Yemaja
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In Yorùbá mythology, Yemoja is a mother goddess; patron deity of women, especially pregnant women; and the Ogun river (the waters of which are said to cure infertility). Her parents are Oduduwa and Obatala. She had one son, Orungan, who raped her successfully one time and attempted a second time; she exploded instead, and fifteen Orishas came forth from her. They include Ogun, Olokun, Shopona and Shango.
Yemaya is celebrated in Ifa tradition as Yemoja[1], and as Iemanjá in Brazilian Candomblé[2]. She is also venerated in Vodun as LaSiren. In the Umbanda religion, Yemoja is a goddess of the ocean and patron deity of the survivors of shipwrecks. In Santería, Yemayá has been syncretized with Our Lady of Regla.
Every February 2 in Salvador, Bahia, there is a celebration of Iemanjá, which involves thousands of people lining up at dawn to leave their offerings at her shrine in Rio Vermelho. Presents for Iemanjá usually include flowers, perfume, and objects of female vanity (jewelry, combs, mirrors). These are gathered in large baskets and taken out to the sea by local fishermen. Afterwards a massive street party ensues.
In Rio de Janeiro, Iemanjá is celebrated on New Year's Eve, when millions of cariocas dressed in white gather on Copacabana beach to greet the New Year, watch fireworks, and throw flowers and other offerings into the sea for the goddess in the hopes that she will grant them their requests for the coming year.
Yemayá, as she is known in Santería, is seen as the mother of all living things as well as the owner of all waters. Her name is a contraction of Yoruban words that mean "Mother whose children are like fishes". This represents the vastness of her motherhood, her fecundity and her reign over all living things. Her number is 7 (a tie into the 7 seas), her colors are blue and white or clear (all aquatic colors) and her favorite offerings include melons, molasses ("melaço" - sugar cane syrup), whole fried fishes and pork rinds.
As Iemanja Nana Borocum, or Nana Burku, she is pictured as a very old woman, dressed in black and mauve, connected to mud, swamps, earth.[3] Nana Buluku is an ancient god in Dahomey mythology.
As Yemanja, the goddess is a very prominent subject of veneration by a Brazilian chef in the 2000 romantic comedy Woman on Top.
As 'Imanja', images of the goddess are for sale in shops in Rio de Janeiro. There she is portrayed rising out of the sea.
Contents |
[edit] Gallery
 Yemalla pictured in New Orleanes Hoodoo |
 La Sirene pictured in the Vodou cult |
[edit] Other names
- Imanja, Imanjá
- Jemanja, Yemanja
- Yemalla, Yemana
- Yemaya, Yemayah, Iemanya
- Yemoja, Ymoja
- La Sirène, LaSiren (in Voodoo)
- Mami Wata
- Nana Buluku
- Iemanjá, Iemanja Nana Borocum, Iemanja Bomi, Iemanja Boci, Nanã
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Yemaya - The Great Mother
- Photos of the celebration on flickr
- Yemanja, goddess of the sea - Brazilian relationship to oceans
| Afro-American Religions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Religions | Candomblé • Hoodoo • Kumina • Obeah • Palo • Quimbanda • Santería (Lukumí) • Spiritual Baptist • Umbanda • Vodou |  |
| Deities | Babalu Aye • Eshu • Iansan • Mami Wata • Obàtálá • Ogoun • Ọlọrun • Orunmila • Ọṣun • Shango • Yemaja | |
| Roots | Ifá, Oriṣa (Yorùbá) • Lwa (Dahomey) • Nkisi (Kongo) • Catholicism (Portugal, Spain) | |
