Deities & Spirits
noun1 min readỌ̀rúnmìlà
/oh-roon-MEE-lah/
Definition
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.
Name & Meaning
Ọ̀rúnmìlà is a divine name meaning 'only heaven knows who will be saved' — linking heaven (ọ̀run) and destiny (ìpín) as his twin domains. He is also known by the epithets Bọrọ̀pẹtẹ̀, meaning 'the one who redeems people from difficult situations through knowledge,' and Àgbọnnìrègún in some traditions.
Role at Creation
As the Yorùbá deity of omniscience, Ọ̀rúnmìlà was present when Olódùmarè (the Supreme Being) created the world. He observed the destiny allocated to each soul before incarnation, and it is this primordial knowledge that he channels through the Ifá oracle. Babaláwo revere him as the primordial teacher of the divination system.
Worship & Offerings
Ọ̀rúnmìlà is honored through Ikin Ifá — the sixteen sacred palm nuts central to Ifá divination. His sacred day in many Yorùbá traditions is Thursday (Ọjọ́ Ojú-Bọ́jú). Offerings made to him traditionally include palm nuts, beans (ẹ̀wà), and pure water. Devotees seeking wisdom, destiny alignment, or guidance approach him through a qualified Babaláwo.
Topics
Related Terms
Ifá
Core Concepts
A divination system and literary corpus that forms the intellectual and spiritual backbone of Yorùbá civilization. Ifá encompasses a vast oral canon of sacred poetry, historical narratives, proverbs, and ethical teachings transmitted through trained diviners called Babaláwo.
→Babaláwo
Roles & Practice
A priest of Ifá; literally 'father of secrets.' A Babaláwo is a trained diviner who has undergone years of initiation and study to master the 256 Odù and the art of Ifá divination.
→Odù
Core Concepts
One of the 256 chapters of the Ifá literary corpus, each representing a specific configuration of the divination system and containing hundreds of sacred verses, stories, prescriptions, and proverbs.
→Yorùbá Version Available
Ọ̀rúnmìlà
Òrìṣà àti Elẹ́rìí Ìpín; olùjẹ̀rìí imọ̀-àkọsílẹ̀ ìgbàyé. Ọ̀rúnmìlà ni olúwa-ìmọ̀ Ifá, tí ó máa ń ṣiṣẹ́ gẹ́gẹ́ bí agbátẹrù fún àwọn ẹ̀dá ènìyàn níwájú Ọlọ́run.