Oshun
| Oshun | |
|---|---|
Goddess of Water, Purity, Fertility, Love, and Sensuality | |
| Member of the Orisha | |
| Other names | Ọ̀ṣun, Ochún, Oxúm |
| Venerated in | Yoruba religion, Dahomey mythology, Vodun, Santería, Candomblé, Haitian Vodou, Dominican Vudú |
| Animals | Vulture, peacock |
| Symbols | Abẹ̀bẹ̀, gold, bronze, amber, pumpkin, honey, mead, wine, confections, orange |
| Color | Yellow, coral, gold, white |
| Number | Five |
| Region | Nigeria, Benin, Latin America, Haiti, Cuba |
| Ethnic group | Yoruba people, Fon people |
| Festivals | Osun-Osogbo |
| Genealogy | |
| Spouse | Shango, Oshosi, Ogun |
| Equivalents | |
| Canaanite | Astarte |
| Greek | Aphrodite |
| Norse | Freyja, Frigg |
| Roman | Venus |
| Hittite | Sauska |
Oshun (also Ọṣun, Ochún, and Oxúm) is the orisha associated with love, sexuality, fertility, femininity, water, destiny, divination, purity, wealth, prosperity and beauty, and the Osun River, in the Yoruba religion. She is considered the most popular and venerated of the 401 orishas.
According to traditional beliefs, Oshun was once the queen consort to King Shango of Oyo, and deified following her death, honored at the Osun-Osogbo Festival, a two-week-long annual festival that usually takes place in August, at the Oṣun-Osogbo Sacred Grove in Osogbo. A violín is a type of musical ceremony in Regla de Ocha performed for Osún. It includes both European classical music and Cuban popular music.