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The story you are going to read is a traditional Pataki (Yoruba legend) which tells the story of Obi, the coconut. Obis are sacred in Santeria, both... 6 Comments
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The story you are going to read is a traditional Pataki (Yoruba legend) which tells the story of Obi, the coconut. Obis are sacred in Santeria, both as Eleggua’s sacred food and as a divinatory item by itself, which consists on four pieces of coconut shell that are used to ask simple questions to the Orishas. This is the story of how Obi, first an Orisha himself, ended up being the servant of all them.
According to the Yoruba legend, Obi was well loved and respected by Olofi (God), because he had a pure and sincere heart. To award his good deeds, Olofi made him white and shiny and placed him at the top of the highest palm tree, so everyone could see him from afar.
As soon as Obi saw himself in such high position, he turned vain and arrogant. Obi asked Eleggua, who was one of his closest friends, to invite all of Eleggua’s friends to a party that he was preparing. Eleggua, who could see how much he had changed, invited all the beggars, homeless and poor people he could find.
When Obi saw his beautiful and spotless house filled with all those dirty, smelly, ragged beggars, he almost had a heart attack and pulled them all out, yelling. The guests left the house and so did Eleggua.
A few days later, Olofi asked Eleggua, who is the divine messenger, to take a message to Obi, and Eleggua refused. When Olofi asked why, Eleggua told him the story of the party; filled with sadness, Olofi himself dressed up as a beggar and went to knock at Obi’s door. When Obi opened the door and saw the beggar, he told him to leave his home and slammed the door on Olofi’s face. Olofi walked away a few steps and called Obi out loud, saying:
- Obi Meye Lori Emi Ofe!!!!
Which means:
- Obi, see who I really am!!!!!
When Obi saw the beggar was Olofi, he got really scared, and trembling from head to toes asked forgiveness from Olofi. Olofi forgave him, but as a reminder of his arrogance he was condemned: he would stay white and sweet inside, symbolizing his previous goodness; he would have a black hard cover, to remind him of his sin, and he would have another green cover that would mean the hope that he could learn from his mistake and become pure and honourable again. By falling from the palm tree and rolling in dirt until someone would pick him up, he would always be reminded of the poor he would not accept by becoming one of them; and by turning into the Obi oracle he would serve Eleggua forever, the only friend that wanted to show him the truth about his vanity, and always be the messenger of the voice of the Orishas.
Despite Obi’s behaviour, today he is much loved and respected; he is a wonderful divination tool as the Orishas speak through him. I hope you liked this legend, I personally love it as it reminds us that whoever we reject, we may become one day.
Mareferun Obi! (Blessed be Obi!)
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I loved that story!
You know that reminds me of a story out of the Greek/Roman pantheon.
It goes a bit like this ( forgive the lack of names as this is from memory).
Mercury ( the god of messengers, traveling, thievery, mischief and communication) had gone down to the mortal world to see how people were faring. He had heard some mixed reviews about how people were behaving.
He dressed up as a dirty begger and went to a small town.
At each door he knocked at, he asked for a piece of bread and perhaps a place to stay.
At each door he was mocked, had things thrown at him or the door slammed in his face with much sneering and shouting.
This made his heart heavy and he was about to give up when he spotted on last house he had na made his way to yet. So with a loud sigh he went up to the house and knocked, expecting the same ill treatment he had recieved from the rest of the town.
Inside lived two poor elderly folk. A wonderful loving couple who had very little to survive on let alone give. However when this begger came to the door they invited him in and offered what meager food they had.
The most amazing thing happened!
Their pitcher of goats milk ( just on the tip of going sour) turned into the most creamiest and freshest pitcher ever! And their bread basket which was nothing more than hard stale crusts had become an unending container of fresh fluffy bread products from pastries to rolls!
Their fruit dish which had one sad withered apple on it was bursting with all manners of fresh ripe delicacies.
The couple was taken aback and knew not what to make of this.
Mercury took off his disguise and revealed who he was.
Well this would explain the feast! And at that the elder couple felt so bad! They had offered a GOD such things as rotting milk and stale crust! Surely a bad end would come to them.
So they weeped and begged on their knees.
Mercury told them kindly to stop. They did nothing wrong. In fact they did everything right. They opened their hearts and homes to a complete stranger and offered the best they had and for that they had been rewarded.
They did not understand. Wouldn't everyone help out someone in need?
Sadly no is what Mercury said. And he pointed out their window to a grand lake filled with fish.
Where did that come from?! exclaimed the couple.
That was the rest of the town. I turned them into fish for that is how cold their hearts are. You are the only house that I knocked on, that showed kindness to me and for that you are rewarded. said Mercury.
The old couple were sad that their fellow townies met such a fate, however understood the townies had brought it upon themselves with their cold selfish hearts.
The old couple never were hungry again and when they died Mercury turned them into two trees whos branches were intertwined so that they could remain together with the love they had for eachother forever.
Neat huh?
It's not exactly the same as your story, however I see a common theme and I think that is just way cool.
Thank you again for sharing!
C/S/
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If only more people would heed to the morale of these stories/legends/fables etc., the world would be a better place.
I try to live by this, I try to teach my daughter this. "Don't judge the book by it's cover", you would be surprised how much you can learn from someone else now matter what they place in society is.
Thanks Angelicdarma! Sadly I learnt that lesson very soon, as I have always been on the "judged" part of society, and I have been judged by my "cover" too many times. Tattoos and piercings may be really popular now, but they were not when I was a teenage - and now I'm not a teenage anymore, I'm supposed to be too old for the tattoos, the piercings and my mohawk hairdo LOL....
Thanks Angelicdarma! Sadly I learnt that lesson very soon, as I have always been on the "judged" part of society, and I have been judged by my "cover" too many times. Tattoos and piercings may be really popular now, but they were not when I was a teenage - and now I'm not a teenage anymore, I'm supposed to be too old for the tattoos, the piercings and my mohawk hairdo LOL....
yw...our daughter is wanting to express herself with dying her hair.."emo" hair style, now she is wanting to pierce other parts of her head
I am not quite ready to let her piece her lip just yet, but she wants to pierce her nose. Which I am ok with that for now. We live in South Dakota, aLOOOOT of people are taken aback by individualism, especially when it comes to piercings etc.
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