Odù 244 of 256 · Ofun family

Ofún Gándo

The one who saved the village of Gándo and was crowned King: here rank was born — and whoever tells how he got to the top loses everything.

Ofún Gándo is Odù number 244 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ofun family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 20 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 8 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation; the detail of iré and osogbo, the eewó and the full recipes open with the Babalawo plan — that locked part is still written in Spanish.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá: Odù 244 of 256
Composition: Ofun over Iwori
Orishas that speak: Shangó · Elegbá · Odduduwa y Babá · Orunmila · Egun · Oshósi

What Ifá says in this sign

Ofún Gándo carries his crown in his name: he saved the village of Gándo from death and was crowned King. Here rank was born — in work, in religion and in life there always has to be someone in charge — and so was the Ifá of the silk glove: Olofin gave the Awó his power in his hands, with all the feeling in his fingertips.

How he destroys himself has already been diagnosed: he goes through many hard times, and when fame and money come, these people bring their own downfall by telling the secrets of how they got to the top — the talk brings the law watching. Whoever tells the road to his crown hands the crown over: learn from the white bird, who changed his clothes, was not recognized — and was the pride of the party.

«Olofin put the power in the hands of Ofún Gándo, in a silk glove — and the one who tells how he reached the top loses it.»The pulse of Ofún Gándo

The posts he holds ask for skill: when you take a position, know how to organize the people under you, because they tend to push you out and can even bring death on you — and this sign warns of Awoses fighting each other out of envy, with ogú in the middle. His wars are wars over position, like Troy: the cause looked like a woman, but the reason was position — and the agreements that look like peace hide the horse and the trick: do not sign a peace without looking inside it.

The machete gives his lesson about sacrifice: the adá made ebbó and that is why it cuts; Kañiké did not — and someone else gathers the harvest of his work: you work for nothing when you doubt what Ifá lays out. The woman who cannot have children will give birth with the works of Ifá — usually girls — asking a great deal of Olofin; and the women's illness she has had must be cured properly: the kidneys, the eyesight — which can end in blindness — and a man's strength all depend on it.

His gifts are in his hands and in art: pressure-point healing, the parrot that talks and sings, Orunmila's violin inside the little eagle — build your working life in the arts. Respect people with disabilities — that respect was born here — treat well the children you nurse who are not yours, and remember the rule of the King of Gándo: the chief who saves his people reigns — the one who brags about how he saved them falls.

The sign in one line

Keep the secret of how you rose, organize your people by rank, and make ebbó like the machete that cuts — so that someone else does not gather your harvest.

The prayer of Ofún Gándo · Yoruba

Rezo arará: Fuñi Gagbo Woli Kañi Gara Azofuwe Jebu Busifa Tajua.

Ifá says — what Ofún Gándo tells you

It is the Ifá of the silk glove: Olofin gave the Awó his power in his hands, with all the feeling in his fingertips. It is an Ifá of rank and of leadership: when you take a position you must know how to organize the work of the people under you, because they tend to push you out of the post and can even bring death on you. It is an Ifá where a man brings his own downfall by telling his secrets: that is why it is an Odù of osobo ashelú, since the talk brings the law watching. It is an Ifá of wars over position — over an object, a work or a possession — with agreements that look like peace and end like the War of Troy. This Odù announces the death of an Awó: the Awoses fall into fighting out of envy, and one can bring death on another through ogú. Shangó was named King of the Heavens and of the Earth and has no rivals; he has four spirits who go with him: Lubayemí, Omuhí Lowó, Agbó Eggún Kafó and Afinjú Elegbá.
This person acts without judgment: loss of mental powers from an inshé ogú.
They go through many hard times and many wants, and when the blessing comes and they get famous and rich, they bring their own downfall by disobeying and telling the secrets of how they got to the top.
Children who are not theirs are nursed here, but they tend not to be treated well and can even be made sick; the woman can be attacked, killed or enslaved with a knife, a bow or a stick.
Common gossip is a curse on her: the ones who look like friends are after her downfall, because they envy her position and her place.
The woman cannot have children: she must do the works Ifá lays out, trusting that she will give birth — usually to girls — and ask a great deal of Olofin.
This person suffers from the kidneys, from weakness in the body and from the eyes, to the point that he can go blind if he has not already; the men tend toward impotence.
It is an Odù of having many obiní, and that brings on envy, ogú laid on this person, and spells.
This person should build his working life in the arts.
You work for nothing and someone else gathers the harvest of what you do, because you doubt what Ifá lays out, like the machete Kañiké.
He had a red-haired woman who did him harm because she believed he left her for another: she lit candles upside down for him.
She has had or has an illness of women: cure it properly, because it can do her serious harm; sometimes he feels impotent.
There may well be twins; the numbers played are 5 and 3.
The silk glove speaks: the power of the hands and pressure-point healing.
The machete speaks: the adá made ebbó and that is why it cuts; the spirit of the machete is named Kañiké, but he did not make ebbó, and that is why someone else gathers the harvest of his work.
The parrot speaks, with its strong hooked beak, which talks and sings songs; the gray one with the red tail is the cleverest.
The eagle of the stage speaks (the little eagle), inside which Orunmila played the violin.
The white bird speaks, who changed his two-colored clothes for white and was not recognized: he sang and danced, and was the pride of the party.
The War of Troy speaks: the cause looked like a woman, but the main reason was position; the agreements that look like peace — the Horse Ship of Odysseus — hide the trick.
The ewé of this Odù are: melon, jack bean and basil.

Proverbs of Ofún Gándo · Òwe

“When two Kings get into the same boat, one of them does not reach the goal.”
“When you do not know the ground, you look first before you step on it.”
“A man brings his own downfall by telling his secrets.”
“Someone who was not allowed to gather the harvest of his own work.”
“Every single thing he does fails to end well.”
“They blame the blind man before the judge.”
“Whoever has money does whatever he pleases.”
“If we are kind, children will love us.”
“When the doctor cannot cure the illness of the body, the cure is looked for in the spirit.”
“A woman in love saves; a woman scorned kills.”
“Whoever carries weapons means to use them.”
“Truth is more needed than air.”
“A smile costs nothing, but it is worth a great deal.”
“Calling on the Orisha is the key that opens every door.”
“You never know who you are working for.”
“The thief's partner does not confess, even when he hears curses.”
“When two kings get into the same boat, one of them does not reach the shore.”

17 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Iré and Osogbo

8 iré and osogbo readings in this Odù, locked.The iré and osogbo of the sign, sorted by subject — health, money, love, death, loss… Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

What is born in Ofún Gándo · Ìbí

That warehouses fill up just as easily as they empty out.
Ofún Shokú did not make the sacrifice of the ewe to Egun in the kingdom's warehouse, and the drought used up every reserve: Igando was left barren land.
Rank in the workplace, in religion and in ordinary life.
The two chiefs with no rowers drowned in the boat: Olofin ordered that chiefs be given servants; there always has to be someone in charge.
That with money anything can be done.
With the beggar woman's eagle and the violin, Orunmila proved his sign true and won the hand of the King's daughter.
That when the older child raises the younger one badly, it brings the younger one's death.
The King's pitiless son put his hand into the bag with the snake his own father had given the beggar.
Respect for people with disabilities.
They blamed the blind man before the judge, and the Awó showed who was really guilty: do not meddle with people who have disabilities.
The parrot.
It is born in this Odù: the bird with the hooked beak that talks and sings.
The souring of the stomach from ogú that is drunk, and the loss of your mental powers from an inshé ogú.
From the road of the white bird, whose head they tried to blow powders on so he would forget the sign.
That when this Odù comes out at an Atefá, an akukó is given to Elegbá at once in the middle of the yard.
A rule of this Ifá: the head goes in the ebbó (umbeboro).

What is forbidden · Eewó

9 eewó (taboos) in this Odù, locked.What the child of this sign must not eat, do or wear. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Ebbós of Ofún Gándo · The sacrifices that open the road

Vencer enemigosEbbó of the Atefá (akukó for Elegbá in the yard)🔒 Babalawo

DineroEbbó of the two little pods🔒 Babalawo

La pérdidaEbbó of the machete (Kañiké)🔒 Babalawo

AmorEbbó of the white bird🔒 Babalawo

EspiritualEbbó of rank🔒 Babalawo

5 ebbós in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Works of Ofún Gándo · The workings of the sign

EspiritualEshu Añakí (Añaguí Olokun) and Eshu Karugwó🔒 Babalawo

Vencer enemigosThe little gourd of the seven birds🔒 Babalawo

EspiritualThe Ozain of the broom🔒 Babalawo

3 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Patakíes of Ofún Gándo · The roads of the Odù

1The King kills his son through the beggar

The pitiless King gave a beggar a bag with a poisonous snake in it; his own son, putting stones into the beggar's saddlebag, was bitten and died: the King could take no revenge, because the guilt was double — the poisoned bag and the way he had raised his son.

There was in a district a King who, like his son, was a pitiless person.

Once a beggar came to the palace looking for alms, and the King handed him a bag with a poisonous snake inside. The beggar, very pleased, left without looking at what was in it. On the road he ran into the King's son, who tried to talk the other young men with him into putting stones in the beggar's saddlebags, and the rest would not do it. He alone took a handful of stones and dropped them into the bag the King had given the beggar. But his bad luck had it that the snake bit him, and he died shortly after.

The King could take no revenge, because his guilt was double: giving the poisoned bag, and raising his son badly. When the beggar heard the news of the King's son's death, he brought him the same bag he had been given, thinking that this way the prince would be saved.

Note: be careful where you put your hands. The father kills the son.

2The road of the little eagle

Orunmila put up the sign «Whoever has money does whatever he pleases», and the King challenged him with his daughter shut up on the eighth floor; the beggar woman had the stage eagle made along with a violin: inside the eagle, Orunmila reached the princess, and nine months later the King admitted the sign was true and gave him his daughter.

A man came to a town and put up a sign on his door that said: «Whoever has money does whatever he pleases». The King heard about it and sent for him: «I do not believe you put up that sign, but I want to test your nerve». Orunmila answered: «I will prove it to you». The King came back that he had an 18-year-old daughter, and that Orunmila had to hand her over, 12 or 13 months later, with a family.

Orunmila left for his house and stood in the doorway thinking how to solve the huge problem they had set him. Just then a beggar woman came by, one Orunmila gave something to every day; but when he saw her he said: «Go away, I am in no state to give anything to anyone». The beggar woman, seeing how troubled he was, kept at it: «Son, what is wrong?». Orunmila kept telling himself: «How is this beggar woman going to solve this problem for me!». But she insisted so much that he explained the situation, and she answered: «Do not be troubled, that is already solved». She asked him for $1,000, which Orunmila gave her, since he had money to spare.

The beggar woman went to a blacksmith's and had a little eagle made (a stage eagle) and bought a violin. She took both things to Orunmila and told him: «Look, this is the key to the little eagle, which you will use when you go into the palace, hidden inside it playing the violin». The beggar woman passed by the palace every day with her little eagle, with Orunmila inside playing. The King's daughter was shut up on an eighth floor with nothing to amuse her, and she heard the little eagle playing. On the third day she asked her father to buy her the little eagle so she would have something to pass the time. The King wanted to buy it, but the beggar woman said: «I will lend it to your daughter, but I will not sell it». And so the little eagle went up to the eighth floor with Orunmila inside, still playing.

When night came and the girl was asleep, Orunmila came out of his hiding place and said to her gently: «Do not scream, I do no harm to anyone». And he courted her, and they were together all night. In the morning he got back into his little eagle, and on the second day the same thing happened. The beggar woman came for her little eagle, and the daughter begged the King to let her keep it one more day, since it was the only thing she had to pass the time. The next day the beggar woman came and the King handed over her little eagle, with Orunmila inside. When they got home, Orunmila gave her another $1,000.

Nine months later, the King sent for the man of the sign and told him it was true that with money you get what you want, and asked him to marry his daughter. And he received a fortune greater than the King's, because he received the fortune of a child.

Note: Orunmila dresses in shining cloth. Give alms at your door.

3With money anything can be done (Olofin's two little pods)

Olofin gave the hunter Awó two little pods: with the powder from one of them in the corners of his house he became the most famous and richest man there was; but he broke his promise, told his friend the secret and gave him the other pod: the friend prospered, he went back to poverty, and Olofin ruled: «You yourself are the cause of your own ruin».

Ebbó: akukó, two eyelé (for Obatalá), 16 itaná, iyefá inside the two little pods, a trap, an arrow, a bow (which goes to Oshósi), ekú, eyá, epó, awadó, malaguidí as the case calls for, opolopo owó.

This was an Awó who was going through hard times and many wants, and who hunted to settle his troubles, which were so many that he could not settle them all.

One day he met Olofin, who asked him what was wrong, and he answered that he was going through hard times and that, no matter how he struggled, he could not settle them. Then Olofin told him to take two little pods he had: that the power was in one of them, that he should take from that one and, when he got home, throw a little in the corners every day; and that he should keep the other one and tell no one his secret.

He did so, and in a short time he became the most famous and richest man in the district. He had a friend in the same business who, seeing him prosper, asked him what he had done to get ahead so much in so little time. And he, breaking his promise to Olofin, told him what had happened. Since his friend acted as if he did not believe him, to show him it was true he said he still had one little pod put away, and he gave it to him.

A short time later his friend's business began to prosper; but the business of Ofún Gándo got worse every day, until he had to go back to hunting, because he began to go through hardship again.

One day Olofin was out in the woods and, seeing him, asked in surprise: «What? You are hunting again?». The hunter said: «Things did not go very well for me». Olofin came back: «Use the other little pod you have left». And he answered: «I gave it to a friend». Then Olofin told him: «You yourself are the cause of your own ruin, since you disobeyed me by telling your secret, and until you gave the pod away you had had no trouble. But since you did what I told you not to do, you will go on hunting and going through hard times». To Iban Eshu.

Work: put ikordié on Obatalá and make him three balls of yam, ekrú, orí and efún.

4The charm of the hands🔒 Babalawo

5Igando, the barren land🔒 Babalawo

6Kañiké, the machete🔒 Babalawo

7The adá made ebbó, that is why it cuts🔒 Babalawo

8The blind man who gathered melons🔒 Babalawo

9Shangó is called Ewegbemí and is a herbalist🔒 Babalawo

10When the chiefs had no servants🔒 Babalawo

11Rank (Orunmila, Ekun and Amokisitekun)🔒 Babalawo

12The white bird🔒 Babalawo

13The light of the firefly beetle🔒 Babalawo

14The firefly and the hare🔒 Babalawo

15The enemies of Ofún Gando🔒 Babalawo

16The voice inside🔒 Babalawo

17The two dogs who were friends🔒 Babalawo

18The rabbit and the jutía🔒 Babalawo

19The horse with the golden mane🔒 Babalawo

20The wise son's revenge🔒 Babalawo

17 more patakíes in this Odù, locked.Read every road in full with the Babalawo plan. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Before you subscribe: everything you read on this page is in English, but the locked part of the treatise — the full text of the other patakíes, the recipes for the ebbós and works, the iré and osogbo readings and the eewó — is still written in Spanish. We are translating it. · This page is also available in Spanish: See Ofún Gándo in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ofún Gándo

What does the Odù Ofún Gándo mean in Ifá?

The one who saved the village of Gándo and was crowned King: here rank was born — and whoever tells how he got to the top loses everything.

What number is Ofún Gándo among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Ofún Gándo is Odù number 244 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ofun family.

Which orishas speak in Ofún Gándo?

In the Odù Ofún Gándo these orishas speak: Shangó, Elegbá, Odduduwa y Babá, Orunmila, Egun, Oshósi.

What is a proverb of the Odù Ofún Gándo?

One of the proverbs of Ofún Gándo says: «When two Kings get into the same boat, one of them does not reach the goal.».

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