Deities & Spirits
noun1 min readOlódùmarè
/oh-loh-doo-mah-reh/
Definition
The Supreme Creator in Yorùbá cosmology, the incomprehensible source of all existence and the ultimate authority over the universe.
The Supreme Being
Unlike the Òrìṣà, Olódùmarè has no temples, statues, or direct cultic priesthood. As the omnipresent and omnipotent architect of existence, Olódùmarè is considered too vast to be constrained by human ritual, though prayers are directly offered to Him.
Names and Attributes
He is known by many titles, including Ọlọ́run (Owner of Heaven) and Ẹlẹ́dàá (The Creator). It is Olódùmarè who gives the breath of life (ẹ̀mí) and ultimate destiny to every human soul before birth.
Topics
Related Terms
Òrìṣà
Deities & Spirits
Divine emissaries and forces of nature that intermediate between Olódùmarè and humanity, governing specific domains of the cosmos and human experience.
→Ọ̀rúnmìlà
Deities & Spirits
The Yorùbá deity of wisdom, knowledge, and foresight; the divine custodian of Ifá. Ọ̀rúnmìlà is said to have been present at creation, witnessing the destiny assigned to every being, and serves as the principal intermediary between humanity and the divine order.
→Yorùbá Version Available
Olódùmarè
Ẹlẹ́dàá òkè, Ọlọ́run Olódùmarè t’ó jẹ oná rírí ohungbogbo; Aláṣẹ t’ó ga jùlọ, adágbogboayé.