Orisa Erinle is not an Irunmale, that is to say Erinle is not among the

igba/irun/otalelegbaje-imale that descended from ikole Orun (heaven or

better put the spiritual world) to Ikole aye (Earth or better put material
world).

This Orisa is very popular and well known all over Yoruba land and of course
among the Yoruba Americans, Cubans, Trinidadian, Latinos and many more
outside the Yoruba nation in Nigeria. Many Erinle worshippers are in Remo,
Ijebu, Abeokuta Egbado in Ogun state. In fact there are families in the above
areas that bear Erinle and Abatan (known as a path in Erinle). Erinle is also
known to be the patron Orisan to llobu an Ijesha town in Osun state. The
town lies along river Erinle that takes its source from river Osun along
Ogbomoso-Osogbo road. Ketu and Okuku are other towns where people
worship Erinle a lot.

Erinle means land elephant. This super human being turned Orisa is
recorded in history to be an herbalist, hunter and farmer of all kinds
fishing, animal husbandry. He is known to be an extremely wealthy and
always well-dressed deity in refined garments adorned with cowries, coral
beads and plumage from hunted game.

Erinle is known to be a male Orisa in Yoruba land. Erinles uniqueness is all

about his inhabitation of two worlds i.e. water and earth. Erinle heals with
water (from ocean) and leaves and herbs from the forest, he hunts on land
for animals and for fishes in the water.

Yemoja is known to be married to Erinle at one time. But Abatan, which

some people called a path of Erinle, is the power wife of Erinle. Some say
Erinle is male while Abatan is female. When someone takes initiation into
Erinle and the Orisa is consecrated for him\her, he\she would also receive
Abatan just as in Obatala and Osun in many parts of Yoruba land. Erinles
color is white while Abatans color is yellow\gold. Abatan is known to be
Erinles perfect mix of female energies.

Symbols of Erinle
Erinles symbols are the clay pot called Ogun Erinle or Awo-ota Erinle.
Erinles pot comes in different sizes, shapes and designs, particularly the lid
or cover of the pot holding ota, omi etc., depending on where you are in
Yorubaland. Some come with a bust on the lid, some with a crown structure,
some have raised relics where other instruments like aaja two edged

bronze or metal bell, agogo-flat edged bronze\meal gong which is struck

with stick are kept. The bust is usually adorned with earrings, gele cloth or
headscarf, etc. It is also very common to see Abatans container placed next
to Erinle, while some Erinles pot lid\cover is called Abatan or have Abatan
placed on them.

Another symbol at Erinles grove or shrine is the Opa Erinle i.e. Erinles staff.
It is considered to be an Orisa in itself like the opa in OBATALA. It is about
20-30cm in height with one apical bird surrounded by four smaller ones
each attached to the staff separately at a lower level to the apical one in the
center. An elephant image and metal chains can also be found as Erinle
symbol.

Feeding Erinle
Erinle can be fed in a shrine where one or all of the above symbol exist and
consecrated as Erinle or by the side of a river, swamp or marshland where
Abatan is believe to reside, where two water bodies meet, such as river and
ocean or sweet and salt water or clean and dirty water.

Feeding Materials
Erinle can be fed with one or all of the following oil (liquor), epo

(Palm oil) oyin (honey), Akara (Bean cake) dodo (fried plantain) ekuru and
oole (made from beans) eko (corn meal)

Erinle praise songs

The following are some among way praise songs of Erinle

1. Okunrin gidigidi bi oke (A strong, brave and firm man like the
rock\mountain)
2. A fun gbeleje bi oju Olodumare ti ko ni koreros (The clean and clear
eye\face of Olodumare that does not grow any weed\grass)

3. Oloye nla (A high and important chief)

4. A ri ododo se igbanu fesin (One who uses a flower-like o wrap around his
horse)

5. Erinle ajaja (Erinle, the powerful and ferocious one)

6. Panti oko (An embodiment of everything in the farm)

7. Agbele san omo sita (One who stays in the house and look\care for
children outside)

8. Agbeta san omo sile (One who cares for children outside the house while
in the house)

Prepared by Babalawo Olatunji Somorin of the Eleda Witness International,

Ode-Remo , Nigeria .