Do you have any idea how many Orixás there are? Find out here!

Talking about deities of some of the beliefs of African origin is quite difficult because of their origin. It was a religion passed down by word of mouth, enabling the great “wireless phone” effect and we already know very well the end of this story, don’t we? For example, for the question “how many orixás are there” we can find several explanations.

The orixás are entities that came from African religions, adapted to Brazil, and are now worshiped by many people. Unfortunately, not only Umbanda, but also Candomblé are targets of prejudice today – mainly by people who don’t know anything about the subject, but are the first to judge. Remember, Umbanda only practices good, anything other than that is not Umbanda. But let’s get down to business, how many orixás are there? We tell you in this article.

What are the Orishas?

The Orixás are deities and are regarded as our ancestors. The worship of our ancestors is something full of mysteries and magic and its objective is to balance people’s energy, improving their spiritual and material life.
Each Orisha has its particular characteristics and is responsible for a part of nature. Oxum, for example, is from the fresh waters. Iemanjá is from the salt waters, Xangô is thunder, Oxóssi is from the forests and so on.

For sheer lack of knowledge, many believe that these are evil beings and that they are used to do evil, especially Exú who is, in fact, our messenger.

However, the Orisha cannot and should not be used for these purposes. The idea of ​​this cult is to direct each person and match them with their destiny. Each person has his head entity and, according to belief, carries his strengths and weaknesses. It is said, for example, that Iemanjá’s children are very loving and charitable people, just like her.

But how many Orixás are there?

This is an issue that needs to be elucidated, as several things have already changed in this cult since the arrival of black Africans here in Brazil. Due to some differences and the situation in which Africans lived in colonial Brazil, a lot had to be adapted – mainly because of the white Portuguese who wanted to catechize them at all costs. quite.

Here, currently, we worship 16 entities, but know that they are not the only ones that exist. Wanting to know how many Orixás there are exactly is a little more complicated.

Scholars on the subject claim that there are more than 400 deities spread across the African continent, however, few arrived and remained here. It is important to remember that each orixá was brought to Brazil by the nation where it was worshiped in Africa and we do not receive people from all places.

Regarding the quantity, we can say that today, approximately 16 are worshiped here – considered the main ones. Are they:

1. Exu – Messenger
2. Oxalá – Orisha of peace
3. Ogun – Orisha of War
4. Oxóssi – Orisha of hunting and abundance
5. Xangô – Orixá of fire and thunder
6. Omolú – Orisha of diseases and cures
7. Logun Edé – Orisha of hunting and fishing
8. Oxumaré – Orisha of the rain and the rainbow
9. Ossain – Orisha of sacred leaves and animals
10. Oxum – Reigns over the fresh waters of the river and love
11. Iemanjá – Also known as queen of the sea
12. Iansã – Orixás of the winds, lightning and storms
13. Nanã – Protects the elderly and homeless
14. Yewá – Orixás of virgin girls
15. Obá – Owner of wars and troubled waters
16. Ibeji – Children’s Orixá

However, some houses worship others like time (Iroko) and Olorum, the supreme God.

If you want to know more about the how many orixás are there leave a comment here. Enjoy and also read new content about this great and so important religion of resistance that is Umbanda.