15 amazing facts about Yemoja ( Divinity of the river/ mother of fishes)

Yemoja in the Yoruba language, Yemanya in other language, well, both are correct. Below are 15 facts about this mother of fishes.

1:  She is also known as a river divinity

2: Yemoja represents the collective concepts of aquatic life.

3: She is not an Irunmole but an Orisa.

4: A very close to sango deity that is also known for her limitless patience and compassion.

5: Like Osun, Yemoja suffered from childlessness for a considerable period of time before she was blessed with children.

6: Yemoja is similar to Osun because of their association with water.

7: Yemoja simply means Iye-Omo-Eja, which means, the mother of fishes.

8: She is said according to Obara-Owonrin to have transformed herself into water with other ( Osun and Obà) because of parrot feathers.

9: Yemoja symbols are palm nut shells. A hole is drilled into them and string is passed through it and made like a bead. This bead is painted with Osun (Camwood)

10: Also her symbol contains Igba(Calabash) with water from the ocean known as "ÀWÈ YEMOJA" .

11: Plus Pèrègún tree which is an evergreen to show where the shrine is located. This is planted yo designate the shrine of Yemoja. A strip of hand woven cloth tied to the corner of the shrine known as "ASO ÌYÁMÒJÈ".

12: Yemoja grove or shrine is usually situated near a stream or river. It is inside this shrine that Yemoja us usually fed. In absence of the stream or river near the community where Yemoja is to be fed, Osun shrine is used as an alternative.

13: Yemoja feeding materials are:

         • White Kolanuts with four valves, Brown(red) Kolanut with four valves.
         • Liquor, Corn pudding (Ègbo), yam porridge, Melon and garden egg soup, Ekuru (ground and cooked bean)
         • Snail, sugar cane, Hen, duck, she-goat.

14: Taboos include:
       • Fish ( must not be used to feet the deity)
       • Plus followers must not eat fish
       • Bitter kola, Guinea corn, Tobacco, Palm kernel oil
       • Dog

15: Yemoja is the fed while kneeling down. Some of the offering may be thrown into the stream or river near the shrine.