Learn About the Orishas

The Orishás are the intermediaries between God (Olodumare) and human beings. Each Orishá is related to some aspect of nature and is in charge of some element of human existence. The Orishás represent all qualities of the divine but are also human-like in their characters. Many people refer to them as Santos, or Saints, hence the name Santería. It is said that the Orishá’s energies transcends all, but it’s easier for us to understand divine forces when we attribute human qualities to them; from the Greeks to the Christians to the Hindus, virtually every world religion has done this for all iterations of their specific deities and prophets. Each Orishá has its likes and dislikes, elekes (prayer beads), and specific numbers. The human-like attributes of Orishás play a very important role in the development and continuity of the religion. Since they have virtues and flaws like humans, believers are able to relate to their Orishás deeply, thus creating a bond between deity and devotee.

​

Yoruba tradition often says that there are 400 + 1 Orishás, which is associated with a sacred number. Other sources suggest that the number is "as many as you can think of, plus one more – an innumerable number." Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 Orishás.

​

Lean more about some of the most popular Orishás. Click their photo to learn more.