Iemanja, an orixá (deity) having its origins in the Yoruba religion from Africa, is the goddess of ocean, motherhood and believed to be the protector of children. Yemaya has gained prominence in many Afro-American communities, who brought such deities to Americas at the time of their transportation as slaves.
On February 2, the feast of Iemanja is celebrated in Africa and americas. In Rio de Janeiro, people gather on the beach on the New Year’s Eve to offer flowers into the sea, requesting Goddess Yemanja to grant blessings for the New Year. Also, other objects of female vanity like lipstick, perfume and mirror are offered.
Iemanja: Patron Goddess
In Yorùbá mythology, Yemanja is a mother goddess patron deity of
- women, especially pregnant women (as Our Lady of Conception)
- fishermen and the survivors of shipwrecks (as Our Lady of Seafaring)
- the spirit of moonlight
Our Lady Yemaya: Celebrating Her Rule
It is believed that the Mermaid Goddess is the mother of all saints. All life, including all orixás (deities), came from her. Even her name (a contracted form of Yoruba words, “Yeye emo eja”, meaning “mother whose children are like fish”) This signifies the enormity of her motherhood and her rule over all living beings, giving her the name ‘Our Lady of Regla.’
Also known as the owner of all waters, the number of Yemaya is 7 (related to seven seas). This gives Iemanja the name, “Mother of Waters” in Congo. It is among the seven orixás of the African Pantheon.
Since the medium of transmission of the belief in this orixá has been oral, the goddess is known by various names, such as Yemoja (Africa), Yemanja (Brazil), Yemaya (Cuba), La Siren (Haiti) and Yemana (the US).
Beautiful post. Reminds me of a popular Hollywood movie on Yemanja. The beautiful Penelope Cruz puts forth a spell binding performance in the movie ‘Woman on Top.’ The story begins with a woman’s estrangement from her husband and brings to life the belief she has in the concept of Yemanja to help people in distress and how those who defy and make fun of her learn the importance of respecting what she symbolizes to the world at large.