Must Read: Five ways why you cannot do without the Irunmole (deities)
The
relationship between Irunmole and Omo eniyan was symbiotic in nature and
rewarding especially for Omo eniyan.
There
are five major ways by which Irunmole relate effectively with Omo eniyan right
from the emergence of man on earth. The ways include the following
Role models
. Teachers
Mediators
Protector
Benevolent givers
As Role Models
The Irunmole act as role models for Omo Eniyan (human beings)
in many ways. Their exemplary characters and ways of life became what we now
emulate today for us to live in accordance with the design of Olodumare.
As role models, they made us understand
certain situations of life and how to react or adjust to such situations.
When
Olodumare was about to settle living beings on earth, He sent for Ogun (deity
in charge of metals and creativity) first and foremost to come and plan the
earth so as to make it habitable for beings.
When Ogun came with his entourage,
he brought woods with which to feed his entourage. Before long, those eating
woods became powerless and could not accomplish anything. When Ogun realized
that those he brought along to help in performing the task of making the earth
habitable had become powerless for his mission, he returned with them to
Olodumare.
However, Olodumare later sent Obatala to go and complete what Ogun
could not finish. When Obatala was
descending from Ikole-orun, he traced the mystical path already cleared by
Ogun. In his own case, he brought water for himself and his entourage.
Unfortunately, water was insufficient for them to feed on.
They also became
powerless within a short while and they returned to Olodumare to report their
failure.
Olodumare finally sent Orunmila.
Before Orunmila set for his journey to Ikole-Aye, he went to Agbadudu-Orimo for
advice and consultation. He was advised to offer ebo and to take all edible
items along in his journey to Ikole-Aye.
When descending from Ikole-orun to
Ikole-Aye, Orunmila followed the same path Ogun had earlier cleared. He brought
all edible items considered necessary for his journey like yam, banana, grains,
vegetables and so on. On getting to the earth, he immediately proceeded with
farming with his own entourage. They planted some of what they brought from
Ikole-orun. The first vegetable to germinate on earth is known till today as Tete-Abalaye (Amaranthus spp). The yam
did not mature as quickly as others. This is one of the reasons why people
usually celebrate the first day to taste the yam on a yearly basis.
After completing his mission,
Orunmila returned to Olodumare with his entourage and reported his success on
earth.
Olodumare later summoned Ogun and
Obatala and asked them what they used wood to feed their entourage.
Olodumare
then labeled Ogun as Baba Jegijegi
(the wood eater). And Obatala replied that he used water to feed his entourage
and Olodumare labeled Obatala Baba
mumimumi (the water drinker), when Orunmila was asked the same question,
Orunmila replied that he used food to feed his entourage and Olodumare labeled
Orunmila as Baba jeunjeun (the food
eater).
It also shows the
essence of continuity in our life. We can see that the path charted by Ogun
when he first came (even though he did not accomplish his mission) was the same
path that Obatala and Orunmila also passed through without condemning what
their predecessor had done. We really need to acknowledge the past, follow it and
build on it.
According to that stanza, it is expected that whenever we wake up,
we use chewing stick to brush our teeth, water to rinse our mouth and clean our
body before we eat.
The
Irunmole act as teachers to Omo eniyan virtually in all ramifications of life.
As Teachers
They teach humans how to do everything that man needs to do in terms of
economic, social, medical, spiritual and technological, know-how, and the
proper way of life.
Laws that guide the activities of man were also taught and
explained by the Irunmole. It is now the duty of man to follow the ways and
virtues extolled by these Irunmole in order to live in a world of peace.
The Irunmole
taught the early omo eniyan the importance of respect for one another and even
for a constituted authority. Once
respect is given and reciprocated, then peaceful co-habitation is
achieved.
In a stanza of Irosun Ega
(Irosun-Obara), Orunmila, the premier prophet was going to the ancient land of
Ile-Ife called 'Otu Ife' in order to teach the people of Ile Ife good
character, etiquette and also to transmit various forms of knowledge including
business strategy and methods. The stanza reads thus:
Bu fun mi
Ki nbu fun
o
Oun nii
m'aye gun igege-igege
Dia fun
Orunmila
Baba nlo
sotu Ife
Yoo lo ko
won ni ise ile
Yoo lo ko
won ni ise oko
Ebo ni won
ni ko waa se
O gb'ebo,
o ru'bo
Translation
The principle of reciprocity
Is what makes the world peaceful and habitable
This was
the Ifa's message for Orunmila
When going
to the ancient land of Ife
To teach people the home conduct
And to transmit agricultural and business
knowledge
He was
advised to offer ebo
He
complied
In the stanza above the first two
lines are saying nothing but cooperation and symbolic relationships which help
in social organization and integration. While lines 5 and 6 states how Orunmila
was going to the earth to transmit knowledge to mankind.
As Mediators
The
Irunmole act as mediators for human beings between them and Olodumare. The
Irunmole from time to time supervise the activities on earth and report any observation
or misnomer that may threaten the original plan Olodumare.
In a stanza of
Ogbe-Ofun, Orunmila had to go to heaven to meet with Olodumare and discuss his
observation in the categorization and creation of human beings into three
groups and who also came to exhibit three different attitudes on earth at the
same time. It was then that Olodumare explained to him the reason behind such
creation.
In Ogunda Meji, there was also a situation where Ogun
had to wade into an argument that ensued between two people who engaged in a
business venture. But for the timely intervention of Ogun, the argument could
have degenerated into an unpleasant situation for the people.
Thereafter, the
two parties became satisfied with the profit-sharing solution of Ogun.
As Protector
The Irunmole in this case act as
protectors for Omo eniyan (human beings). They are always on hand to protect us
any time we call on them.
As long as we are following the tenets and
precepts handed to us by these Irunmole, we are sure of their armour of
protection whenever the need arises.
There are several situations in Ifa where
Orunmila had protected his children and followers from the hand of death and
other negativities. In a stanza of Ogbe Alara (Ogbe-Otura), Orunmila had to
bring all his family into the sanctuary of longevity so that they can live long
in life.
Benevolent Givers
The
Irunmole are benevolent in nature. They do not hesitate to extend their
benevolence to human beings whenever they are called upon. In Irosun ateere
(Irosun-Otura), Ifa says:
Irosun teere
Irosun gbooro
Dia fun Jaginni
Ti ntikole orun bo waye
Ebo Ire gbogbo ni won ni ko se
O gbebo, orubo
Aje, tun ku kan, Aje tun ku kan
Jaginni, Jaginni o
Aje tun ku kan
Aya tun ku kan, Aya tun ku kan
Omo tun ku kan omo tun ku kan
Jaginni Jaginni o omo tun ku kan
Ile
tun ku kan, Ile tun ku kan
Jaginni
Jaginni ile tun ku kan
Translation
The
slim Irosun
And
its long counterpart
They
are the ones who cast Ifa for Jaginni (this calls for celebration)
When
coming from heaven to earth
He
was advised to offer ebo for all good things of life
He
complied
More
Aje, wealth is not yet exhausted Jaginni (this calls for celebration)
More
Aje is coming
Aya,
spouse is not yet exhausted
Jaginni,
Jaginni (this calls for celebrations)
As
we can see, Ifa has given the assurance that whatever a true believer in Ifa
and a true follower of Olodumare has today cannot be exhausted because many more
are still coming.
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