Oriṣa

orisa oriṣa Orisa Yoruba Alternative forms yo Ọ̀rị̀ṣà Ekiti, Ife Etymology The etymology of the term is yo unclear (perhaps from yo alv-yrd-pro *ò-rìsà, yo alv-yrd-pro *ɔ̀-rɪ̀cà, or yo alv-yrd-pro *ò-rìcà). May have originally referred to the sky or rainfall, a sense which is still used in some contexts but is rare. Several folk etymologies exist, the main one suggesting it comes from yo orí ì- ṣà head, conscience, destiny nominalizing prefix nominalizing prefix to be selected, to choose The head that is specially selected. (This is unlikely, however, as this term only fits the Yoruba definition of òrìṣà, but not the cognate versions in other languages or even in other Yoruba dialects.) Historically among the ancient Yoruba, and likely their Proto-Yoruboid ancestors, Òrìṣà referred to a specific arch-divinity of the sky and creation (now known as yo Òrìṣàńlá and yo Ọbàtálá). See cognates its Òrìtsẹ̀, ig Òlìsà, urh Oyise, yo Ọ̀rìṣà, bin Osa, Oisa, igb Oricha, and fon Lisà. In these related languages and Eastern Yoruba dialects of the Yoruba language (see yo Ọ̀rị̀ṣà) as well as old Yoruba songs, Òrìṣà has retained a proper noun definition, referring to a specific high-ranking androgynous divinity associated with the sky, creation, and government. Pronunciation Òrìṣà Proper noun Òrìṣà yo historical obsolete the supreme being and deity associated with the sky, rainfall, and weather. Equivalent to what is now regarded as yo Olódùmarè, this meaning is still used in the Ekiti Yorùbá equivalent yo Ọ̀rị̀ṣà, yo Àbarị̀ṣà. yo Olódùmarè Ọlọ́run yo rare yo Ọbàtálá, a primordial sky deity or yo imọlẹ̀ associated with rain, creation, and purity regarded as the oldest of the deities and the creator of humanity. Probably originally equivalent with Sense 1. The deity traditionally was regarded as being androgynous. Their worship combined with the ancestral deification of a figure known as yo Ọbàtálá, forming into the Yoruba deity yo Ọbàtálá and yo Òrìṣàńlá. yo Òrìṣàńlá Ọbàtálá Derived terms yo Òrìṣàńlá yo òrìṣà Related terms yo imọlẹ̀, yo ẹbọra, yo irúnmọlẹ̀ yo Yoruba religion Gods