Ilè Ase Oba Jagun

Characteristics

DAY: Monday.

COLORS: Black, white and red.

SYMBOLS: Xaxara or Ileum, wooden spear, lagidibá.

ELEMENTS: Earth and fire from the interior of the Earth.

DOMAINS: Epidemic diseases, disease cure, health, life and death.

GREETING: Atotoó !!!

Omolú is the Earth! This statement sums up perfectly the profile of this orisha, the most feared among all African gods, the most terrible orixd of smallpox and all contagious diseases, the mighty "King of the Earth."

It is necessary to clarify, however, that Omolú is connected to the interior of the earth (ninù ilé) and this denotes an intimate relationship with the fire, since this element, as proven by erupting volcanoes, dominates the deepest layers of the planet.

All the reflection around Omolú occurred by placing it as an orixá connected to the earth, which is correct, but it is a mistake to disregard its relation with the fire of the interior of the earth, with the volcanic lavas, like gases etc. What can be more devastating than fire? Only the epidemics, the fevers, the convulsions thrown by Omolú!

Orixá surrounded by mysteries, Omolú is a god of uncertain origin, because in many regions of Africa were worshiped gods with characteristics and domains very close to his. Omolú would be king of the Tapas, originating of the region of Empé. In Mahi territory, in ancient Dahomey, he came to terrorize, but the people of the place consulted a babalao who taught them how to calm the terrible Orixá. They made offerings of popcorn, which soothed him and made him happy. Omolú built a palace in Mahi territory, where he came to reside and reign as sovereign, but he never ceased to be hailed as King of Nupê in parents Empê (Kábíyésí Olútápà Lempé).

Popcorn, or rather, deburu, are the favorite offerings of the Omixu orixá; a mighty god, warrior, hunter, destroyer, and implacable, but who becomes tranquil when he receives his favorite offering.

In Africa are many names of Omolú, which vary by region. Among the Tapas was known Xapanã (Sànpònná); among the Fons it was called Sapata-Ainon, which means "Owner of the Earth"; already the Yorubás call Obaluaiê and Omolú.

Omolú was born with his body covered with wounds and was abandoned by his mother, Nanã Buruku, on the edge of the beach. In this setback, a crab caused severe injuries to his skin. Yemanja found that child and created it with all love and care; with banana leaves healed her wounds and pustules and turned her into a great warrior and skilful hunter, who covered himself with chaff (iko) not because he hid the marks of his disease, as many think, but because he became a being of brilliance as intense as the sun itself. Through this passage, the crab and the silver banana became the greatest ewò of Obaluaiê.

The azalea-straw hood (aze) covers the face of Obaluaiê so that humans do not look at it from the front (since looking directly at the sun itself can impair vision). The story of Omolú explains the origin of this enigmatic costume, which has a profound meaning related to life and death.

The aze keeps terrible mysteries for mere mortals, reveals the existence of something that must be kept secret, reveals the existence of prohibitions that inspire careful fear, something that only those initiated in the mystery can know. Unraveling the azure, the fearsome mask of Omolú, would be the same as unraveling the mysteries of death, for Omolú conquered death. Under the straw, Obaluaiê keeps the secrets of death and rebirth, which can only be shared among the initiates.

Omolú's relation to death is due to the fact that he is the land, which provides the indispensable mechanisms for the maintenance of life. Man is born, grows, develops, becomes strong before the world, but remains fragile before Omolu, who can devour him at any moment, for Omolú is the earth, which will consume the body of man at the time of your death.

Obaluaiê walked through all the corners of Africa, long before, even, to arise some civilizations. From a historical point of view, Omolú is the age before the Metal Age, wandered all over the world, experienced all the pains of the world, surpassed all. Therefore Omolu became a physician, the physician of the poor, for long before he saved the life of the needy; during slavery, could not overcome the cruelty of the masters, but of diseases he freed many blacks and even today many poor people can only resort to Omolú that they never lack.