The concept OLODUMARE has been misconstrued by many,this is due to unwarranted and unjustifiable colonial exploration and exploitation by our colonial masters ,they use foreign religion to enslave African . they claim we practice polytheism.
To be sincere and be frank the concept polytheism never exist at all in IFA and orisha tradition. In this little post I wish share my humble idear about yoruba monotheistic view of the nature of Olodumare (God ).How other orisha are energies through whish mankind can reach Olodumare.
For example if you want to see an emperor of an empire you cannot expect to just bulg in into his palace,you will need to see some chiefs who are next in rank to him, who can communicate with him easily and get what they want from him easily than you will do. So it is wise for you to send such chief to the emperor to get what you want for you quickly than for you to be spending donkey of years to get what you want from an emperor whish you may not communicate with easily.
The yoruba people so respect Olodumare that they channel their request through an energy called orisha to Olodumare and to be sincere with with very verifiable proof they get quick answer. That is why even people that claim to embrace foreign religion whether Christian or Muslim 99% of them still fall back on these energies when situation is expedient for it. Many people run from their root just to follow crowd due to inherited Colonial mentality . to be sincere with you there is nothing good about colonialism whether their culture Or religion they bring to Africa it all base on mean to enslave us ,.up till date western religion and culture and some times the educational system that the African inherited from their individual colonial master has always been a source of impediment to African development. While the Western and Eastern religion and shapy read and write education system alone without accompany technical know how to robbed and pillage African of their natural resources up till today as they do during time of slave trade. Well that is by the way I am just concerned. Back to my discussion,
who is Olodumare?
Olodumare in yoruba spirituality is monotheistic. There is only one God, and that is Olodumare. Olodumare is given many names like :Eledumare, Eduard, Old run, olofin orun, Oluwa, Eleda, Adeda, Aseda, Alase, etc. The list is endless. The name Olorun (whish mean the owner of heaven become predominant in usage with the coming of foreign colonial religion like Christianity and Islam )these foreign religion try as much as possible to avoid to use the name olodumare because they believe it take people back to their tradition.Olorun still mean same thing as Olodumare because is just using different name to refer to one entity. But Olodumare is the real yoruba name for God and all others names Are secondary to Olodumare. So what then is the meaning of the word Olodumare?
The word olodumare has be giving various meaning by our fathers. My first point of call is that the word come from the word OLODU OMO ARE (THAT IS AN ENTITY THAT IS SO ENORMOUS OR BIG YET WE CAN NOT ASERTAIN IT LOCATION )Odu mean a very big clay pot, Are mean a location that we can not asertain, hence if yoruba send a child an errands and the don't know his or her where about or ascertain where he was they will say 'MI o MO ibi to rin irin ARE lo'(that Is I don't know his whereabouts )so the word Olodumare come from the word OLODU OMO ARE (that is the entity that is so big and enormous yet we cannot fathom or ascertain where it is ) .the second view is that OLODU TO MARE (that is the only big entity that knows what is right )but to be sincere the first view is the most correct. Olodumare is aslo know as OLORUN (THE OWNER OF HEAVEN )OLUWA (LORD ),OLIFIN ORUN (KING OF HEAVEN )ORISE (SOURCE OF ALL THINGS )ADEDA ASEDA (THE CREATOR )ELEMI (THE OWNER AND KEEPER OF LIFE )ETC. Even some have interpret Olodumare to mean OLODU TO MON IRE (That's the owner of big clay pot that contain blessing )but as I told you earlier the first meaning I give seem the most correct and for most authority on it. I have heard and read my self some authors and especially foreign spiritual authors teaching and writing that Olodumare is a male in gender, some say olodumare is aa female. This notion of assigning gender whether male or female to Olodumare is absolutely wrong with due respect. .The correct position is that olodumare is neither male or female, olodumare is transcendent omniscient and gender neutral deity.
In yoruba cosmology Olodumare is believe to be ONE, it is believe that Olodumare is the creator of heaven and earth and whole universe, he is supreme over what is on earth and in heaven. Olodumare supremacy is absolute. He is acknowledge by all orisha and divinities as the one who all power and authority belong, he can do and undo any thing he want. He created everything he is self existing.
No body have ever seeing Olodumare including the orisha. It is only Oriunmila that see a part of his buttocks after a gigantic sacrifice at the sea. In odu ifa Osa Otura
Ifa reavel how Olodumare reavel is buttock to orumila
Ifa said in Osa Otura
A ki ri idi okun
A ki ri Idi Osa
A ki ri idi Olodumare
Sugbon Eni to ba ko sinu omi
Ni o mon ibi ti omi mu ni de
Awon to ba ke ibosi ni won feju Yan Yan soke
Difa fun Orunmila
Nijo ti yio lo re ridi Olodumare
Ebo ni won ko Kara ale ko mase
Woni eti okun ni ko gbe ebo lo
Orunmila gbe ebo odi eti okun
Bi o se niki ki o gbe ebo sile lo wo Olodumare to bora le ni ihihoho
Olodumare ni iwo Orunmila?
Orunmila si dahun pe repo
Olodumare nje o ridi mi bayii ?
Orunmila ni ibi sikiti ibadi nikan na ni mori
Olodumare ni oda to ba je be ko si ohun ti o ko ni ridi mon laye
Orunmila ba n jo
I ba n you
Oni ohun pelu eledumare egbarigba.
TRANSLATION
No one unravel the mystery of the ocean
No one unravel the mystery of the sea
No one unravel they mystery of Olodumare
It one who immersed himself in the river
That knows the depth of the river
It is one who cry out for assistance
That will open his eye very wide to the sky
Ifa divination reading was performed for Orunmila
When ifa want see the buttocks of Olodumare
He ask will I discovered Olodumare secrets ,everything he asked ?
Orunmila was instructed to offer sacrifice
But he should take the sacrifice to the sea
As he was about to place it at the beach
He saw Olodumare put off his garment
He saw the buttocks
Because Olodumare was stark naked and was in human image
Olodumare ask Orunmila did you see me?
Orunmila answer yes
I only see plump part of your buttock
Olodumare then said since you see my buttocks
There is nothing on earth that you will not be able to unravel again
Orumila was dancing and very happy
From this verse we can now deduce tha Olodumare is an invisible entity. You can communicate with him by using orisha of your choice as intermidiary.
You can contact babalawo Pele obasa obanifa for the following services :for Ifa divination reading and ebo (sacrifice on any issues. For initiation into ifa and any orisha in yoruba spirituality. For training to become a babalawo or iyanifa (ifa priest or priestess )
Copyright babalawo Pele obasa obanifa, phone and whatsap contact :+2348166343145,location Ile ife osun state Nigeria.
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