Pataki Of Eyela Se bora 12 The magical Gourd of Shango Shango was the most handsome man of all the

kingdoms , and all the Obinis where dying for his attentions . Which in turn rose jealousy with in the other Obas an d if you added his supernatural powers to the mix , youd understand why all wher e jealous of him . Shango arose one morning and within his heart he heard a calling almost a inner voice , Beckoning him to the heart of the jungle. Olofi had bestowed upon Shango all the grace that a human being could have . Dee per into the jungle Shango crept , soon he came upon the most majestic tree in t he jungle confident he had found the Araba tree his inner voice told him to sit under the shade and he began to fall asleep. Soon he heard a voice which startled him .. Shango OMOMI He opened his eyes and there before him he saw a diminutive little man whose app earance was not pleasing to look at . Shango was not afraid for he had met this man before and knew his physical appearance was frightful to the eye . This poor little man was missing an arm and the right leg and on his face there was only one big eyeball in the middle of his forehead. Olodumare created this b eing , and granted him the power and lord of all the jungle and its contents (EW E). He was also granted the talent of being the doctor and , witch doctor of the kingdom . There where no secrets about the plants that he did not have the know ledge and herbal qualities of the reeds and animals that lived in his Ile Nigue (jungle) He was a man of vast secrets and knowledge of sciences of beyond and th e favored son of Olodumare himself . Ozain on seeing Shango , felt great joy and wanted to pay his debt to the young Alafin that he owed him since long ago and he decided to make Shango his favorit e student . Shango looked at him with Love and gratitude and noticed the little man took a s mall guirito and extended to him . Ozain had given Shango a gift and he accepted it with gratitude . Ozain told Shango .. Shango I want to give you this gift in a way of the debt I have with you can be repaid and also because of my years it has become very heav y for me to carry around my neck . I give it to you under one condition . Shango asked what condition is that Ozain? **Never let anyone that is not you , to uncover this guirito . Shango agreed and Ozain Continued with his story .. Shango this guirito has the ability to separate all the evil spirits , witchcraf t, and bad influences, I see you are grateful and happy . If there is anything y ou only need to ask and I will always be with you . Dpue Dpue Ozain for your gift Shango, watched as the little man began to hop away from his sight . As, soon as Ozain was gone , Shango quickly uncovered the guirito to see its con tents . As soon as he opened it his mouth fell open with admiration. The guirito had engraved on the inside Four animal images . One represented the EYELE( dove

) , the Second represented the COIDE( African Parrot) The Third one was a ECUN ( leopard) and the fourth symbol was a representation of The ELLA TUTU (snapper). Also engraved on the lid was ten qualities that would make the Human Being perfe ct . ..1 the symbol of a crown - meaning Respect and below it was the following ..2 Intelligence ..3 charity ..4 Be just ..5 Beauty ..6 perdurability ..7 benevolence ..8 Goodness ..9 Obedience ..10 Power This last one was the one that stood out most from the rest and Shango understoo d that this was only because if placed in the wrong hands it could become a dang er to the rest of the Human race . Also , engraved inside the guirito , where tw enty small and diminutive symbols on the inside of the guirito, That made up the elements of nature . Shango also noticed that the guirito contained in its cont ents , cut up herbs and roots and little pieces of sticks . He understood that w hat was contained in the guirito was the body and soul of the small man that mom ents before had given him such a beautiful gift . Shango stuck his fingers inside the guirito and saw instantly to his amazement h ow the great secret of the beginning of creation was revealed to him , and fearf ully he removed his finger from the guirito . He could not explain this. How is it possible? He was filled with joy and emotion. He stayed thoughtful. He was th e Owner of the most marvelous amulets that ever existed . Rubbing his hands over his face to dry the sweat that beaded on his brow . The finger he had used to p lace into the guirito had touched his lips humid from the saliva . Understanding the gift given unto him by Ozain he yelled with all his strength he had so that the little man who had hopped away from his sight , could hear him . Ozain , Modupe ..Baba Here is where the second surprise took place . At the same time that he yelled , a string of fire came from his mouth . It was like when a volcano erupts and po urs fire from its mouth , and his voice was strong as thunder in the skies . Sha ngo was afraid of what had happened and without looking he began to scale the li mbs of the gigantic tree until he reached the top and there he stayed sitting fo r many hours analyzing what had happened . Two days later Oduwa ( King of Ile Ife and father of Shango ) sent the youngest of his sons named Araibose (messenger of the trails) to go and find his brother Shango and summon him as soon as possible at the palace . Araibose went directly to the heart of the jungle to the majestic Araba tree knowing hed find Shango t here sitting at the top of the tree still analyzing the power that was bestowed to him from the guirito. Araibose called to him out loud and it was necessary that he do it three consecu tive times because Shango did not answer his call . On the third call he saw Sha ngo coming down the tree until he reached where he was standing. Araibose saw cl early that something very serious had occurred to his brother because he was a w ell mannered man with him and this time Shango did not greet him as usual . Araibose saw hanging around Shangos neck , the little guirito and with a smile h e understood why he was in this state.

If you where powerful before , from now on you are more powerful. You do not hav e to fear , on the contrary. You have obtained something everyone in this kingdo m has coveted and I see that Ozain has chosen you to follow his great mission . Araibose told his brother . Shango looked at his brother Knowing that Araibose knew what had occurred and as ked What do you know about the mysteries of the guiro and why did Ozain do this to m e ? Araibose responded I know that the guirito holds all the mysteries of the creati on and is also the messenger of great powers and those great powers are only to be used to do good. I believe and I am in agreement that Ozain in choosing you a s its new owner because its owner should only be a just and benevolent man and y ou are a man who has these qualities . He gave it to you because you are the only one amongst the Orisa who has a great sense of love towards humanity and have the intelligent capacity to utilize tho se powers to do good because you know abure (brother). That wisdom is not a qual ity everyone has. Normally , who so posses it , does not know how to utilize it and wisdom, badly used can cause a lot of harm. And most of all those who posses it end up destroying and sending calamities to other. With these words Araibose had the capacity and quality to bring him out of his t roublesome moments . Shango th his happy Shango looked at his brother and he returned it with a wide and joyful smile. Wi eyes he said do not fear on the contrary this is a time to rejoice and be . inquired with fear : Why do you seek me ?

Oduwa needs to see you immediately Shango . Oduwa looked interrogatively but with affection and he said : Shango I know of the gift Ozain has given you and since with with these powers a nd those you already possessed I believe you should be the Oba of the city of OY O . Babami , are you sure I am the man you seek ? Oduwa with his loving way said Yes, OMOMI , it is time you begin to govern the c itizens of OYO ( Oyo is a city in Nigeria where the temple of Shango is located ). Shango was going to say no , but because of the look his father was giving hi m , he had no time to think about it and Shango understood that the time had arr ived for him to take responsibility and without saying a word , he accepted the will of his father by just inclining his head before his father. The Oba Shango arrived in the city of OYO , where he was to govern as king . Upon his arrival , he was informed that the city was in turmoil and several cata strophes has come upon the land. And, all this had come about at the time the in habitants where to celebrate the party in honor of the Araba tree that all the e gun ancestors would come just like spirits of the night. Shango decided the night of the party , to leave hanging at the top of the tree his coveted guirito which would take care of getting rid of any evil spirits tha t would come to disturb the tranquility of the kingdom . While everyone was sleeping , the vast silence of the night seemed to suddenly b reak out into a thousand roars followed by strong earthquakes. No one dared to l

ook outside to see what was transpiring . Fear paralyzed all the occupants of th e city . And at dawn, the citizens took to the streets cautiously . What they sa w there froze the blood all . Standing on top of the gigantic Araba tree was Shango and out of his eyes and mo uth great strings of fire were coming out giving out the impression that he was going to eliminate all of them . Shango ordered with his thundering voice that from now on tributes to the Orisa and not the ancestors would be rendered at the tree. That his kingdom had only r oom for happiness and not sadness and that in his kingdom never again will sadne ss reign . From now on the catastrophes had no room in my Ile temi (on my lands that is you r land). (this is where Shango separates from the spiritual world and the reason why he d oes it is because he is the god of happiness. It also explains where the niche O zain comes from and why the solider never sleeps in times of battles .) That Oddun (year) threatened to be tragic , But Shangos arrival had made all the bad predictions change . Ever since his arrival the kingdom began to progress a nd little by little the sickness that invaded the kingdom of OYO disappered and all this came about because Shango would consult his magic guiro every night and he would predict what measures to take so that the kingdom would be content . W hen , Shango felt his heart shrink or the fear overcoming him with so much misfo rtune is when the words of Osain and Araibose came to his mind about the content s of the magic guirito used to do good were the elixir that could save a town . Araibose would come every morning , with a smile on his lips . To tell Shango ho w the situation and progress of the kingdom was going . Shango would listen with patience the words coming out his brothers mouth and th is would fill him with joy, Araibose suddenly told Shango in a serious tone of v oice : Shango , Last night I had a dream that left me frightened . The spirit of the ma gic guiro had appeared to me in my dreams. He was dressed as a leopard and told me to let you know that he would appreciate it very much if you would use him mo re frequently so that he can finish curing all the evil that still exists in the kingdom. In a brief short time he is going to be called to rest by the will of heaven . He says you will no longer need his help then becaue you will have grac e of Olodumare impregnated in you . Shango put the guiro to use immediately and the more he used it the more the gui ro decreased . Shango and Araibose were sitting on top of a mat talking and analyzing all the g ood services the magic gurio had brought to the kingdom . Suddenly the sound of a loud sigh came fourth upon the land . The sigh grew and grew till it reached a terrorizing proportions . It sounded by now as a roar of a leopard . There was no doubt in Shango s mind that the sound came from within the magical guiro. Silence fell again once more , Shango took the guiro from around his neck and un covered it carefully and the magic spirit that it was once contained was no long er there . It had ceased to belong to men and his good mission had expired and h ad returned from where it had come, Ile Niwe ( the heart of the jungle).