Who is Oya in Santeria?

Who is Oya in Santeria?

Oya is actually the opposite of death; she is symbolic of the air that humans breathe, and she can perpetuate life or death with her wrath (i.e., hurricanes, tornadoes). Practitioners of the religion believe she is Olofi’s (Oludumare: God in the Yoruba tradition) secretary, informing him of all Earthly events.

What is Oya the goddess of?

Ọya (Yorùbá: Ọya, also known as Oyá or Oiá; Yàńsàn-án or Yansã; and Iansá or Iansã in Latin America) is an orisha of winds, lightning, and violent storms, death and rebirth. She is similar to the Haitian Lwa, Maman Brigitte, who is syncretised with the Catholic Saint Brigit.

Why is Oya important?

According to the myths, Oya was also the goddess of psychic abilities, rebirth, intuition and clairvoyance. She was so powerful that she had the ability to call forth death or hold it back if necessary. These responsibilities and being a guardian of graveyards is why the goddess is commonly associated with cemeteries.

What is the story of Oya?

According to the mythology, Oya decided to get rid of the plague of barrenness by making a sacrifice from cloth with the colours of the rainbow. She then gave birth to nine children, four sets of twins and a ninth child, Egungun. Oya is popularly known as the goddess of weather.

What is Oya power?

“Oya is one of the most powerful African Goddesses (Orishas). A Warrior-Queen, She is the sister-wife of the God Shango, to whom She gave the power to create storms. Much of Oya’s power is rooted in the natural world; She is the Goddess of thunder, lightning, tornadoes, winds, rainstorms and hurricanes.

What is the meaning of Oya?

Oya (name)

Origin
Word/name “oymak”
Derivation “oya”
Meaning “lace”, Irish lace”, “lagestromia indica”
Other names

What does Oya hold in her hands?

Oya’s attributes are the sword or machete and the flywhisk, and Her animal is the water buffalo, in Whom She sometimes manifests. Her mother is said to be Yemaya, the Great Sea Mother. Oya Herself is said to be the mother of nine children–Egungun and four sets of twins.

What day of the week is Oya day?

Sunday
The four-day calendar was dedicated to the Orisas and the seven-day calendar is for doing business. The seven days are: Ọjọ́-Àìkú (Sunday), Ọjọ́-Ajé (Monday), O̩jọ́-Ìṣẹ́gun (Tuesday), Ọjọ́rú (Wednesday), Ọjọ́bo̩ (Thursday), Ọjọ́-E̩tì (Friday) and O̩jọ́-Àbamé̩ta (Saturday).

What Oya means?

The name Oya is primarily a gender-neutral name of African – Yoruba origin that means Wind Warrior Goddess.

Is Oya a water goddess?

“Oya’s themes are justice, tradition, zeal and femininity. Her symbols are fire, water and the number 9. A Yoruban mother Goddess and spirit of the river Niger, Oya flowers with us through the last day of January, strengthening our passion for and appreciation of life.

What does the name Oya mean?

Are Oya and Oba the same?

During the wars of the 19th century, her centers of worship moved to the more secure town Ogbomosho. She is traditionally identified as the senior wife of Shango (the third king of the Oyo Empire and an Orisha). Oba was tricked by Oya or Oshun into cutting off her ear and trying to feed it to Shango….Ọba (orisha)

Ọba
Spouse Shango

Do you pray to the orishas?

There are no required daily rituals. Personal prayer and sacrifice to one’s Orisha is encouraged. Required Weekly Observances. There are no required weekly rituals.

What does Oya mean in Africa?

Wind Warrior Goddess
The name Oya is primarily a gender-neutral name of African – Yoruba origin that means Wind Warrior Goddess.

What does Oya mean in Native American?

Owl
The name Opa is primarily a female name of Native American – Choctaw origin that means Owl.