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Yoruba: Ibantan ti okan (kin of one) |
The supreme being known as Obatala is known by many names and many paths or avatars.. Obatala is one entity with different titles at different continuance of life. To understand what I'm about to write, you first must be immersed in the science of a mathematical process used in physics named binary code.
The definition is as follows.
(A coding system using the binary digits 0 and 1 to represent a letter, digit, or other character)
This same process is used in Ifa, one equals two, and two equals one. when the priest of Orula is divining, he uses a complex math to determine the mark of a line, a positive or a negative. When the Ikins or the Okpele marks two position its representing one mark, when it marks one position it two marks. here is a better example. The system is the binary of 256 if you divide this down by two you end up with one. 256/2=128/2-64/2=32/2=16/2=8/2=4/2=1
There are 256 positions or possibilities in Ifa, Orula had 16 senior apostles.there are 4 cardinals points on earth, and 1 center point “Earth” the here and now. This all may seem a bit vague, it will all make sense as we take this journey. Olodumare’s mother is Olorun. Olorun is the name of the birth energy.
Between Olorun and olodumare obatala was conceived. Olodumare then takes the task to create all things in the cosmos, what we call the physical matter realm. while Olorun is the spiritual unseen realm. It is recorded in the odu that Obatala is the embodied odu of Orogan known as Ofun meji in the system of the Cowrie(Adele) Orogan was the first to arrive on a shapeless structure earth but returned to heaven because of his temperament. (we are speaking of deities that are multi dimensional)
Olodumare decided on reducing the citizens of heaven for heaven had become so overly populated with too many different species. Olodumare desired to transplant some of its citizens to earth. Olodumare requested that his child iyekun meji, take on the task, but days before obatala’s private oracles had instructed him to offer an offering to the spirit of destiny (Esu), the oracle foretold of obatala's greatest evolution if he followed the advice of the irunmoles. Obatala gave Esu a feast to honor Esu, sacrificing a goat at Esu’s shrine. Esu in generosity, informs Obatala what was olodumares desired mission in minimizing heavens population.
Obatala wanting this task for himself decided in deceiving Eyekun by having Eyekun consume his favorite drink of Palm wine (a weakness of eyekun) convincing him to celebrate and drink with his younger brother. Eyekun at first refused because of his mission to meet with their father, but obatala insisted and Eyekun accepted His brothers offer, one drink led to countless amounts leaving Eyekun with a hangover.The following day as olodumare waited for his son to arrive, became inpatient and noticed that his beautiful younger son Obatala was present, It seemed obvious to him that Eyekun was not up for the task, Olodumare decided in giving Obatala the task to relocate the citizens. Before olodumares plan could occur the new destination needed certain processes to be implemented,
When Obatala received his fathers blessings and his entourage he begins the departure from heaven, The quantum leap caused a ripping through the fabric of space and time, from one dimension to ours,this generated a great explosion of energy and light, (The recurring event we see today as the rising sun), the opening of the day is the testimonial of Obatala’s arrival..
This event teaches that although Eyekun, Iwori and Orogan are older by age they lost their status by their younger brother. Its not a person's age or seniority , but the wielding of wisdom, of obedience that gives a high ranking status.
The dynasty of Obatala is extensive crediting him on the formation of the earth, being the two physical parts of the top and bottom east and west hemisphere, creator of the human body structure, The atmosphere, guardian of the garden of eden. Everything which consists of creation on a physical term is obatala. The legends tell that the earth was a two part merger of obatala, the top part being a male obatala, and the bottom a female obatala. Esu is the line, or the break between the two, Esu is the separation of one whole into two parts.
The dynasty is too complex to divide but one can account their are the males obatala’s, and the females. and then there are those that are so ancient we don’t know their sex. Although humans label things in sexes, I regard Obatala as a “Asexual Deity” Obatala is similar to one of his favorite pets “The snail”. Snails do not require a sex partner to conceive, they can self inseminate, self reproduction.
I have included the names of forty three Obatala’s,There are Obatala’s of different ranks, as we see in Olofin, Odudua, Aremu.
The list of names/paths titles:
1.Ayalua,(known also as Bojueleso mother of shango,) 2.{Moro Elefa} this one walks with oshun) 3.Aguema, 4.obatala oloyu okuni, 5.obatala osha orulu, 6.okeylu, 7.ayelu, 8.ala albalashe, 9.Ayaguna, 10.anasuare, 11.baba oshagrinNan, 12.Obamoro,13.obalufon, 14.ogan, 15.orishanla, 16.yemu, 17.okeilu, 18.yelu, 19.olufon, 20.oguiniyan, 21.eluaye, 22.obalabi,23.yeku yeku, 24.ariba iya yeku yeku ife, 25.eluforo, 26.oshanla, 27.orisha aye,28.obon, 29.obanla, 30.aikalambo, 31.airanike, 32.oyu alueko, 33.orisha igbin, 34.oeylade, 35.ekindire, 36.orisha obabala, 37. bibinike, 38. osheribo, 39.ekanike, 40.adegu,41.fururu,42.abani,43.asho,
Once again I will write about this label we call paths or avatars. To understand this process we visit the topic of reincarnation. Each avatar is the embodied physical incarnation of divine spark of each orisa, we too are in a constant evolution toward perfection, our soul, “that which is the part closely related to the Source of all things” Our soul has no end it will continue to exist as Source does, as energy can only transform itself.