Erinlẹ, Elephant of the Earth
Symbol: fishing, healing
Erinlẹ is known by many names: Inlè (by the Lukumí of Cuba), Ode Inle, Oxóssi Ibualamo (Brazilian Canbomblé), Eyinle Eyinlè in Egbado, Erinlè in Ilobu and Enlè in Okuku, . He was a great hunter who became an orisha. He is also known as an herbalist and farmer, representing wealth, fertility, and abundance. His name is derived from erin, meaning elephant and ilẹ, meaning earth, or from erin (elephant) and ile (house) in Yoruba. The Erinlẹ River, a tributary of the Osun River, is named after him. As such, Erinlẹ is also a water spirit, and lives where salt and sweet waters meets and merge. Myths also say he lives in the forest with his brothers Osányin, Ogún and Oshóòsì, on the farmlands with orisha Oko, and in the seas with Yemaya and Otin. It is rather unusual to have an orisha who inhabits two worlds in this way: both land and sea. He is syncretized to the Archangel Raphael (October 24th).
Erinlẹ is known as having it both ways, and so is the patron of the LGBTQIA+ community. Children born with their umbilical cords twined around their arms are believed to be under his protection and guard. He is handsome and androgynous. He is a shapeshifter: his masculine side being huge and imposing, and his feminine side being swift-flowing and life-giving.
Erinlẹ is always dressed elegantly, adorned in cowrie shells, coral, and beautiful feathers from the birds he hunts, and is often shown with snakes wound around him. He may also be represented holding a staff, dagger, or a fishing hook. In nature, he is represented by fish.
In one Cuban Santería pataki (mythological story), Yemaya (the sea goddess) is tricked into having an incestuous relationship with her son Sango. To hide her shame, she banishes her two other sons, Erinlẹ and Abbata, to live at the bottom of the ocean, cutting off Erinlẹ’s tongue and making Abbata deaf. In isolation and loneliness, Erinlẹ and Abbata become close friends and even lovers, able to communicate telepathically. This pataki is often used to explain the origin of incest, mutism, deafness and homosexuality.
In other folklore, Erinlẹ is often heard chanting and singing to himself while hunting alone. Soon, his talents were talked about by local men in nearby villages and his fame spread, until Ogún heard there was a strange man* who was equal to him in musical ability. Ogún was a famed percussionist. So, in exchange for singing lessons, Ogún offered to teach Erinlẹ the art of drumming. The pair became rather close and were often seen together, roaming the forest, singing, and hunting. Many believed this relationship took on a sexual and romantic nature.
Erinlẹ‘s alleged romantic connection to Ogún made his wife, Oshun, hotly jealous. They eventually annulled their union and Oshun left with their children, disavowing them. As such, Erinlẹ is often considered the patron deity of single parents.
* I have heard that orishas once began as human beings who fulfilled their sacred soul paths while on earth, thus ascending to deity status.
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References:
The Afro-Cuban Orisha Pantheon
ERINLE: West Africa Queer Magic: LGBT + Spirituality and Culture from Around the World
