OSANYIN

This Irunmole is very close to Orunmila, some

see him as a subordinate of Orunmila while
others consider him as Orunmila’s slave. Both
are correct, in the dawn of life on the planet,
Orunmila went to Ikole orun (heaven) to bring
1,460 different types of plants and shrubs
onto this planet for planting. When he
returned to this planet, he met Osanyin and
gave him 60 of the plants and shrubs to bring
back to earth.
While on earth, Orunmila planted 1,400
plants and shrubs he brought back to earth
Osanyin began to study all the properties of
the 60 plants and shrubs given to him to
master. However after this, he studied and
mastered all plants, shrubs, weed and
vegetation on earth. Consequently, he
became the deity of medicine. No Irunmole is
as versatile as Osanyin in this field. In fact
Orunmila, Sango, Ogun, etc, later became his
students in the area of medicinal herbs.
He is usually found standing on one leg
and leaning on his staff, if you ask him why, he
won’t answer because he never speaks.
Hopefully he will point out the herb you need
instead, Osanyin deals with the non-surgical
healing power of herbs and powders.
Osanyin is the herbal cure and the
poisonous mushrooms, the scientist, the
brilliant doctor, Osanyin protects against all
bad things that can affect human beings.
Osanyin is a hunter who hunts with a bow and
arrow and can shoot faster than men with two
arms. Osanyin speaks with a peculiar voice
attributed to his small bird that represents
him, it is the bird in the temples consecrated
to Osanyin, Osanyin is known as the king of
the trees.
SYMBOLS OF OSANYIN
 The commonest symbol of Osanyin is
what is known as, (Opa Osanyin). That is a
staff which has at least three branches at the
top, this staff is made of iron.
The tips of branches are decorated with
different designs with images of different
things, such as lamp, birds, chisels, kola nut
containers, knives and so on.
There some of these staffs which up to
sixteen branches with different images. Other
symbols include the following:
Woman image carved with oruru wood
(sparthodea campanulata). This image is
usually prepared in herbs and dressed in
clothes. It is called “Ere Osanyin” and it
represents Osanyin himself.
There is another female image, it’s similar
to the first one and is also carved with Oruru
Wood. It’s usually left naked but is also
prepared in herbs. This one is known as, Eru
Osanyin (Osanyin’s slave).
Palm fronds are usually tied round the
grove of Osanyin
OJUBO (GROVE)

Osanyin’s grove is usually situated inside

Ifa’s grove. It is inside that Osanyin is fed, this
also emphasis the closeness of Osanyin to
Orunmila. In the absence of this, the ground
can be used as the grove where some of the
feeding materials are placed for Osanyin to
take.
FEEDING MATERIALS
Alligator pepper
Kola nut with four valves
Bitter kola
Liquor
Water
Snail
Hen
Pigeons
Ewe
Goat
Grand and cooked white beans
TABOOS
 Palm kernel oil
Roasted corn
Tobacco (snuffling, smoking or licking)
Cam wood
Native chalk

MODE OF WORSHIP
Generally, Osanyin is fed through Ifa.
Whenever Ifa is fed, it is believed that Osanyin
has also been fed. Ifa or Osanyin is fed while
kneeling down.