Obatala

In the religion of the Yoruba people, Obàtálá is the creator of human bodies, which were supposedly brought to life by Olorun's breath. Obàtálá is also the owner of all ori or heads. Any orisha may lay claim to an individual, but until that individual is initiated into the priesthood of that orisha, Obàtálá still owns that head. This stems from the belief that the soul resides in the head.

Obatala (king of White Cloth) is said to be the Olorun's second son, by others to be merely one of Olorun's favorite Orisha. He is the one authorized by Olorun to create land over the water beneath the sky, and it is he who founds the first Yoruba city, Ife. Obatala is Olorun's representative on earth and the shaper of human beings. He is known to some Yoruba as Orisha-Nla or Olufon.

IN ILE IFE: THE DYING AND RISING GOD:

According to mythical stories Obatala is the eldest of all orisha and was granted authority to create the earth. Before he could return to heaven and report to Olodumare however, his rival Oduduwa (also called Oduwa, Oodua, Odudua or Eleduwa) and younger brother usurped his position by taking the satchel and created in his stead the earth on the Primeval Ocean. A great feud ensued between the two that is re-enacted every year in the Itapa festival in Ile Ife, Nigeria. Ultimately, Oduduwa and his sons were able to rule with Obatala's reluctant consent.

It appears from the cult dramas of the Itapa festival that Obatala was a dying and rising god. He left his Temple in the town on the seventh day of the festival, stayed in his grove outside the town on the eighth day and returned in a great procession to his Temple on the ninth day. The three-day rhythm of descent into the netherworld and subsequent resurrection on the third day shows the closeness of Obatala to the pre-canonical Israelite Yahweh and the figure of Jesus.

IN IFA: ESSENCE OF CLARITY:

In Ifa, Obatala energy is the essence of Clarity. Within the myriad of kaleidoscopic energies that comprise our universe, the energy of Clarity is critically important. It is Clarity that allows us to make the right decisions, to differentiate right from wrong and perhaps most importantly, to see the other energies as they truly are! All the tales, or pataki, of Obatala, are designed to illuminate this reality.

Obatala is always referred to as The Orisa of the white cloth. White, in this sense, forms a perfect background for correctly seeing and identifying that which is around you. White is also viewed as a sign of purity, but, too often, thanks to the pernicious (sounds more opinion influenced than scientific) Christian Missionary influence on the Yoruba philosophy, this idea of purity has religious or moral implications. Instead, purity is another aspect of Clarity for this energy is unblemished, pure in its ability to discern. The moral judgment of Obatala is not based on this sense of Christian purity, but rather on this energies absolute ability to see clearly the total spectrum of energies or issues involved. Obatala is often seen as the Wise Old Man. Again, age and wisdom are simply representative aspects of increased clarity and judgment. Obatala is seen as the King of the Orisa. Again, this is not a power struggle or ego issue, this is simply a way of pointing out that Clarity of purpose, destiny and behavior will always take precedence when confusion or disagreement exists. Obatala is also viewed as the Judge. Obatala is said to have been the Molder of men. What more important aspect in our creation could be the imparting of Clarity into our being? When drinking too much Palm Wine dulled that Clarity, Obatala is said to have created deformed and handicapped people. This is pictured as his "fall from grace." That Red Palm oil is never placed on Obatala is another example of this. The Pure clarity must remain clear and unblemished. That Obatala represents the Head is consistent. It is from the mind that Clarity will come forth. Each and every tale is simply a way of expressing Oludumare's creation of this essential energy the energy of Clarity. For the Obatala child the expression and use of this primary energy is complex. The Obatala child will see a world of black and white. No Gray. To an Obatala child things are either right or wrong there is no middle ground.

According to mythical stories, Obatala created people with disabilities while drunk on palm wine, making him the patron deity of such people. People born with congenital defects are called eni orisa: literally, "people of Obatala". He is also referred to as the orisha of the north. He is always dressed in white, hence the meaning of his name, Obatala (King or ruler of the white cloth). His devotees strive to practice moral correctness as unblemished as his robe. They never worship Obatala with palm wine, palm oil or salt. They may eat palm oil and salt, but never taste palm wine.

ORIKI (PRAISE NAMES)

• Oluwa Aiye or Oluwa Aye - Lord of the Earth
• Alabalase - He who has divine authority
• Baba Arugbo - Old Master or Father
• Baba Araye - Master or Father of all human beings (lit. citizens of the earth)
• Orisanla (also spelt Orisainla, Orishanla or Orishainla) or Oshanla - The arch divinity

• OBATALA'S WIVES

• Yemoo (known as Yembo in Cuba)
• Yemaya
• Igbin (who became a drum still played for him)

IN SANTERÍA

Obàtálá has been syncretized with Our Lady of Mercy.

OTHER NAMES

• Obatalá
• Osala
• Oshala
• Oxalá
• Orisala
• Orishala
• Orixalá

• PATHS

• Ayagunna
• Ocha Griñan
• Oba Moro
• Oba Lofun
• Baba Acho
• Yeku Yeku
• Orisha Aye (Orisa Aiye, Orixa Aiye, Orisha Aye, Orisa Aye, Orisha Aye)
• Alaguema
• Obanla
• Osanla
• Oshanla
• Ochanla
• Osalufon
• Oshalufon
• Ochalufon
• Traditional Colors: White
  Number: 8
  Areas of Influence: Knowledge, Leadership, Fatherhood, Justice and the legal system, Geology, People who are handicapped, the military
  Entities associated with: Our Lady of Mercy
  Symbols: Mountains, snail shells, short whip made with white horsehair and cowrie shells, quartz crystals, white rocks, frogs, white animals
  Offerings: White bland food (either the meat or the milk of a coconut, potatoes, eggs, rice, mushrooms, milk, water, etc), crushed up egg shells, cotton, snail shells, frankincense, myrrh or sandalwood incense, tobacco
  Feast Day: September 24th
  Astrology: Libra
  Tarot: Justice, the Emperor
  Chakra: Crown
  Gemstones: Quartz crystal, howlite, chalcedony, lead crystal, diamonds, ivory
  Animals: Snails, Elephants, Egrets, Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, Snow monkeys, Cotton-top Tamarin monkeys
  Entities of Similar Energy: Tyr, Odin (as All-father), Ra, Damballah
• Plants associated with: Garlic, hyssop, sage
  
  
• Obatala is the father figure of the Orishas. He is also the chief and judge. He is very wise and compassionate. Obatala is married to Yemaya, the ocean goddess and mother-figure of the Orishas. They have been married a very long time and have many children. According to traditional Santeria belief, Obatala is the father of human beings. However, while making humans from the earth, Obatala got thirsty and began to drink some palm wine. He got drunk and started to make some of the humans deformed. After he sobered up, he realized what he had done and he swore from that day forward he never drink and that he would take special care of people who are handicapped.
• When Obatala was younger, he was very bold and brash. He was a strong warrior who saw a lot of horrible things on the battlefield. All of those experiences tempered him. Now, he is an Orisha who works for peace. As judge, Obatala is very much involved with issues of justice and law (man-made or karmic). He will be involved in any kind of court case or legal issue. However, you should not ask him to get involved in a legal case if you are guilty unless you are willing to face your punishment. Obatala also rules karmic justice. If a karmic injustice has been committed or if you need to make amends for something you have done, than go to him for help. Obatala teaches us to fight for what is right and to take responsibility for what we have done wrong.

  PROPERLY SHOWING RESPECT TO OBATALA

  First and foremost, do not ever offer him alcohol. If you are doing a group offering and other deities are getting alcohol, the set up his offering in a different place. He likes his offerings on Sundays and you should make sure his altar is clean. It would be best if you can serve him on a white piece of cloth. Do not serve him any food that is too hot or spicy. Traditionally, any food you offer him should have cotton on top of it (take a real cotton ball and pull it apart like a spider web and then place it over the food). Be honest. Take responsibility for your mistakes. If you are a father, be a great dad.

  WHERE TO FIND OBATALA

  Churches, universities, libraries, state/national parks and forests, the mountains, the military.

  OBATALA’S CHILDREN

  The children of Obatala are intellectual, methodical organizers. They like to think their decisions through. They have strong ideas of what is right and wrong. They hold themselves to high standards. They can also be neurotic clean freaks. Many times, children of Obatala are impetuous and hot-headed when younger and then grow up to be cool, calm adults. They can suffer from frequent headaches or sinus problems and do not hold their liquor well. Many times they will be drawn to legal, military or careers involving geology and/or engineering. They like to get outdoors. Normally, their relationships (romantic and otherwise) will be very long-term. They are slow to anger but watch out when they do, it’s going to get ugly! Many times if Obatala is your father, than Yemaya is your mother.
• The Orisha Obatala is central to the creation myth of the ancient Yoruba cultures of West Africa, where he is also manifest in the "white gods" of creativity and justice: Orishanla, Oshala, Oshagiyan, Oshalufon, Orisha Oko, and Osha Funfun. He also provides the moral purpose of the historical king Shango, the Orisha of lightning and thunder. Obatala is said to have descended from heaven on a chain to mould the first humans and indeed to mould every child in the womb, although he is only one aspect of Olodumare, the Almighty God, who alone can breathe life into the creations of Obatala.

A saint among saints and the archetypal spirit of creativity, Obatala has been carried to many cultures of the New World, where for centuries he has been honored as the patron of children, childbirth, albinos, and anyone with a birthmark. In the New World as in the Old it is said, "Obatala marks his children."

 

In Yoruba Oba means "king" and tala [ala] is undyed fabric, the blank canvas, which is why the King of the White Cloth is said to be a tranquil judge. Obatala is honored with brilliant white cloth, white lace, white beads and cowries, white flowers, silver coins, and silver jewelry. He is honored with white hens, snails, white melon soup, pounded yams, and other white food such as eko, fermented corn wrapped in plantain leaves. His priests and priestesses wear only white, although his warrior avatars Ajaguna & Obamoro add a dash of blood red. Ochosi, the Orisha of the hunt is Obatala's scout and surveyor and guards an inner court of the alter of Obatala in the ancient city of Ile Ife.

 

The gentle Obatala is associated with honesty, purpose, purity, peace, the New Year, forgiveness, and resurrection, which is why some authorities associate him with Christ and the Egyptian Osiris. As the divinity of created form, "the old man" is the patron saint of artists, called the Divine Sculptor. He is also called Alamo Re Re, the One Who Turns Blood Into Children. He is Alabalashe, the Wielder of the Scepter of Life, and he is O Ho Ho, the Father of Laughter, "Who sits in the sky like a swarm of bees."