OSANYIN
neutralOrisha of plants and healing
Osanyin, also written Ọ̀sanyìn, Ossain or Osaín, is the Yoruba orisha of leaves, herbs and medicine. He holds the knowledge of the curative virtues of all plants, which makes of him the master herbalist and the patron of healers. Solitary and analytical, associated with the forest and its secrets, he assists Orunmila, the orisha of Ifá divination, by providing the plant remedies that accompany the rites. His power touches beneficial healing as much as charms, and the efficacy of the preparations demands offerings and payments. His most recognisable emblem is the osun Osanyin, an iron staff surmounted by a bird and branches, planted in the ground of the sanctuaries. Tradition often describes him with a single arm, a single leg and one eye, the mark of his supernatural nature. His colour is green. In the Americas, he becomes Ossain in Brazil and Osain in Cuba, guardian of wild plants.
Era
Yoruba traditions, West Africa
Frequently asked questions
What does Osanyin govern?
Osanyin governs leaves, herbs and the pharmacopoeia. No Yoruba medicinal or magical preparation acts without his consent, for he holds the secret of the virtues of each plant.
What is Osanyin's emblem?
His emblem is the osun Osanyin, an iron staff surmounted by a bird surrounded by smaller birds, symbols of the forces he commands. The priests use it for protection and diagnosis.
What is the link between Osanyin and Orunmila?
Osanyin is the ally of Orunmila, the orisha of Ifá divination. Where Orunmila reads destiny, Osanyin provides the plant remedies that translate the divinatory answer into concrete care.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Baba Ifa Karade, The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concepts (1994)
- Robert Farris Thompson, Flash of the Spirit: African and Afro-American Art and Philosophy (1983)
- , Wikipedia (FR/EN)