What does Shango represent in Santeria? king of thunder and fire

Shango is one of the most popular Orishas in the Rule of the Ocha or Santeria.

Virile and powerful, he is considered the king of the Yoruba pantheon to whom we can turn on any occasion, to guide us on the right path and help us overcome obstacles and difficulties.

Shangó in Santería and its religious meaning

Shangó is the owner of the thunder in Santería

The great Shango He governs lightning, thunder and fire as elements of nature and powerful forces that respond to his call.

This great Yoruba Orisha also represents:

The unbridled joy of living on the edge,
the dance and the party,
the sound of drums and
the pure happiness of healthy young men.

But also, as many of the Yoruba or Patakí legends make clear, this deity is a warrior orisha of intelligence and sharp ingenuity, who sets out to defend his own.

It is also characterized by an irascible temperament that does not admit disrespect or cowardice.

Shangó is a warrior Osha, belonging to the group of the powerful 7 African powers and is in the group of the leading Oshas.

The Warrior Shango, why does he represent justice?

Shangó not only represents dance, virility, masculine beauty, passion, dance, music and the carefree joy of living.

He is also the divine representative of justice, because according to the patakí:

He was the 4th Alafin or king of Oyo, in the second dynasty of Oduduwa after the destruction of Katonga, the first administrative capital of the Yoruba empire.

Shangó came to reign to remind the people of the divine teachings and took on the task of cleaning up the injustice and carelessness that exists in society.

Because of these attitudes, the people began to say that Shangó was very strict and they even called him a tyrant and Shangó ended his life by hanging himself, but he returned as his twin brother Aggayú who, with the use of gunpowder, fought and defeated Shangó's enemies. Shango.

From that moment on, the people venerated Shangó as the orisha of Thunder and divine justice.

Furthermore, he was remembered as a warrior king who was respected and adored by the generals of Ibadan for his fighting skills, intelligence, and sense of justice.

And it is that Shangó was one of the Yoruba kings who helped build the battle formations and due to his skills and victories, the Yoruba empire extended from Mauritania to Gabon.

5 Characteristics that reflect the spiritual power of Shangó

Shangó in Santería is also related in its meaning to other powers such as:

Shangó represents the intellect, divination and is related to spiritual communication.
He is the owner of the religious system of Osha-Ifá and represents the greatest number of favorable and unfavorable situations.
Divination is also attributed to Shangó because he was the first owner and interpreter of the Ifá oracle, and he is also an interpreter of the Diloggún and Biange and Aditoto oracles.
Shangó represents and has a special relationship with the world of the Eggún (spirits) and it is said that he exchanged the ashe of divination with Orula for dance.
According to Yoruba legends, Shangó is also related to health and the cure of diseases, since he is Babalú Ayé's heart to heart and according to legends, he was the one who helped him cure his plagues.

Shangó and his 3 companions Orishas of the Yoruba Pantheon

Shangó joins the cult of Obba the orisha who represents the sacrifice, Oyá the owner of the spark and Oshún the goddess of love, since it is said that these Orishas were his wives.

In the Osha the powers of the king of fire are represented next to each one of them.

Oshun was one of the best known during her reign for her immense power. Along with Oshún, Shangó represents the joy of life, dance, virility and love for money and abundance.
With Oyá, is a powerful and indomitable warrior who communicates with Eggun and can use the art of divination.
Obba is his wife par excellence, the one who sacrificed everything for love. For the Yorubas Shangó is king and husband at his side.

Attention dedicated to Shangó How is it offered?

To ask Shangó for any favor we must always pray, meditate and above all thank him.

We must remember that food is offered as:

Amalá made from corn flour,
milk and okra,
green bananas and Indian banana,
beverages such as red wine,
grains such as roasted corn, barley, canary seed, etc.

in religious ceremonies animals such as:

Rams,
roosters, guinea fowl and pigeons
quail,
slider (river turtle) etc.

The color red, its meaning and elements of power of the Orisha

Prefers shades of red, white, black and brown.

The most prominent of these is red as a symbol of power and strength, and its main element, fire.

In addition, this color represents natural phenomena such as thunder, lightning, and the great and torrential storms of the world.

Elements must be present on your altar that represent the deity or allude to its activities, such as:

The drum, for the dances;
the scimitar;
cups,
swords and
red flags.

4 Situations in which you can worship and beg for helpl warrior

Shango is prayed with the respect due to a powerful God.

Most of all, we call it in situations where hardship expiration is necessary.
He always helps to recognize the rights and values of people, and for this reason he is usually prayed for protection from injustice.
It can also be evoked in search of health, emotional well-being and fortunes.
As he is the god of war he is called to fight against enemies.

Let's keep in mind that Shangó's day is very special for his children, since the God of Thunder is one of the most revered deities of Santeria.

December 4th The great Shangó is celebrated, in syncretism with Santa Bárbara, in the Catholic religion. the owner and lady of lightning.

His devotees celebrate him in different ways, one of them can be to venerate him with the different dances in his name, in addition to offering him elements that are to his liking, praying to him and speaking to him as a father.

I pray to the great warrior of the Osha Shangó to ask for a request

With this prayer, translated from Yoruba, we invoke him to listen to us. Before you can light a white or red candle in her name to give it light.

Oh, great Orisha Shangó, you who own the thunder and wars in this world. Keep me away from those negative energies, bless me and my relatives always.

May fortune be on my side and always be so. Today in particular I turn to you to obtain your blessing and that (explain request). I know you will not fail me, for you never do. Ashe.