OBATALA (THE KING IN WHITE CLOTH)
BY BABALAWO OBANIFA-Obanifa extreme documentaries(Vol 2)
OBATALA AS AGBA ORISA (OBATALA AS
ARCH DIVINITY)
Among all the divinities Obatala is next to OLODUMARE. Hence, he is very important. It is just that Ifa is the most knowledgeable because Obatala himself needed to consult Ifa if he wants to succeed in his mission. It is believed that Obatala can do anything he wants to do. Hence it is called Alabalase (that is the one with who can do anything he wants). Odu Ifa Ejiogbe is the odu wish explain the prominence of Obatala. Ifa says:
Gbogbo ola omi ti n be laye
Ko le to ti olokun
Gbogbo iyi odo ti San
Ko le to ti olosa
Awon lo difa fun Obatala (orisa Nla oseremagbo) lojo ti yi o je Alabalase
Ti gbogbo Irumonle n leri leka pe awon yoo gba ninu oriki re
Ifa Orunmila Baba Agboniregun yehun
Esu- lalu Elegbera yera
Wo ni eku keku ki run bori asin
Erakera ki run bori Ikamudu
Ko si Ifa ti o niyi koja Ejiogbe
Gbogbo odo kekeke ti won bani tolokun ko si laye. Gbogbo won ni gbe laulau
Bi papa ba jo nigbo erukutu a so loju won
Mo toro ola lowo olosa ibikeji odo
Mo rije beni n ko you rara
Tani ko si mon wipe ola olodumare nikan lo to je di ojo iku eni
Ko le to ti olokun
Gbogbo iyi odo ti San
Ko le to ti olosa
Awon lo difa fun Obatala (orisa Nla oseremagbo) lojo ti yi o je Alabalase
Ti gbogbo Irumonle n leri leka pe awon yoo gba ninu oriki re
Ifa Orunmila Baba Agboniregun yehun
Esu- lalu Elegbera yera
Wo ni eku keku ki run bori asin
Erakera ki run bori Ikamudu
Ko si Ifa ti o niyi koja Ejiogbe
Gbogbo odo kekeke ti won bani tolokun ko si laye. Gbogbo won ni gbe laulau
Bi papa ba jo nigbo erukutu a so loju won
Mo toro ola lowo olosa ibikeji odo
Mo rije beni n ko you rara
Tani ko si mon wipe ola olodumare nikan lo to je di ojo iku eni
Translation :
Of all the honor given to all water source in this planet earth, non can be compare to honor given to Olokun (the goddess of the ocean)
Of all the glory of the flowing river, non can be compare to the glory of the of Olosa (the goddess of the sea
These were Ifa for Obatala oseremagbo
When he will be coronated as the head of all divinities
All divinities were extremely jealous of him and they claim they will share in his part of his honor and glory
Orunmila baba Agboniregun did not support them
Esu elegbera count himself out of the conspiracy
They say honor is given to whom honor is due. No rat odor can outweigh Eku Asin odor
Not odor of insect can outweigh that of Ikamudu insect
Any river that want to claim supremacy over ocean will dry up completely
If the bushes Is burn it throw up big dust
It is the prosperity I seek from you goddess of oceans and sea.
Who doesn't know that it is the
OLODUMARE ("God) grace that is sufficient till one’s old age.
What we can actually get in this odu ifa is that Obatala is arch Divinity and respect should be given to him as such.
BETWEEN OBATALA AND ORUNMILA WHO IS
THE MOST POWERFUL?
The answer to this question is straightforward
Orunmila been Orisa of wisdom is more powerful than Obatala. Obatala almost in
all cases do seek guidance and direction from Orunmila .
WHY OBATALA FORBID HIS CHILDREN FOR DRINKIN AND PARTYING(WE ARE HERE CONCERN WITH INTOXICATING LIQUOR.
Apart from the fact that Obatala hate any intoxicating drink like Palm wine , gin, beer, wine etc . due to his ancient mistake of drinking himself to stupor which makes him to lose his role in creation story to Oduduwa. He also forbids his children or followers from doing such. One historical myth that gives credence to such, goes thus. In ancient times Obatala have a daughter call Eefunseke. Eefunseke was betrothed to Ogun (god of iron). Ogun is a great lover of Palm wine. It happens one day that Ogun is celebrating his annual festival. He invited Eefunseke the daughter of Obatala. Ogun drink to the extent that palm wine mistakenly enter Eefunseke eyes when they are playing. As a result Eefunseke become blind. Obatala quickly run to Ifa Orunmila for help. After the divination reading in which Odu Ifa Ogunda meji appear on divination tray. Orunmila told Obatala to bring, Snail, fish and rat. After the sacrifice. The water from the snail is taking. And it was given to Obatala to use as eye drops for Eefunseke. Eefunseke use this omi ero until she regains her sight. Obatala now warm that none of his children or follower should go near palm wine or any intoxicating liquor ever. Eefunseke relationship with Ogun during this hot afternoon of the festival results to pregnancy. The pregnancy come along with many complications. Obatala then run back to Ifa orunmila asking about the issue of the Eefunseke pregnancy. Orunmila instructed Obatala and Eefunseke his daughter to sacrifice Igbin meta (six snail) obi merindinlogun (sixteen kolanut) isu merindinlogun (sixteen yang) eko merindinlogun (six wrap of thick palp) efun merindinlogun (sixteen efun) koko osun merindinlogun (sixteen cam wood). They carry out the required sacrifice as demand by orunmila. Eefunseke carry the pregnancy for good sixteen month. With out any pain or complications again after the sacrifice. She gave birth to Afin (albino)
When this albino is growing up. He was unable to eat normal food or engaged in hard farming job like others. Obatala took the albino to Ifa orunmila to cast divination reading to know what he can chose as profession. The odu that appears on the divination tray is Ogbe masun that is ogbe Irosun, ifa said almost all albino must practice as a diviner or doing spiritual job.
Ti Awo ni epo
Ti ogberi ni eje
Lo da ifa fun orisa Nla oseremagbo
Ti yi o se ebo omo re tan lati Orun
Ifa ni ire Gbogbo ayika iwa
Ebo aiku nitori omo
Gbogbo ikan ti eje ti gbe lohun ebo
opa eku, opa EJA, epo, obi, orogbo lopo, igbin lopo, eyele, adiye
Gbogbo re ni orisa Nla ru
Igbayi niku ko pa won mon
Translation
The initiates are the ones who possess palm oil
The uninitiated are the ones possess blood
They are the Ifa priest that cast Ifa divination reading for Orisa Nla oseremagbo
Ifa foresee all blessings of life, ranging from victory over enemies and prosperity all blessings you may think of.
Ifa instruct orisa Nla to offer sacrifice because of his children longevity of life span
The items to be use for the sacrifice are :dry rather, dry fish, kola nut, water and many snail
Obatala carry this instructions of Ifa to detail
Afterwards all his male and female children survive and overcome all enemies and sickness..
The Afin (albino) are spiritualy consecrated from the womb to be a preist or diviner because of the this aforementioned obatala sacrifice.
OBATALA AS god FERTILITY (GIVING CHILDREN TO THE BARREN)
Obatala is good for barren people to pray to. One of the ancient noticeable devotee of Obatala is a man called Oniyagbe oni yagan (that means a successful maize farmer) , he leave in ancient town called doromi Awise. he is happily married to a lovely woman called omojinku. They are very successful maize farmer. But their only problem is childlessness. The have use herbs and try all things possible. But no results. And there are committed worshiper of Obatala.
Ona sisi muni mona
Ona ti a ko ba to ri
Akoko seni sibala sibolo
Ohun ire ni you obi ninu aso
Ohun buruku ni yo ofa ninu apo
Awon lodifa fun ako aya ati abo aya lojo ti won lo Oko iwaje.
Ako aya yagbado o gun igi
O ni ki okoko ma ku ki oloko marun
Ki igi ogunbere ma fa ya ti
oba diwoyi amondun ki won le ribi jo gbantete gbantete
Abo aya o ya agbado tie
Oni bi okoko ba le ku ko ku
bi oloko ba Lee run ko run
Bi igi ogunbere bale ya ko ya
Ti o ba diwoyi amondun bi won jo gbantete nibi won a lo jo nibo miran
abo aya ni oniyagbe PA ti o di olomon.
Translation
it is persistent training that makes one have knowledge of Ifa
When one make mistakes on roads it makes him become an expert later
The unknown path that one never take before can bring confusion
It is good utterance that brings kolanut out as a gift from pocket of it owner
It it bad utterance that bring forth sword from it shealt, that is bad world bring negative manifestation.
They are the preist who cast ifa Divination for male and female apes
On the day they are going to farm to find their livelihood
When the male monkey take the maize he hopp from tree to tree and said OLODUMARE don't let this farmer die, don't him fall six, that let this ogunbere tree that I am standing on fall so that we can come here next yera and dance gainfully.
But to the contrary
The female ape after fetching her own maize she said
If the farmers want to die he should die , if he wants to fall sick he should fall sick. If this ogunbere tree that I am standing on want to tea apart let it tear.
If we did get maize here next year we will go to other plantation and eat and dance gainfully there.
Then the oniyagbe shot the female aya with gun and he have child.
Ona ti a ko ba to ri
Akoko seni sibala sibolo
Ohun ire ni you obi ninu aso
Ohun buruku ni yo ofa ninu apo
Awon lodifa fun ako aya ati abo aya lojo ti won lo Oko iwaje.
Ako aya yagbado o gun igi
O ni ki okoko ma ku ki oloko marun
Ki igi ogunbere ma fa ya ti
oba diwoyi amondun ki won le ribi jo gbantete gbantete
Abo aya o ya agbado tie
Oni bi okoko ba le ku ko ku
bi oloko ba Lee run ko run
Bi igi ogunbere bale ya ko ya
Ti o ba diwoyi amondun bi won jo gbantete nibi won a lo jo nibo miran
abo aya ni oniyagbe PA ti o di olomon.
Translation
it is persistent training that makes one have knowledge of Ifa
When one make mistakes on roads it makes him become an expert later
The unknown path that one never take before can bring confusion
It is good utterance that brings kolanut out as a gift from pocket of it owner
It it bad utterance that bring forth sword from it shealt, that is bad world bring negative manifestation.
They are the preist who cast ifa Divination for male and female apes
On the day they are going to farm to find their livelihood
When the male monkey take the maize he hopp from tree to tree and said OLODUMARE don't let this farmer die, don't him fall six, that let this ogunbere tree that I am standing on fall so that we can come here next yera and dance gainfully.
But to the contrary
The female ape after fetching her own maize she said
If the farmers want to die he should die , if he wants to fall sick he should fall sick. If this ogunbere tree that I am standing on want to tea apart let it tear.
If we did get maize here next year we will go to other plantation and eat and dance gainfully there.
Then the oniyagbe shot the female aya with gun and he have child.
What actually happened is that when Oniyagbe shot the female ape. There is a cowries found
inside the womb of the female ape.
When he got home he explained to Orunmila. Orunmila prescribed another
set of sacrifice and akose ifa inside a pot and told oniyagbe to place the pot
behind the porogun tree. Which is the shrine that
oniyagbe use for his Obatala worship. And he said everything there must be
white including the cloth tie around the porogun. Omojinku the wife of
oniyagbe must drink from the pot every day a cup of water. Omojinku eventually
became pregnant and give birth to child dedicated to orisa Obatala. So
those in need of children can solicit Obatala. Let me go a
bit further on this. There is another Ifa copus which should obatala as god of
fertility for barren women. the odu refer to obatala as alagbala omo weere.
That is one with a conpound that is full with children. The odu Ifa that gives
credence to this is holy odu ogbedi or ogbe odi
Ifa says
bi iwaju asebi ba dara laye
Eyinwa won ki Suhan lorun
A difa fun ejiogbe ati obatala lojo ti won you se owo omo bibi
ti awon alatele won yi si ma fi jehun
Ogbedi ni Gbogbo eran ti eba se ototo eniyan ni yi o ma da
Agbara oro enu ni
A ki fi agidi gba nkan apo eniyan warawara
Lodifa fun orisa Nla oseremagbo
Nijo ti awon eda yo ma rawo ebe Toro omo lowo re
Won ee ti Se
Orunmila da won lohun
Oni obatala o je to omo tie lopo
Translation:
if live please the wicked person in this world
His life after death will be worse in heaven cast Ifa divination reading for holy Odu Ejiogbe and Obatala
When they are are going to embark on business of giving people children.
And their followers will be getting food from them through this means
Ogbedi said all the meat that we will be eating shall be given to us by different people
This is power of our utterance
give before asking from others
No body uses force to take what does not belong to him
This are the priest that divine for Orisala Oseremagbo
When the barren people will be begin him for fruit of the womb
They demand why Giving before asking
Orunmila retort don't you know Obatala will not give his children out for free. Obatala is god of fertility.
Notice that Obatala is elder and older than Orunmila. Obatala is the father of all orisa. But orunmila is the king of all orisa, because orunmila is the most intelligent. Obatala and all other orisa still need to consult ifa orunmila for a reading and ebo before they can be successful. That is why obatala usually run to orunmila for his problem.
FOOD OR ITEMS TO FEEDS OR SACRIFICE TO OBATALA
the original food to sacrifice to Obatala during his Ose (weekly ritual) or odun (annual Obatala festival) are opolopo igbin tabi erinlako (many giant snail) obe egunsi FUNFUN aileopo ainiyo (melon stew that is cook white without adding palm oil or salt) efo ebure (crassocephalium Rubens) abo ewure fufun (white she goat) adiye fufun (white fowl) obi ifin (white kola nut) Otika (Guinea corn beer) these is the original items to sacrifice to Obatala. The devotee can go to Ifa priest to know wish of it his orisa take out of the list for a particular year or occasion.
The uses of others items in santeria is good but that is deviation this is the original items to sacrifice to Obatala.
TABOO OF OBATALA
The taboo of Obatala is palm wine or intoxicating liquor. White is the color of every item to be use by the followers of Obatala even ranging from home to car and clothe, during Obatala day of the week, it is not good for them to have sexual Intercourse. (Obatala day of the week is the first day of the week) it not good to cook maize near Obatala. main color of Obatala is white as his name implies oba ti o ni ala (the king that owns white ).
THE ODU IFA FOR PRAISING OBATALA
The Odu Ifa for this is Owonrin Tetuala or Owonrin otura.
Ifa says:
Gbaganran moju
A difa fun abanikosi
Ti o lo Ile ketu,
iya o bimi Nile Ifon
Baba o bimi ni Ejigbo Koro
Aanu orisa lo se mi
Ni ko je ki mu emu
O fun ruru lowu
O keep ribi Ejigbo
Ifon rere ni moti wa oo
Ona Ejigbo ni mo rin
Oluaye e ya wa o
E wa woro alapa kan
Oluaye e ya wa oo
E wa woro elese kan oo
Oluaye e ya wa e wa we oro ti rin rinru
Oba Nla lalase
Orisa Nla lalase
Atatakoroko
Oba Nla la lase
TV lawa yi o ma sin?
Orisa la wa yio ma sin bi oju ba mon
ta lawa yio ma sin
Orisa lawa yio ma sin bi Orun ba pe
ta lawa yio ma sin
Orisa lawa yio ma sin bi odun ba de
Translation:
Gbaganran moju (this is a name of one ancient babalawo)
Carry out ifa divination reading for Abanikosi (this is also a name in ancient times)
Who was going to the city of ketu
He said mother didn't give birth to me at Ifon (Ifon is a name of a town)
Father didn't give birth to me at Ejigbo Koro (ejiogbe Koro is also name of ancient town)
It is is because of sympathy I have for orisa I I refuse to to take palm wine
He is very white at owu (owu is named of ancient town)
He is bright at Ejigbo (Ejigbo is name of ancient town)
I came from far city of Ifon
I pass through Ejigbo town
The world's kings should come
And take a look at King with one hand
The world's kings should come
And take a look at the spirit with one leg
The world kings should come and take a look at spirit that work in the nights.
Great king that own all authority
Atatakoriko (very strong and impacting)
Great king own all the authority
Who are we going to serve?
It is orisa we shall servie every morning we wake up.
Who shall we serve?
It is orisa we will serve every week (that is every five day or market day)
Who are we going to serve?
It is orisa we are going to serve ever years)
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