1/1/24, 10:09 PM Roads of Obatalá, the Orisha father ≫ Male and female avatars

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ORISHAS

Roads of Obatalá, the Orisha

father ≫ Male and female avatars
by Claudia Rodriguez

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Obá-Talá means "King that shines above all that exists" and can also be translated as
"King of the cloak".

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1/1/24, 10:09 PM Roads of Obatalá, the Orisha father ≫ Male and female avatars

And is that to Obatala, father of all children on earth, he is owed immense respect from
all men in the universe as one of the greatest Orishas and for being the creator of human
beings and everything that hasabita in the planet.

Who is the Orisha Obatala?

He is the benevolent and wise old man, but at the same time just and upright, who
advises the other Orishas and protects the humans who haveabitan the Earth.

He governs all parts of the human body, mainly the head and thoughts and adores
whiteness and white metals, especially silver, as a symbol of peace and purity and
exponents of cleanliness and neatness.

Obatala It represents at the same time creation and the magnanimous, but it is also
pride, anger and despotism, because, although it brings intelligence, peace and calm, it
does not tolerate disrespect on the part of its children and devotees.

The Orisha Obatala is one of the seven major and main Orishas of the Yoruba religion. He
was born as an incarnation of the supreme gods Olofín and Oloddumare and his first
commission was to create the Earth, although he could not finish the work and for that
reason he was descended to the greater Orisha.

But he is still venerated as the oldest and wisest of all the saints of the Afro-Cuban
pantheon, since Obbatalá in nature is symbolized by the mountains.añas and thus
possesses strength and endurance.

The Roads of Obatalá and their male and

female personifications
The roads of Obatalá they address his masculine and feminine personifications, as he is
the only Orisha that can appear as a man or a woman.

Below we present the paths of the Orisha Obatalá and their descriptions:

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1/1/24, 10:09 PM Roads of Obatalá, the Orisha father ≫ Male and female avatars

The Unity
Way Gender Description

Ayaguna is a male Obatala very similar to the Orisha of the rays, Shango. He
is a warrior, fearless and combative and carries a cane. This Obbatalá is the
son of Oshagriñán and king of Ketú who was a powerful quarrelsome
warrior, a friend of gossiping and drinking. But he is also a great rider and
1 ayaguna Male can fight mounted. As a young and brave man, he is the king of war and
dependencies and spread the fighting all over the world. He came to fight
from Africa to Asia. His dance is vigorous and warrior. He wears white and
wears a red cross stripe. Her necklace has eight red and sixteen white
beads.

This path shows Obatala as the female Orisha of purity. It was born in the
Obatala
2 Female sea and is represented by a large shell called Okinkonko. He is linked to the
Orisha Aye
orisha Oshún and his necklace has 25 stones the color of the egg yolk.

In this feminine path, Obbatalá, is a cold and trembling old woman who is
related to transformation and the feeling of forgiveness. She was Odúa's
wife and while he was doing ifá to her children, she taught them her
interpretation, which is why she is a very important Orisha for the Awó ni
Obatala Orumila. Its tureen must be white without ornaments, cotton is placed
3 Female
Orishanla inside with a parrot feather on top, a small rocking chair, an ivory or white
onyx ball, a pair of glasses, a cane, a thimble, a silver rosary and a house.
And on the outside, a snail, 21 iron bars, 3 onyx eggs, a five-legged five-
legged hen, a palm nut and fertilized soil. Her necklace is made of mother-
of-pearl.

It is the Orisha that is not seen and is symbolized with the eye of Divine
Obatala
4 Female Providence. Those who manage to see it go blind. She is an old woman with
Igba Ibo
wrinkles and white hair.

On this road to Obatalá he is syncretized with Jesus of Nazareth. It

Obatala
5 Male represents the sun and taught man everything he knows. He is the inventor
Oba Lufon
of carpentry and protector of mothers.

This Obatalá has his house on the mountainaña, is Olofin's messenger and
is the one who guides towards the ilé or house that Olofin has on the hill.
Obatala
He owns the owl representing the one he can see in the dark. He may be a
6 Ocha Male
hunchbacked old man with feeble steps, but when he needs it he is a brave
Grinan
warrior who stands tall and fights. His necklace is made with 24 white beads
and one red, until finished, before closing it a silver crucifix is ​placed.

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1/1/24, 10:09 PM Roads of Obatalá, the Orisha father ≫ Male and female avatars

The Unity
Way Gender Description

He is a young warrior who wears a red ribbon around his waist just like
Ayaguna and Oshagriñan. He is the father of fabrics and wears silk fabrics.
But he is not greedy with what he has and helps to ensure that they never
Obatala
7 Male lack employment or support for their children, which is why he is associated
Acho
with prayers for prosperity and money. His attributes are an ax, a saw, a lily
and two doves, all preferably made of silver. Your necklace, in addition to
white and transparent, must have a wooden bead or a brown bead.

He is the old and wise man who represents the protective spirit of the earth.
He always walks as if carrying something on his back and humps under the
weight of all his knowledge. Its necklace is made with 16 white beads, two
Obatala of soap water, a purple glory, two soap waters, 16 white and at the end a
8 Male
Oba Moro wooden cross is placed. He is the representative of the sick and his
messengers are the alapini (albinos), ashipa (lepers), samí (dwarfs) and
chinikú (crippled). The children of ObaMoró pray for their heads with dried
fruits, never with water fruits. On land, Arará is known as Jué Até.

Obatala On this path Obatalá was worshiped intensely, in a way that has been
9 Male
Efun Yobi forgotten today. He is depicted as Saint Joseph de la Montaña.

He is an old man where the Orisha father represents wisdom, humanity and
humility, and he listens with great patience to the problems that his children
Obatala have and always tries to solve difficulties. Its necklace is made of 16 white
10 Male
Yeku Yeku beads and 8 of mother-of-pearl interspersed with 8 of ivory. Its attributes
are a cane and two balls from which they are extracted from the stomach of
cattle.

This Obbatalá road has green as a complement to its white color, which is
why it is related to the Orisha Inle, it is represented by a chameleon. He is a
guardian and watchman at the top of the ceiba tree, and also lives leaning
Obatala
11 Male against the river walls. He carries among his belongings a cane, two
Alaguema
moñingas, a long-nosed sword and two hands of snails, and he eats at 12
o'clock in the day. Your necklace can be made like the example of Ayáguna
but substituting red for green.

Obatala This path is feminine and syncretizes with Saint Rita de Casia, as it protects
12 Female
Talabi children from all evil.

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1/1/24, 10:09 PM Roads of Obatalá, the Orisha father ≫ Male and female avatars

The Unity
Way Gender Description

Obatalá the exterminator and is related to the Orisha of the Oceans,

Obatala
13 Male Olokun, because he lives in the center of the seas and has secrets that
Ayalua
nobody knows.

On this road, Obbatalá is a guardian and for this he lives in high places
Obatala
14 Male watching over his children. He also lives in grant houses that help the
Okeilu
homeless.

Obatala Obatalá is also a wise old man, protector of oral expression and oratory. It is
15 Male
Olufon symbolized with a crown of white stones and 16 parrot feathers.

Obatala This is one of the lesser known paths of Obbatalá, but it is the one that
16 Male
Aguinyan directs the communication of the Orishas with the world.

Obatala In this way, Obatalá is female and is in charge of making announcements. It

17 Female
Obalabi is attracted by the sound of a silver triangle.

Obatala Obatalá in this way is protector of the oil and lives behind a curtain. Thanks
18 Male
Elefuro to him, the lamps shine.

Obatala This path of Obbatalá is feminine and is represented as a beautiful woman

19 Female
Orisha Yeye protector of femininity.

Obatala Obatalá has all the secrets related to spirits and has knowledge of Egyptian
20 Male
Obon practices. It is near the head of those who are dying.

Obatala
21 Female On this road, Obatalá is a woman and the owner of the road lights.
Obanla

Obatala
22 Male It represents drunkards and lives in a jar covered with shells.
Aycalambo

Obatala
He is a warrior and protects the door of the Orisha's palace. He is the
23 Orischa Male
protector of the potters.
Iwin

Obatala This path represents the messenger who takes the petitions to Obbatalá.
Male
Agguidai His collar is white and has colored sections.

Obatala This path represents the wise Obatala, owner of knowledge, unalterable and
24 Male
Eyuaro immutable

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1/1/24, 10:09 PM Roads of Obatalá, the Orisha father ≫ Male and female avatars

The Unity
Way Gender Description

Obatala It represents the Obbatalá who keeps calm in the world. It has a necklace of
25 Male
Ayenolu 16 jet black beads and wears colored scarves.

Obatala He is the protector of the blind, he lives in the water and drinks from a tin
26 Male
Abany pot.

Obatala This Obatalá is the advisor of the young people. He carries a silver cane with
27 Male
Eururu a cross, a horse, a pen, a book, and palm leaves.

Male
Obatala On this road to Obbatalá it can be considered male or female and is
28 and
Oshereilbo adorned with parrot feathers and shells.
female

Obatalá Hey Obbatalá is a hunter and carries a jar of deer, a carving of a woman in wood
29 Male
Lade and ivory.

Obatala Oyu
30 Male This path represents the Obbatalá soothsayer.
Alueko

Obatala He is the King of the Earth. It is represented by a mounted lead doll and 16
31 Male
Edegu seashells.

Obatala Bibi It is the giant Cyclops Obbatalá. It represents the fight for difficult things
32 Male
Nike and carries a sword, a spear and a shield.

Obatala In this way Obbatalá is a warrior and guardian of the city. He wears red and
33 Male
Ekanike white and needs a gunpowder-filled horn for the strength of his tureen.

This path represents a very old and very tall Obatala, who is completely
hidden from head to toe with a white sheet. He dances crouched, with his
Obatala
34 Male hands almost on the floor without touching it. It is syncretized with the
Ochalufon
Blessed Sacrament, and in some parts with Jesús Nazareno. It has 24 white
beads and 1 coral among 2 crystal.

Obatala In this way, Obatala is a woman and a maiden. It lives on the rocky reefs
35 Female
Ondo that border the sea and is protective of the sailors.

Obatala
This is the sovereign Obatala of human eyes. He wears arrows and his
36 Oloyu Male
crown is decorated with 4 parrot feathers.
Okuni

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1/1/24, 10:09 PM Roads of Obatalá, the Orisha father ≫ Male and female avatars

The Unity
Way Gender Description

Obatala
37 Male He is the king of metals and his tureen is wrapped with a silver chain.
Ocha Orulu

Obatala This path represents the oracles of Obatalá and with them the present, past
38 Male
Alabalache and future are known. He is a guide to the seashells.

Obatala Ana Lord of suffering. Old, long-suffering and proud. It is represented with two
39 Male
Suare machetes, two spears, whips, and a crown.

Obatala This path represents the guardian of Obatalá. Its necklace has 16 corojos
40 Male
Ogan and is washed with green coconut water.

Obatala Obatalá is a warrior and companion of the rainbow. He is riding a horse and
41 Male
Airanike his tools are made of silver.

Obatala
42 Male He rides a tiger and carries a sword in his hand.
Ekundire

Work with Obatalá and "Bálsamo Work with Obatalá to calm and
Tranquilo" to reassure a person strengthen unions

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1/1/24, 10:09 PM Roads of Obatalá, the Orisha father ≫ Male and female avatars

Obatala bath for health and

stability with white flowers and
milk

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1/1/24, 10:09 PM Roads of Obatalá, the Orisha father ≫ Male and female avatars

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