All About Oya: Learn who she is, what her day is, what she is offered, and the different paths she takes in the religion.
In the Yoruba pantheon, Oya is one of the most important goddesses. She is often associated with thunder and great storms, as its owner and mistress. She is closely associated with the egguns, or better known as the dead. For this reason, she is feared and respected.
Because she is highly respected on the path of Ifa, it is of great importance that you learn more about this great Orisha so that you can worship her properly. She is one of the most well-known images in Santeria.
Who is Oya?
Oya is an Osha, and is generally associated with Iku, the deity of death. She is auspicious for seasonal climates, very strong winds, hurricanes, thunder, and lightning.
She is known for having a violent and impetuous nature. She also resides in cemeteries. She has a very intense nature, with gloomy feelings, and is associated with the world of the dead.
In nature, she is generally symbolized by the lightning bolt. Along with Elegua, Orula, and Obatalá, she rules the four winds.
In Spiritism
She is considered the goddess of great hurricanes, tempests, and storms. As a very important figure in the entire Yoruba pantheon, she governs the energies related to nature. She does this together with her husband, Shango.
She is also known for being one of the few with the ability to manage and dominate the Egguns, as well as the owner of the cemetery gates.
In Palo Mayombe, a very ancient African religion that came to the Americas as a result of the slave trade, Oya is very important. Due to her African roots, this figure is central and essential, as she originates in ancient Africa.
In Santería
She has a very different ideal than the norm in tradition, especially as a female figure in the pantheon.
However, in her area of origin, West Africa, women can be associated with chivalry. This influenced the vision of Oya, as she is known as a very powerful deity associated with natural and atmospheric phenomena.
It was in this area that she acquired her image as an Amazon, with great courage and a voracity for life.
What day is her day?
It is important to know the deity’s day of veneration, as this can enhance the requests and offerings you wish to make to her.
In the case of Oya, the main day for her veneration is February 2nd. There is another day, celebrated in eastern Cuba, on October 15th. If you wish to make an offering on another day, you can do so on Fridays.
How to worship her?
There are different fruits, animals, and objects that can be placed on her particular altar to achieve positive results and keep Oya happy.
This Orisha should be worshipped with great care:
- Respect
- Veneration
- Kneeling in front of her altar
How to ask her?
This may depend on the needs of the interested person. In general, prayer dedicated to this Orisha allows you to obtain the sacred benefits associated with this goddess.
- Stand in front of his altar.
- Kneel and begin to pray.
- Pray with great faith.
- When you finish, stand up and leave his altar.
If you want to request and ask for something very complicated, the prayer is as follows:
“Oya yegre Iyá biesa
he heard orun afete ikúlebebi
oké ayaba gbogbo
loya abinrin,
ogá nor ano
ogá ni gbogbo aggun,
Oricha ni abaya oyú
ewa ovansa,
hey ri Jekua iyé mi
obinrin ni kuokuelé fun
olugba ni olofin,
nitosi wa ayaba
nor kua.”
The English phrases in the sentence read as follows:
“You are my Mother, Oyá,
and with your iruke you restore our health.
You are brave, Oyá,
and I need your help.
To please you, I offer you:
9 eggplants boiled in red wine.
You are the grocery store next door.
My Mother, nine days in heaven.
Wind of death.
Whirlpool from on high,
Queen of all markets.
Woman mistress of all spirits.
Mistress of sickness.
Saint with the line on her pretty face.
Mistress of the wind.
Who understands what she sees.
My Mother,
Woman of great power by God’s command,
To be Queen of Death.
Grant me the request I make of you.”
What offerings are given to Oya?
There are many offerings that can be made to Oya, many to name. Rites and ceremonies are generally filled with color, lots of music, and multiple prayers.
What is generally offered to the goddess is the following:
- In the case of fruits, Oya likes grapes, papaya, pomegranate, melon, coconuts, ripe bananas, or other yellow fruits.
- As for food, you can offer her rice, corojo butter, cocoa butter, precooked and toasted corn.
- In the case of animals, offerings include goats, chickens, doves, and guinea fowl. These animals must be sacrificed beforehand to be presented in the rites.
- As for vegetables, some include eggplant, sweet potato, yucca, wild cucumber, plantain, and custard apple. These are presented as infusions or prepared in advance.
- In the case of flowers and medicinal branches, some are flamboyant, star apple, thousand flowers, geranium, purple coral, Pacific sea, verbena, cemetery flower, dead-scare, voice changer, vergonzosa, artemisia, cordovan, camphor, curujey, custard apple, and meloncillo. These herbs are generally found in tropical areas, especially in Cuba.
The offerings are presented in a very pleasant manner, through dances and songs in the typical Santeria language, Yoruba. Food is usually offered, and very different drinks are often offered. The dances represent Oya waving her iruke, which helps cleanse bad influences and bad vibes.
What paths does Oya have?
In many cases, this goddess is known as Yansá, from the Yoruba word Iyamsa. She is the mother of nine egguns, and therefore has a very important and special power over them.
This goddess has 23 paths or avatars by which she is known:
- Oya Yansa Bí Funkó.
- Oya Dumí.
- Oya De.
- Oya Bumí.
- Oya Bomi.
- Oya Nira.
- Oya Igbalé.
- Oya Nike.
- Oya Tolá.
- Oya Dira.
- Oya Funké.
- Oya Iya Efon.
- Oya Afefere.
- Oya Yansá Mimú.
- Oya Obinídodo.
- Oya Yansa Duma.
- Oya Yansa Doco.
- Oya Tombowa.
- Oya Ayawá.
- Oya Tapa.
- Hey Tomboro.
- Oya Yansa Odó.
- Oya Yansá Orirí.
What are her colors?
There are several colors often associated with the orishas. Generally, Oya’s popular and main colors are brown and burgundy. She also wears all the colors of the rainbow except black.
On the other hand, she is also often associated with purple. If you want to please Oya so she can hear your request, you can do the following:
- Boil 9 eggplants in burgundy.
- Once chopped, add the skin and two tablespoons of brown sugar and let them sit for 9 minutes.
- Now place them in a container.
- Cover the eggplants with a white cloth and a purple cloth.
- Leave them for several days next to the image of Oya.
- Say a prayer daily.
- When the time is up, throw them away.
What are Oya’s children like?
It’s important to know the main characteristics of Oya’s children, whether you are one of them or have someone close to you who is.
Now we’ll tell you about the main ones:
- They are known for being generous.
- They are very confident in themselves and in what they do.
- They value true friendship greatly.
- They tend to be very loyal.
- They remain protectors and defenders of the people they love.
- They are brave and strong in life’s situations.
- They possess great beauty and delicacy.
- They are very cunning.
- They dislike betrayal.
- They are warriors when provoked.
- Their spirit is usually indomitable.
- They possess great creativity.
- In love, they are very sentimental and emotional.
What are the prohibitions for her children?
Oya’s children are very few, so they tend to be very special to Oya. They have different prohibitions.
- Not performing Ifá
- Not lying
- Not eating too much fat
The origin of this comes from a pataki, an ancient story. In this case, Oya insisted strongly that one of her children perform Ifá. But Orunmila refused, gloating that he was the only and most important of Ifá.