Obatala
He is Considered the King of the White Cloth and the Elder Father Figure of all Orisha.
Since the Orisha are considered Queens and Kings He is considered King of Kings. In the lore of the Orisha, Obatala is considered central to the creation myth of the ancient Yoruba cultures of West Africa. Obatala is creator of all Humanity by order of the “The Creator- All Knowing- All Seeing S/He God” Oldumara (Ol-du-ma-ray) or is sometimes called Olorun. Although it is Olorun who created the Universe and the Orishas, it is Obatalá who is the creator of the Earth.
Since the Orisha are considered Queens and Kings He is considered King of Kings. In the lore of the Orisha, Obatala is considered central to the creation myth of the ancient Yoruba cultures of West Africa. Obatala is creator of all Humanity by order of the “The Creator- All Knowing- All Seeing S/He God” Oldumara (Ol-du-ma-ray) or is sometimes called Olorun. Although it is Olorun who created the Universe and the Orishas, it is Obatalá who is the creator of the Earth.
Creator of the Earth
On orders of Olorun, Obatala came down from the heavens and hovered over the waters with dirt and a chicken in His hands. He casted the dirt into the water and a small mass of land appeared. He placed the chicken on the land, and where it scratched the Earth developed as we know it today. After the land mass was created Obatala began to molded the image of humans from the dirt and soil for Olorun to breathe life into them. Because of this He is considered the molder of Human Kind. For the priesthood Obatala owns the heads of all human-beings until they are initiated to a particular Orisha. Once that happens that Orisha owns that person's head.
The God of Many Aspects
Obatala has many aspects. Obatala is considered the Orisha of the White and Silver Cloth, because of his demands for humans to seek spiritual pure light to bring out truth and clarity. He is considered the Orisha of Justice. This means He demands truth. Obatala is often called for help in trials and court cases, however He only helps those who are innocent and or speak the truth. Obatala punishes those who lies or go against justice. He is the Judge who enforces the Karmic Law. He is the Orisha to go to when one has to make amends. Other Orishas hold Him in great respect, because of His Emperor type judgment style as a negotiator and His advocacy for peace and diplomacy between them.
Obatala is the only Orisha who has hermaphroditic qualities, having both female and male aspects; therefore there are both male and female incarnations of Obatala. In Cuban Santeria, for example, Obatala sits in Her white-garbed form as Our Lady of Mercy or with Jesus Christ. She may also be Ochanla, a very old female who sits quietly and knits. This S/He aspect comes with many creator gods demonstrating the feminine aspect to create or to give birth to.
Obatala is also the patron of deformed or disable children which is the job he took on when one day he drank
too much palm wine and molded children incorrectly with missing limbs, mental disabilities, genetic defects
and deformities. From that day forward he claimed all these children as his own, and he promised Olorun
that he would never drink palm wine again.
too much palm wine and molded children incorrectly with missing limbs, mental disabilities, genetic defects
and deformities. From that day forward he claimed all these children as his own, and he promised Olorun
that he would never drink palm wine again.
Obatala Personality Attributes:
Obatala major aspect is that of the kindly old and wise father figure dressed in white and carrying a staff. In many aspects He is a young viral man holding a torch or a sword representing truth, and finding justice. His King of Kings title means He is intelligent and smart. He has sobriety, sensibility and moral energy. Since He is a creator Orisha He also respects creativity of any form or size.
Obatala is married to Yemaya; the Goddess of the Ocean and the personification of the Earth Mother. They have many children.
Favorites:
white goats, white hens, coconuts , milk, rice, white doves, fresh water, eggs and white yam. Never offer
Obatala liquor or spirits of any kind.
Obatala major aspect is that of the kindly old and wise father figure dressed in white and carrying a staff. In many aspects He is a young viral man holding a torch or a sword representing truth, and finding justice. His King of Kings title means He is intelligent and smart. He has sobriety, sensibility and moral energy. Since He is a creator Orisha He also respects creativity of any form or size.
Obatala is married to Yemaya; the Goddess of the Ocean and the personification of the Earth Mother. They have many children.
Favorites:
white goats, white hens, coconuts , milk, rice, white doves, fresh water, eggs and white yam. Never offer
Obatala liquor or spirits of any kind.
Obatala's Altar
For Our Offering to Obatala We Present His Favorite.