Orula

Orula, the Lucumí Orunmila, is the oricha of divination, wisdom, and destiny, and the owner of Ifá, the great oracular system of the Yoruba world. As Eleri Ipin, 'witness of fate', he was present when each soul chose its destiny before the supreme being, and he alone can read that fate through the 256 figures (odu) of Ifá, interpreted by his priests, the babalawos, using the palm nuts and the ekuele divining chain upon the wooden tray. His beads and bracelet (idé) are green and yellow, the colors of new and dry palm. A patakí relates that Changó was the first owner of divination and ceded its secret to Orula, taking in exchange the batá drum and the dance; Orula in turn works inseparably with Elegguá, who animates the oracle. In Cuba he is syncretized with Saint Francis of Assisi (San Francisco de Asís).

Domains

• divination and ifa
• destiny and wisdom

Powers

• reads destiny through Ifá
• witnesses every destiny at birth

Epithets

• Eleri Ipin — witness of fateWilliam Bascom, Ifa Divination (1969) (secondary)
• Baba — fatherBolívar Aróstegui, Los Orichas en Cuba (1990) (secondary)

Relations

• companion: ElegguáElegguá is the constant partner of the diviner, giving voice and movement to the oracle.William Bascom, Sixteen Cowries (1980) (secondary)
• ally: ChangóA patakí tells that Changó, once owner of divination, ceded the secret of Ifá to Orula in exchange for the drum and the dance.William Bascom, Sixteen Cowries (1980) (secondary)

Sources

• Orula (Orunmila) is the oricha of Ifá divination, wisdom, and destiny, served by the babalawo priesthood, syncretized in Cuba with Saint Francis of Assisi.: William Bascom, Ifa Divination (1969) (secondary); George Brandon, Santeria from Africa to the New World (1993) (secondary)