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10 elements about Oduduwá: Deity who rules the secrets of death

Oduduwa features

Oduduwá is the Orisha which alludes to the formation of the world, of which the animal, plant and mineral kingdoms are part, lives in the deep darkness of the night, with no recognizable human form.

Represented in religion as the king of the dead, the powerful spirit that emerges from darkness, owner of loneliness and justice by nature. Orisha with a white throne that does not receive the sun, neat like the creator Obatalá.

Oduduwa is creation, power, and salvation on earth, a conquering warrior who is also known as Odudua and Odua. Greets saying with great respect Aremú Oduduwá, Jekuá!

Characteristics of Oduduwa, the owner of loneliness and darkness:

Oduduwa features

We propose 10 characteristics of the Orisha Oduduwa, the one who rules in the secrets of death and the spirits in the Yoruba Pantheon:

1. Oduduwá, the elder dead, king among the dead.

Oduduwá is the First King of Oyó and the oldest dead man. In the Yoruba religion it is believed that it was he who created the earth and living beings together with obbatala, Father Orisha.

It represents the mysteries and secrets of death because it uses the spirits to manifest itself. In relation to the human being, it was the first Obá that Itá made on earth.

He is named king of the dead, it is believed that he was abandoned in a garbage dump and found by Olofin, who named him this way.

2. Lord of desires

Oduduwá is the owner of solitude. He, Oddun and orula they are brothers who always walk together forming a trinity.

It is the so-called Orisha of desires, and it can grant gifts, since it is awarded the creation of the world and the care of it. It is a very powerful spiritual mass that we call upon and invoke for help in times of need.

3. Physical characteristics of Oduduwá

Oduduwá is a Major Orisha and has a single phosphorescent eye. It is a spiritual mass of enormous power that has no shape or shape.

It is a spiritual entity with immense energy, which has no physical appearance, although it is said to be androgynous.

4. The righteous warrior

Oduduwá is seen as a creator and doer of justice, as well as being a divine and impersonal element.

5. The Orisha of harmony

In the Yoruba religion, Oduduwá is an Orisha of great harmony, and who always acts calmly. This is why he does not allow himself to fight or shout in front of him, something that his children must always bear in mind.

6. Attributes of Oduduwá

Its receptacle consists of a silver chest, which carries a padlock, in that chest that is almost never opened the secret that was assembled in the delivery ceremony is kept.

It is wrapped in cotton preferably the one that gives the sacred Ceiba and is placed in a chapel high up, because he lives on the top of a hill and cannot receive sunlight.

As attributes and objects of power Oduduwá can carry:

  • two ivory elephant balls
  • a white horse
  • sixteen otás (stones) of river, hill or road
  • thirty six snails
  • wick fed with almond oil
  • sword or machete
  • globe
  • two equal dolls
  • uke or ukre, elephant tail broom to sweep the yefá, is also used as a horse or deer.
  • rings of white, black, red and yellow beads.

7. Offerings to Oduduwá

Oduduwá eats together with the white orisha Obbatalá and white goats, hens, quail, guinea pigs and pigeons are sacrificed to him.

8. Relationship of Obbatalá and Oduduwá

Oduduwá is considered by many believers as one of Obbatalá's own paths, as its symbols are also purity and whiteness.

But it is also said that they are two different Orishas, ​​to whom Olodumare assigned the same mission, to create the world and take care of it.

9. How did you see Oduduwá?

Because of his relationship with Obbatalá, Oduduwá wears white and also ties a red sash around his waist that, when tied, leaves the right end longer.

As it is always secret and in the dark, wear a hat or head scarf, because it should never be in the sunlight.

10. Religious syncretism of Oduduwá

As part of the transculturation produced by the slave trade of Africans to Cuba, each saint adopted the name of a Catholic saint.

Odudúwa usually syncretizes with the Name of Jesus and with the Blessed Sacrament. The affinity between Oddúa and Jesus Christ indicates that both were sent by the Divine to help man and establish a certain order on earth.

The Blessed Sacrament refers to the Eucharist, a ceremony that is part of the Catholic Mass and where, when consecrated, the bread and wine become the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. It is also compared to San Manuel.

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