Babalu Aye (ba-ba-loo-ah-yay) is the Orisha of sickness, especially associated with the disease smallpox, in the Youruba derived religions such as IFA, Santeria, Candomble and Umbanda, among others.Babalu Aye, as a spirit of sickness, can heal by removing disease from inflicted individuals.
Sacred colors: Brown, black and purple
Sacred number: 17
Saint: St. Lazarus
Other Names: Omolu, Soponna, Shonponno, Obaluaye, Sakpata, Shakpana, etc.
For an image of Babalu Aye, click HERE.
Appearance: Babalu Aye appears as lame man, carrying a walking stick, and with his face disguised (His face is disfigured from boils and scars from smallpox). In this form, the plague god travels the earth, accompanied by dogs.
Lore: According to legend, the Orishas threw a party one day, during which Babalu Aye danced so strangely that he aroused the laughter of every Orisha in attendance. Filled with anger, Babalu Aye cursed his fellow Orisha with all manner of plagues and boils. In response, the Orisha tracked Babalu Aye down and beat him within an inch of his life, laming him. This is why Babalu Aye must walking with a stick or cane. Luckily, had the Orisha not have lamed Babalu Aye, then he might have well destroyed the entire human race.
Although originally the spirit of smallpox, Babalu Aye is now viewed as the spirit of all diseases and is especially associated with plagues, including the modern day plague of HIV/AIDS.
Trivia: St. Lazarus was equated with Babalu Aye due to the visual similarities in the above image, a purple-clothed, lame man with walking stick. In many places of the world, dogs are considered to be "unclean", and bearers of plague. Such animals are the perfect familiars of the god of illness.
Desi Arnaz: Playing the character Ricky Ricardo, Arnaz changes the name of the Tropicana club to Club Babalu. Later in the show, Arnaz sings the famous Babalu-Aye, a song dedicated to the god of illness. Unfortunately, Arnaz mistakes Babalu Aye for the Orisha Shango/Chango. Shango is the Orisha of thunder, fire, and is king of the other Orisha.
2 comments:
1. your description of Babalu is Cuban and a poor one at that.
2. Babalu Aiye wasn't "lamed" by the other Orisa.
3. Babalu Aiye represents the African's discovery of the origin and treatment of destructive diseases - smallpox, malaria etc. He has always represented ALL disease. This is not new. Working with Babalu Aiye in Africa represents a strong understanding of medical science, the human body and the study of germs. Its high science. Its priesthood also use disease as a means of punishing unethical and power hungry individuals.
4. Many homosexuals see Babalu Aiye as their father. He is not. He is merely the custodian of disease. Because HIV is a manmade disease or a manmade sythnesis of various diseases Babalu has no particular affinity towards homosexuals or anyone else for that matter. Can he cure HIV? You bet. But the Cubanos haven't learned that one yet.
5. Babalu Aiye is a manifestation of God. He doesn't belong on a blog about demons, monsters or UFOs.
Att: Anonymous @ 11:43,
1.) My description of the Orisha Babalu Aye encompasses both the Orisha as found in IFA, the traditional religion of the Yoruba people, as well as in Santeria/Lukumi.
2.) In some legends Babalu Aye WAS lamed by the other Orisha. In fact, I believe I read it in the book, Tales of Yoruba: Gods and Heroes. I have lost my copy so I cannot be sure.
3.) You are absolutely wrong. Babalu Aye (Shonponno/Shatpata) is the spirit of smallpox in his native land. Only during the diaspora did Babalu Aye become associated with all diseases. A similar thing happened to Yemoja, who is the Orisha of the Ogun river in her native land. During the diaspora, Yemoja became associated with the ocean, primarily the upper levels of it. Check YouTube. There used to be a clip of an anthroplogist discussing the spirit of smallpox and of how the Yoruba people began to worship him.
4.) I never mentioned anything about homosexuals with regard to Babalu Aye.
5. God is the source of all good and evil. Babalu Aye, as the spirit of sickness, has a place on this blog.
Peace to you.
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