Learn all about the Orixá Oroiná!

In Umbanda, Oroiná is the orixá of purifying fire. Thus, he can be described as the one responsible for consuming emotional imbalance in the lives of his children and in the environments in which he is present.

Also known by the name Egunitá, the orixá only acts in people's lives when they act in a passionate way and present some kind of imbalance that his fire needs to eradicate in order to purify, eliminating excesses.

Throughout the article, more details about Oroiná will be commented on, considering its history, its prayers and the offerings that should be made to the orixá. To learn more about this, continue reading.

Understanding more about Egunitá

Oroiná is evoked with the purpose of purification of addicted beings, especially those influenced by some kind of black magic. In addition, the orixá is also responsible for eradicating injustices and eliminating exaggerations related to human passions. It is also worth mentioning that the orixá is known for being the ruler of the gypsy line.

Below, more details to understand Oroiná will be commented. If you want to know more about it, continue reading the article.

Origin and history

When talking about origins and history, it is possible to affirm that Oroiná is full of secrets. Initially called Egunitá, she had her mystery opened only recently to people and nowadays she is object of worship among the orixás present in Umbanda. However, there is not much information about her main manifestations or the way she appeared.

Visual characteristics

Oroiná is an orixá who belongs to the Feminine Throne of Justice and Law. Thus, in her visual features she carries the symbols of her power: a thunderbolt, a six-pointed star and a sword, which are directly linked to her mission of purifying human beings from the negative energy capable of causing disorientation and provoking passionate attitudes.

Thus, Oroiná's fire is more oriented to rationality. So, in the line of Justice she is able to warm the winds of Ogum, radiate the air of Iansã and potentiate the fire of Xangô.

Actions and representativeness

Along with Ogum, Iansã and Xangô, Oroiná governs the Divine Laws of the World and seeks to bring the answers of the orixás to all people. Because she is a rational figure, the orixá is not moved by emotional appeals and helps only those who prove themselves worthy of her help. In addition, it is worth noting that her actions in human life depend on the will of the people.

This is because when someone is going through an imbalance or even an addiction situation, they need to decide to break this cycle on their own. Then, the fire of Oroiná comes into play.

Relationship between Oroiná and Iansã

The relationship between Oroiná and Iansã happens because the two act together in the line of justice. This happens due to the fact that their thrones can be considered complementary. Therefore, the orixás work to make sure that what is deserved by each person reaches them, always according to divine law.

Therefore, the joint performance can generate some confusion about the throne and depending on the research source their performances may appear inverted, so that Iansã is present in the line of law and Oroiná in the line of justice.

Relationship between Oroiná and other Orixás

Oroiná is related to Xangô. This happens because of rationality, which brings the two orixás closer together. However, there are some differences between the lines of action of the two orixás. In this sense, it is possible to point out that Oroiná's fire is distant from Xangô's because of the negative factor present in it.

Thus, the orixá's flames are responsible for consuming. In the case of Shango's fire, the purpose of fire is to ignite. In other words, it is more driven by feelings and acts less towards the elimination of problems and more towards giving people the means of action.

Beliefs and Oroiná

Oroiná was discovered in Umbanda as a purification orixá. However, she is also present in Candomblé, but as a quality of Iansã. In addition, when looking at religious syncretism, it is possible to find a representation of Oroiná in the Catholic Church, as well as in other cultures around the world.

More details about the belief in Oroiná in various different doctrines will be commented on below, so just continue reading the article.

Oroiná in Candomblé

In candomblé, Oroiná was called Eguinitá and is known for being a quality of Iansã. She is related to divine justice and is considered the orixá of purifying fire. Therefore, whenever human beings act in an uncontrolled and unbalanced way, her flames appear to consume what makes them distressed.

Due to her close relationship with Iansã, many people may confuse the thrones of the two orixás. However, it is worth noting that while Oroiná works in the area of justice, Iansã is more connected to issues of law.

Oroiná in Umbanda

In Umbanda, Oroiná acts in the line of Justice. She is responsible for warming the winds of Ogum, radiating the air of Iansã and potentiating the fire of Xangô. In this way, the four can act together to command the Divine Laws and, therefore, bring the answers of the orixás to all people.

Rationality is a very striking characteristic of Oroiná, so that the orixá is not moved by feelings. Therefore, she only acts when she judges that someone is worthy of it and her entry into a person's life depends on that person's own will.

Oroiná in the Catholic Church

The syncretism of Oroiná in the Catholic Church is linked to Santa Sara Kali by the idea of fire. In addition, the Catholic saint is considered the patron saint of gypsies and the desperate.

Identified as a servant of one of the three Marys who stood beside Jesus Christ during the crucifixion, Saint Sarah faced prejudice and humiliation for her choices, but never lost faith because of her sense of justice.

Oroiná in other cultures

When talking about Hinduism, Oroiná can be considered the equivalent of the deity Kali, who is feared and shunned by people who are unaware of her mysteries and the reason for her existence. Also, her opposition to Agni, the Lord of Divine Fire and the Fire of Faith contributed to these issues.

This happens because when we think about fire, Agni usually uses it in a positive sense and Kali, on the other hand, has a sense of destruction. However, this characteristic only appears to purify human beings of their illusions, freeing them from their most extreme passions. Thus, Kali would be the feminine pole of fire.

To relate to Oroiná

There are some ways that Umbanda faithful use to relate to Oroiná, such as dedicating a day to the worship of this orixá. In addition, she is also represented by colors and elements that should appear during her celebrations. The same can be said about the symbols of Oroiná, as well as the herbs and greetings used to evoke her.

More details on the ways of relating to Oroiná will be commented on below.

Oroiná Day

In general, Oroiná is evoked in Umbanda for the purpose of purification, either of people who are addicted or even of those who are influenced by black magic. Therefore, there is a special day for this in the week, Thursday, in which the cult of the terreiros is dedicated to this orixá.

In addition, Oroiná also has a commemorative date, which is May 24th. On this date, offerings and prayers are made to the orixá in order to ask for her protection and for her to continue eliminating extreme emotions from the lives of her protégés.

Color and element of Oroiná

Due to her relationship with the element of fire, Oroiná is an orixá represented by cheerful colors that recall the coloring of her flames. Thus, her guides are red, orange and gold. These colors are also present in several other details related to Oroiná, such as the fruits and flowers that are dedicated to her.

Regarding flowers, it is possible to highlight that all of them are orange or red, such as begonias, roses and sunflowers. In addition, regarding fruits, it is worth mentioning that the orixá's favorite are citrus fruits, preferably the most acidic ones such as pitanga, strawberries and lemon clove.

Symbols of Oroiná

Oroiná has some symbols. Besides the fire and the bonfire, in her visual representation she appears holding a six-pointed star and a sword, which is considered her tool in Umbanda. It is also worth mentioning that the orixá can be represented by the gypsy wheel.

Still in terms of symbols, it is possible to point out that there are some stones that refer to Oroiná, such as orange calcite, orange (or golden) topaz, cornaline agate and fire agate. However, any orange colored stone can be used to represent her.

Herbs and leaves of Oroiná

There are several herbs and leaves that can be used in offerings to Oroiná. Among them it is possible to highlight arnica, saffron, watercress, rue, Artemisia, bitter orange peel and the me-nuém-pode.

All of them help to evoke the protection of the orixá and her action towards the purification of human passions. However, it is important to remember that Oroiná only acts when she considers the requests legitimate and the people worthy of her help.

Salutation to Oroiná

The greeting to Oroiná is "Kali-Yê, Minha Mãe", which means "Hail the Black Lady, My Mother!" It can be used on occasions when it is necessary to ask for protection and blessing from Oroiná, as well as greeting her in a respectful and serene way. Thus, positive energies are present in this phrase and can help put the one asking in contact with the great power of the orixá.

It is also worth noting that this greeting is a way to praise the entity and needs to be said in the original language to have the expected effect. In addition, it is important to remember to adopt the appropriate gestures when greeting Oroiná.

Prayer to Oroiná

There are some prayers that can be used to communicate with Oroiná. The first is a prayer to ask for the protection of the orixá and the second is a prayer to evoke her power.

"Flaming sword, cut the earth, cut the air and bring the fire from the quarry, O Lady Eguinitá, justiceira protector, mother warrior, mother divida. Protect me, keep me and enlighten me, sarava Egunitá Kaly yê".

"With the graces of Olorum, the lord of the most high, I ask that my mother Egunitá, of the almighty throne, of law and order, the lady of divine fire, vibrate and irradiate her forces in my body, in my mind, in my soul and in my heart. May she always direct me in the correct path and of the law and of divine order. Protect me and guide me so that I may know a way to use her essencedivine."

How are the sons and daughters of Oroiná

The head orixás end up bequeathing their children some of their characteristics. This happens especially during the formation as a person of the faithful of Umbanda and Candomblé. Therefore, when we talk about the children of Oroiná, they inherit the strong personality of their mother, among several other aspects.

More details about Oroiná's sons and daughters will be commented on below.

They are impulsive

Few people have Oroiná as a front orixá, so it is rare to meet one of her children. However, those who do are impulsive people. Despite the more calculated action of their mother, they tend to act motivated by the impetus of fire and may do things they have not thought about that much.

This is a consequence of earthly and overwhelming passion. Therefore, when these impulsive situations present themselves, the children of Oroiná should ask for her fire to purify their lives and free them from these issues.

Can't stand monotony

The sons and daughters of Oroiná are people who do not like monotony. Despite their reserved characteristics, they need to be constantly on the move and enjoy all the best that life has to offer, be it deep conversations or quality food. In addition, they also like to be well dressed at all times.

In fact, clothing is another way that these people use to break away from the boredom of life. This is because they always opt for colorful and strong clothing, which makes them able to draw attention in any space.

Possess a strong genius

In general, people who have Oroiná as their orixá in front of them have a very strong temperament. Despite their quiet way of being, and the fact that they prefer not to move around in social spaces, they know how to impose themselves easily. This happens thanks to their capacity of perception, which makes the children of Oroiná able to read any environment with ease.

Because of their strong genius, they tend to prefer to be friends with people who have a more passive personality. In this way they can avoid wear and tear on their bonds.

They are also communicative

Even though Oroiná's children prefer to stay at home and not have a very busy social life, they are people who have an ease of communication. However, when they choose to talk to others, they hate superficial subjects and also do not like to be in public spaces, preferring more intimate environments.

They are intelligent people who have their mind set on studies, which contributes to the fact that they know how to talk about many different subjects and are captivating to those around them.

Besides being stubborn

Stubbornness is also an outstanding characteristic of the children of Oroiná. Since they are studious people who like to obtain knowledge, they may end up believing they own the truth and refuse other people's worldview. So, when this is combined with their strong genius, it generates an unprecedented stubbornness.

This characteristic causes some conflicts to arise in your life, especially when you meet people who have personalities as strong as yours.

Offering to Oroiná

There are many different possibilities of offerings to Oroiná due to the wide range of herbs, leaves, fruits and stones of the orixá's liking. However, to make them in the right way and really please her, it is necessary to know more about it. Therefore, the most recommended thing is that people who are beginning in the religion seek knowledge with more experienced people.

Below we will comment on the possibilities of offerings to Oroiná.

When to do it?

The offerings to Oroiná follow the same pattern as for any other orixá. Therefore, they should be made on the day of the week dedicated to him, in this case, Thursday. However, it is worth noting that it is also possible to make these offerings on Oroiná's day, since she will be celebrated more intensely on this occasion. The date in question is May 24th.

Ingredients

The ingredients needed to prepare an offering to Oroiná are:

You will also need to have oranges, pineapples and persimmons on hand, as well as some red palms and mint liqueur, Oroiná's drink of choice. The liqueur, however, can be replaced by cider champagne.

Directions

The offering to Oroiná must be made through an orange cloth. The white candles must form two vertical lines and one horizontal line within a rhombus, composed of the other candles. Once the point is firmed on the ground, place a glass of mint liquor and another with water inside the rhombus. Add a white and a red pemba. Afterwards, surround this offeringwith the red palms and insert the fruits.

After preparing the space, light the candles and activate the place with a prayer to Oroiná, asking her to act in people's lives and help them to abandon their negative habits, as well as their addictions.

Oroiná: the Orixá that belongs to the feminine throne of justice and law!

Oroiná is a female orixá who belongs to the throne of justice and law. She acts alongside Iansã, Xangô and Ogum to govern the Divine Laws of the world and bring answers to people. Due to her rational characteristics, she is unmoved by appeals to emotion and only helps people she considers worthy of her protection.

In general, Oroiná's action focuses on situations of emotional imbalance and addictions. Therefore, her fire acts to consume these problems, eliminating them from the lives of the people who are protected by the orixá.

This behavior makes her different from Xangô, whose fire does not consume, but gives impetus for action.