How to know the history of Iansã?

The orixá Iansã represents movement, fire, displacement and the need for change. She also represents quick thinking, loyalty, courage, frankness, material transformations, struggles against injustice and technological and intellectual advances. She also helps in the balance of human actions.

In Catholicism Iansã is associated with Santa Barbara because of her influence on lightning and storms. The saint was murdered by her own father for choosing religion and after her death a bolt of lightning struck her killer's head. She is honored on December 4, the same day that Umbanda faithful make offerings to Iansã.

In this article you will know the details of the history of Iansã and its itans. Check it out!

The story of Iansã

The worship of Iansã began in Nigeria, on the banks of the Niger River and came to Brazil along with the enslaved people. During her youth, Iansã was very adventurous and knew several kingdoms, as well as being the passion of several kings, but to survive in these places she needed a lot of cunning and intelligence. Check below what happened during the life of Iansã.

Iansã makes offering to have children

This story tells that Iansã was sterile and wanted very much to be able to have children, so she went after Babalaô for him to consult the Ifá oracle and he advised her to make a red cloth for her ancestors, and that she would still have to make a ram sacrifice.

Iansã did everything that was necessary and successfully gave birth to nine children, but she was forbidden to eat mutton. After the birth of her children, she was recognized as the mother of the ancestral spirits and the dominator of the egunguns, which are the spirits of very important people who return to Earth.

Iansã and the treachery of the ram

One day Iansã was very sad and Euá wanted to know what happened. She began to cry incessantly and said that she had been betrayed by the ram and that it almost cost her her life. Iansã explained that she had to transform herself into a pumpkin in the plantation in order to survive and escape, being eternally grateful to the pumpkins.

The ram acted as if he were her most faithful friend, but in fact he committed the greatest of treasons. He took Iansã's enemies to the place where she used to stay. Iansã was very naive and it was very hard for her to accept that her friend wanted her death.

Iansã daughter of Odulecê

Odulecê was a hunter who lived in the lands of Keto. He took a girl to raise and made her his daughter. She was known to be very smart and quick. The child was Iansã. With her way, she soon became Odulecê's favorite, which made her prominent in the village.

However, one day Odulecê passed away, leaving Iansã extremely sad. To honor her father, she took all his hunting tools and wrapped them in a cloth, cooked all the delicacies he loved so much, danced and sang for seven days, spreading her song with the wind.

Iansã and the sheepskin

Iansã loved to be disguised as a sheep, but one day she was without the animal skin. When Oxóssi saw her, he fell in love and when he married her, he hid the sheep skin so that she would not escape from him. Together they had 17 children, but Odé had a first wife, Oxum, who was the one who raised all of Iansã's children.

As it was Oxum who took care of the children, Iansã lived in Odé's house, but one day they had a disagreement and Oxum showed where her sheep skin was hidden. So, Iansã took her skin and assumed again her animal form and ran away.

Iansã/Oiá - the dancer

At a party where all the orixás were present, Omulu-Obaluaê appeared wearing his straw capucho. As he was unrecognizable no woman agreed to dance with him, but Iansã was the only brave one to dance and as she danced she made wind, it was then that the straws lifted and everyone saw that it was Obaluaê.

Obaluaê was a beautiful man and everyone was shocked by his beauty. He was extremely happy with Iansã and as a reward he shared his kingdom with her. Iansã became the queen of the spirits of the dead, she was so happy that she danced to show her power to everyone.

Itansans and legends of Iansã

The itans are legends that tell the deeds of the orixás. These stories are perpetuated through generations and are told the same way they were told in the past. Check out the legends of Iansã.

Iansã and Oxóssi

Oxóssi was known to be a great hunter and king of his village. He was tremendously in love with Iansã and to her he gave his purest love. He taught her hunting techniques so that neither she nor her children would go hungry.

He also gave her a power, the power to transform into a buffalo, because that would make her able to protect herself even more. Iansã loved her husband very much, so much that she eternalized him in her heart and was grateful for everything he provided her, but she had to leave, to continue her mission.

Iansã and Logun-Edé

The king Logun-Edé was the lord of the forests and had great power over them. To Iansã he delivered the most ardent love and the power to draw from the waterfalls very juicy fruits, so that she could feed her children and herself.

Just like Oxóssi, Iansã never forgot Logun-Edé, for she also loved him very much and was eternally grateful for all the care he had for her, but she continued her journey and went to the next kingdom.

Iansã and Obaluaê

Iansã came to Obaluaê's kingdom wanting to discover his secrets and also to see his face, since only his mothers had seen it. Iansã danced for him trying to seduce him, as she did with the others, but to no avail. Obaluaê had never had a relationship with anyone, so Iansã could not conquer him.

Seeing that it wouldn't do any good, Iansã tells him the truth and says that she just wants to learn something from the king. Thus, he teaches her how to live with the eguns and control them.

Iansã and Xangô

King Xangô, known as the great judge, already knew Iansã, but it was when she entered his kingdom that they fell in love and later married. The king had two other wives, one of them was Oxum, a beautiful woman who made Iansã very jealous.

Xangô gave her eternal love and a high rank of justice, the power to use enchantments and dominion over lightning. Iansã loved him so much, that when Xangô died she asked to be taken too, to live eternity by the side of her great love.

Iansã and Ogum

In her adventures through the woods, Iansã found the kingdom of Ogum, who was a very friendly king who was enchanted by the beauty of the young girl and the vivacity that emanated from her. Iansã was in his kingdom to learn what she did not know.

She was the great love of Ogum and together they had nine children, Ogum gave her as a gift a beautiful and powerful sword and a copper rod. He taught her everything he knew and Iansã learned from him to defend herself and protect the righteous.

Iansã and Oxaguian

King Oxaguian was a young builder well liked by his people, Iansã went to his kingdom also in search of knowledge. Besides the love of the young man she won a very powerful shield, Oxaguian taught her to use it in his favor and also in favor of his allies and protégés.

Iansã for a long time loved him too much, and just like the others, eternalized him in her heart as a form of gratitude for all that Oxaguian had taught her. After saying goodbye, she left like the wind.

Iansã and Exu

King Exu is known for his sense of justice and for being a messenger of the orixás. He also loved Iansã in the deepest way possible and to her he gave the power over fire. She also knew how to fulfill her own desires and those of her beloved children through the magic of good.

Iansã, always very loving, took Exú's love and made it eternal in her heart, once again as a form of gratitude for the knowledge and care obtained.

Iansã and the Ibejis

The Ibejis are the term used to call the children that Iansã gave birth to, but abandoned by throwing them into the waters. These children were adopted and raised by Oxum, who was very sorry for them. She raised them as if they were her own children, giving them much love and affection.

Because of this, Ibejis are greeted in rituals performed specifically for Oxum or also in sacrifices dedicated to the goddess.

Iansã and Omulú

Omulú was a king who had marks all over his body from smallpox and this made his appearance hideous. He was not invited to a king's feast, precisely because of his appearance, but Ogum took pity on the young man and called him to the celebration.

Queen Iansã had not liked the situation very much, but soon gave in and approached the young man, she began to dance, and the wind that enveloped them caused the straw that covered him to fly away.

Still, Iansã's magic wind healed all of Omulú's wounds, then they became friends for all eternity and from him she received the power of dominion over his entire kingdom.

Iansã and Oxalá

Iansã has a very great warrior spirit and when Oxalá needed help in a battle, there she was. Oxalá was waiting for the help of the other orixás, but no one could meet his demands.

He asked Ogum, lord of the weapons, to help him, but Ogum could not please Oxalá. Iansã then offered to help in the manufacture of weapons by blowing the fire to forge them.

What do the stories about Iansã reveal about the orixá?

Queen Iansã has fabulous stories and in all of them we can see her bravery and determination to acquire more and more power and knowledge. Always very attractive, charismatic and strong, everyone who looks at her is dazzled.

Her temperament is not very easy, strong temperament as it is possible to see in her stories that Iansã has a very characteristic personality, but her deeds and struggles make up for it. Iansã is the symbol of the warrior woman, who was not made to stay indoors or to take care of the home. She emanates strength and courage to win in life and achieve her goals.

Certainly she is an example to be followed and her energy and vitality should be felt daily by her children, those who have her as orixá and also for those who identify with her story and strength.