The Irunmọlẹ (Yoruba: Irúnmọlẹ̀) are a group of primordial divine beings, or orishas, in the Yoruba religion, a West African religion practised by the Yoruba people. Ọbatala is the oldest Irunmọlẹ, and is regarded as the king of all Orishas.
Description The Irunmọlẹ are a group of primordial divine beings created by the Supreme Being, Olodumare and sent down to Earth to complete specific tasks.Journal of Religion in Africa: Religion en Afrique. (1979). Netherlands: Brill.Fatunmbi, A. F. (1992). Awo: Ifá and the Theology of Orisha Divination. United States: Original Publications. They differ from the other Orisha in that they existed from the beginning of the world, unlike humans that only became deified after death. This denotes that all Irunmọlẹ are Orisha but not all Orisha are Irunmọlẹ.
Although the term refers to a specific, higher class of divinities, it is sometimes used to refer to deified human ancestors who became highly revered as embodiments of primordial forces or to the Orisha in general.Akintola, A. (1999). Yoruba Ethics and Metaphysics: Being Basic Philosophy Underlying the Ifa System of Thought of the Yoruba. Nigeria: Valour Publishing Ventures.
The Irunmọlẹ are believed to be 801 in number, though this may vary. According to the Odu Ifa, 200 Irunmọlẹ reside permanently at the right side of Olodumare, 200 at their left, and 401 descended from Ọrun. Some major Irunmọlẹ include Ọbatala (the first), Oduduwa, Ọrunmila, Eshu, Ogun, Olokun, Ọbaluaye, Shango, and Yemọja.
Ọbatala Ọbatala is the oldest Irunmọlẹ, as he was the first one created by Olodumare. He is credited with the creation of the Earth and humanity. He is a powerful divinity of creation, the sky and purity. He is regarded as the king of all orisha.
Etymology
The etymology of the term is derived from a Yoruba blend of + , meaning "four hundred deities", ultimately from ("four hundred") + (“nominalizing prefix”) + ("to mold, to shape") + ("land"), literally "The four hundred creators of the land".
See also Orisha Ajogun Olodumare List of Yoruba deities
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