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
Qrunmila is another name for Ifa, the deity
- ISBN 978-1-5063-1786-1. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ISBN 0-9714949-3-2
- ^ ISBN 0-253-20638-3
- ISBN 9781675098
- ISBN 978-0-9810387-04
- ISBN 1-905388-00-4.
- ^ Ifaloju , Iwòrì Méjì: Ifá speaks on Righteousness, (an extract from S.S. Popoola, Ifa Dida, Library, INC) 2011
Resources
- Chief S. Solagbade Popoola & Fakunle Oyesanya, Ikunle Abiyamo: The ASE of Motherhood 2007. ISBN 978-0-9810013-0-2
- Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume One (EjiOgbe - Orangun Meji) ISBN 978-0-9810013-1-9
- Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume Two (OgbeYeku - OgbeFun) ISBN 978-1-926538-12-9
- Chief S. Solagbade Popoola Library, INC Ifa Dida Volume Three (OyekuOgbe - OyekuFun) ISBN 978-1-926538-24-2
- James J. Kulevich, "The Odu of Lucumi: Information on all 256 Odu Ifa"
- Ayele Fa'seguntunde' Kumari, Iyanifa:Women of Wisdom ISBN 978-1500492892