Azowáno or Babalú Ayé: Grains, fruits, herbs and messengers of the Orisha

Babalú Ayé or Azowáno, King of Nupe (An ethnic group from central Nigeria often called Tapas by the Yorubas) is a revered, feared and respected Orisha in the Yoruba pantheon.

It is also called and known in Africa by the name of Samponá or Sakpatá.

This Orisha is credited with the power to heal and protect:

Venereal diseases,
pests,
leprosy,
smallpox,
all kinds of viruses and
everything related to skin diseases.

This Orisha before becoming Azowáno was a spirit called Keleyewe Kuto and about this spirit it is said that anyone who buries the secret of Keleyewe Kuto at home, will always protect it from enemies, epidemics and viruses, from evil intentions of others .

It is even said that whoever tries to rob the house where this secret is kept can contract infectious diseases and the person who enters with malicious intent can cause blindness.

When Azowáno is offered to venerate him, when a favor is asked or you wish to cleanse his feet, many grains, cereals, eggs, fruits, herbs are usually placed on him, among other powerful elements that he welcomes.

4 Elements that belong to Babalú Ayé in the Yoruba religion

Let us know some of the characteristics and elements of power attributed to it in the Santeria or Rule of Osha-Ifá.

1. Azowáno grains or cereals:

Corn (Agbadó)
Sesame (Amatí)
Peanuts (Epá)
millet (olelba)
Beans (Eré)
Bread (Akara)

2. Fruits that Azowáno likes:

Dates
Tamarind
Apples
Cashew
Mangos
Bomba fruit
Plums
Figs

3. The Herbs or plants of Babalú Ayé

Plants that belong to the orisha in the Yoruba religion in alphabetical order and their translation in the Lucumí language.

Acacia (Hwelwti)
Scorpion (Desesi)
Basil (Kloklotosu)
Cotton (Xexema)
Artemis (Mamare)
Pumpkin (Ahahuwe)
Caña Brave (Do)
Ceiba (Wede Honsu)
Cundiamor (Kidney)
Bitter broom
Framboyán (Adadase)
Bomb Fruit (Sanase)
Grenada (Gobono)
Macaw (Overwhelmed)
Guava (Agumo)
Stinking Grass (Ahounademe)
Iroko (Asagu Logo)
White Mallow (Afidemi)
Mangrove (Wewe)
Myrrh (Aryi)
Paradise (Zizifu)
Cuban Platanillo (Tevicami)
Prodigious (Fame)
Shirt Breaker (Akabon)
Rompesaraguey (Alumfo)
Kratom
Vegetable Brain (Yowele)
Tamarind (Awati)
Victor (Xentima)
Sarsaparilla (Seseru)

Two important plants for this Orisha

The Taboo Grass (forbidden) for Babalú it is the vicarious, because in Oddun Ogunda Meyi symbolizes leprosy.
The indigo stick is called Palo Viruela, and its root is a secret of Azowáno.

4. The Messengers or insects that accompanyañana Azowáno

Flies, and mosquitoes,
bees,
blowfly (fly-like insect, but larger),
beetles.

Learn more about the powerful Orisha Babalú, prayers and rituals:

In the syncretism of Santeria, Babalú Ayé is associated with the cult of San Lázaro, the miraculous saint who is worshiped for protecting us from disease and giving us health.