Oyekun Bedura (Ofun)

nº 46 of 256

Where Shangó handed the kingdom to Orunmila: a sign of Eshú Larufa and of lagoons, where drink destroys the owner of the Odù.

12 patakíes 5 eewó 8 ebbós and works 10 proverbs

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Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) is Odù number 46 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Oyekun family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 12 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 8 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation — with the full eewó in plain sight; the detail of iré and osogbo and the full recipes open with The Notebook, in English.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá: Odù 46 of 256
Composition: Oyekun over Ofun
In the Diloggún: 2-10 · Eyioko tonti Ofún
Orishas that speak: Eshú (Larufa) · Orunmila · Shangó · Oyá · Oshún (Iyalode) · Ikú (Death) · Ibeyis (the twins) e Ideu · Inle

What Ifá says in this sign

Oyekun Bedura is the Ifá of the lagoons — the heads of the rivers, which were born here — and of Eshú Larufa, the son of Inle and of Ikú. It is a sign of power handed over: here Shangó handed the kingdom to Orunmila, and here it was born that the babalawo determines the Guardian Angel of every head.

Its sacred geography is still water: the ebbós of this Odù go to the lagoon, and the lagoon is fed. Attend Eshú well — his food on the corner: hutia, smoked fish and toasted corn — for everyday movement; with a smoked mouse, difficulties are beaten.

«The ebbós of Oyekun Bedura go to the lagoon — still water holds the power of this sign.»The pulse of Oyekun Bedura (Ofun)

The deadly enemy is the glass: drink destroys the owner of this Odù — as far as costing him his life. Do not even be the host of the party: you lose. And borders with sudden death: you will get news of someone who died suddenly, and if you are told of a sick person, do not go and see them — there can be a change of heads. No wakes either.

The body and the house: be careful with operations and with injections that harden under the skin — ebbó before letting yourself be operated on —, the pregnant woman needs her ebbó with a cloth of her own because the child is lying badly, and the wife must look after her marriage: this odu warns of surprises the husband may catch. The marriageable daughter of this sign will be happy with a babalawo — she has four suitors and accepts none of them.

The promises: the Jimaguas give luck, health and money in this odu, and the man is to meet a woman with means of her own who will be his wife. With Eshú fed, the lagoon served and the bottle far off, the power Shangó handed to Orunmila also shelters whoever lives straight.

The sign in one line

Feed Eshú and the lagoon, leave the drink and do not visit the sick — the Jimaguas bring you luck, and the kingdom has already changed hands in your favor.

The prayer of Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) · Yoruba

Oyeku bedura mafun aba baraba mafun aba Ofun mayekun fun yanzán lele foiguero malele Oyeku fun mafun yeku berere orí Oshún morí yeyeo molayari iyalode morí yeyeo agbeyami lele Oshún debera Okana yelegue yelele Oyeku fun yeyebi Oyá omá yire awó bodawa awó obbá eri Ifá kaferefún lori Ifá maferefun Eshu larufa.

Súyere
Ofun mini adeyano · Adifafún Oggún orun lerí · Adifafún Osun orun lerí · Ofun mini adeyano.

Ifá says — what Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) tells you

Kaferefún Eshu Larufa. Lodafun Orunmila and Olokun.
Shangó handed the power of the kingdom to Orunmila.
The Jimaguas bring luck, health and money.
People transfigure, adodi or alakuata, through holding the power of both sexes.
Sudden death; and in this Odù, drink destroys.
This is an Ifá of lagoons: the lagoon is fed, and the ebbó go to it.
Binding of the belly: pregnant women are given ebbó with a cloth of their own so they do not lose the child.
You have wept a great deal.
Be careful with operations, and with injections that can harden under the skin.
The wife must look after her marriage, because she can be caught out in something bad.
You are to meet a woman with means of her own, and she will be your wife.
You are going to get news of someone who died suddenly.
You will be told of a sick person: do not go and see them, because there can be a change of heads.
A child living with a trauma from having seen their parents together.
Here Oshún bought servants; and the woman is married to a babalawo so she will be happy.

Proverbs of Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) · Òwe

“Do not drop what is certain for what is doubtful.”
“When the aguardiente spills, you notice where you should have kept it.”
“A warning from a younger person is usually taken lightly.”
“Children are given virtues so they can live without prejudice.”
“It is not worth digging one hole to fill another.”
“A warning, when it is vital, is heeded first and looked into afterward.”
“The one a man curses, God blesses.”
“Out of darkness light is born; out of doubt, wisdom.”
“Whoever corrects the mocker draws dishonor on themselves, and whoever corrects the unbeliever gets insults.”
“Teach the wise, and they will be wiser still.”

7 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies.Unlock →

Iré and Osogbo

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

What is born in Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) · Ìbí

Eshú Larufa, son of Inle and Ikú.
From the road where Oyá gave him the virtues to transfigure into man and woman.
The determining of the Guardian Angel by Orunmila, and that the Awoses do the slaughter for the consecration of Osha.
From the road of the change of heads, where Olofin confirmed that only Orunmila has that ashé.
The transfiguration of the lands and of Eshú.
That the lagoons are the heads of the rivers.
From the road of the government of the rivers, where the ebbó of the lagoon was made by Obbá.

What is forbidden · Eewó

The full eewó of this Odù, open to everyone — with the road each ban came out of.

Do not eat ram.
Do not ride a horse.
It can harm an old man and will be his own death.
Do not cross through thickets.
So as not to pick up what is bad.
Do not go to see the sick nor to wakes.
There can be a change of head.
You cannot drink alcoholic beverages.
It can cost you your life.

Ebbós of Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) · The sacrifices that open the road

PregnancyEbbó for the pregnant woman🔒 The Notebook Driving enemies offEbbó for arayé unlo🔒 The Notebook Hard situationsEbbó of the clothes of the trouble🔒 The Notebook The deadOffering of the five loaves🔒 The Notebook

4 ebbós in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes.Unlock →

Works of Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) · The workings of the sign

EshúEshú Larufa (of the two bodies)🔒 The Notebook ProtectionInshé Osanyin for a man🔒 The Notebook Finding a wifeMouse gourd for Eshú🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesLoaded egg against the enemies🔒 The Notebook

4 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes.Unlock →

Patakíes of Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) · The roads of the Odù

1Eshú Larufa

Eshú Larufa, son of Inle and Ikú, suffered at having none of his parents' powers. Oyá bathed him, had him swap his parents' hen and coconut, and handed him the virtues; he transfigured into man and woman, and became great.

Eshú Larufa was the son of Ikú and Inle. From a small child he saw his parents' great powers: Inle would pray and turn Ikú into a shadow no one could see, and with a hen dundun they would dance, thinking the child was asleep. Ikú rested on a dry coconut that Inle laid under her head, and on leaving would give her that coconut to bury and watch how she turned into different colors, each one with a virtue for the world. Eshú Larufa lived bitter at having no power at all.

He asked leave to go walking and went to the land of Belelé, where Oyá lived, and told her everything. Oyá bathed him with omiero of herbs and handed him a coconut and a black hen, telling him to swap, without anyone seeing, the hen Inle danced with and the coconut that served as her pillow, and to bring it all to her. Three days later, Oyá gave him the blood of the hen, drew out the secret of the coconut and handed it to him. They went before Inle and Ikú, and as Ikú began to tell Inle, she saw her son transfigure into two figures, man and woman. Oyá gave three cries, Inle and Ikú threw themselves to the ground, and she told them: «children are given virtues so they may live free of prejudice and so respect between parents and children may last; you, Inle, will have to respect your son». So Eshú Larufa became great.

Prayer of the road

Oyeku bedura mafun agba baragba mafun agba Ofun maye kun Iyanzá lele foguero malele Oyeku fun mafun yeku berere orí Oshún morí yeyeo molayeri iyalode morí yeyeo agbeyani lele Oshún debera Okana yelegue yelele Oyeku fun yeyebi Oyá omá yire awó bodawa awó obbá eri ifá kaferefún lori ifá kaferefún Eshu larufa.

Odára lele ikú Ofun kayekun fun eweye beifun ikú yeku okuada layebe ikú mafun inle abelorun eweye beiku fun mafun ikú

Súyere

Sawa leleye awá ikú eggun Sawa leleye addie inle awá ikú eggun Eshu larufa awá ni lorun

Eshu larufa omó lerí awá ikú orí lerí awá ikú Eshu larufa omó lerí awá ikú

2Awó Irawo — the black cloak

Ikú was looking for Ifá Irawo, who wore a black cloak. Orunmila shaved his head, changed his name to Oyeku Bedura and forbade him drink. At a party he got drunk, stood out dancing, and Ikú knew him and took him.

Ikú was looking for Ifá Irawo, whose hour had come by Olofin's order and who wore a black cloak. In the market square, death asked for him and, when he answered «I am he», she went for him; Eshú stepped in and the man ran off to a nearby town. Taking shelter in a house, they brought him to Orunmila, who saw this Ifá for him, did ceremonies, shaved his head and changed his name to Oyeku Bedura to fool death, warning him not to drink alcohol and not to stand out anywhere.

With more confidence because of his new look, Oyeku Bedura went to a great party in the town and drank too much, disobeying Orunmila; he began to dance off the beat and swaying, and people gathered round to watch. Ikú, tired of looking for Ifá Irawo and set on not going back empty-handed, came into the party, saw the shaven man dancing alone with people around him, made her way through and wrapped him in her cloak. The shaven head cried out «I am not Ifá Irawo, I am Oyeku Bedura», and Ikú answered: «he is exactly who I was looking for». She took him before Olofin, who confirmed that he was Ifá Irawo. So he was lost, through too much drink; that is why the person of this Odù must not drink, and if they go to a party, only a little, and never be the host.

3Wealth through Eshú

Oyeku Bedura fed Eshú on the corner, with a piece of roast mouse. Eshú, pleased, handed him an ade with ashé and told him he would have dealings with a woman of means; he joined with her and became rich.

A certain woman had means — money, her own house, a settled life — and what she needed was a babalawo for a husband. One day Oyeku Bedura was out walking and, at the corner, he set out for Eshú jutía and smoked fish, corojo, toasted corn, cocoa butter, cascarilla, aguardiente, honey and a piece of roasted mouse. Eshú ate all that very happily; then he took an ade out of his apó, loaded it with ashé and handed it to him, saying: "just as you gave me food, you are going to have dealings with a woman of means". Some time later, Awó Oyeku Bedura ran into that woman who was looking for an Awó to marry; he joined with her, lived happily and became rich.

4The government of the rivers🔒 The Notebook 5The thunder in the land of Oyó Inle🔒 The Notebook 6The change of heads🔒 The Notebook 7The false funeral🔒 The Notebook 8The novice rider challenges the professional🔒 The Notebook 9The magic drum🔒 The Notebook 10The rain of stones🔒 The Notebook 11The Fifetú: the changing of heads🔒 The Notebook 12Ikú and the bald man🔒 The Notebook

9 more patakíes in this Odù, locked.Read every road in full with The Notebook.Unlock →

The full treatise is in English. With The Notebook, the whole sign opens on this page in English: the full text of every patakí, the recipes for the ebbós and works, and the iré and osogbo readings. · This page is also available in Spanish: See Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Oyekun Bedura (Ofun)

What does the Odù Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) mean in Ifá?

Where Shangó handed the kingdom to Orunmila: a sign of Eshú Larufa and of lagoons, where drink destroys the owner of the Odù.

What number is Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) is Odù number 46 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Oyekun family.

Which orishas speak in Oyekun Bedura (Ofun)?

In the Odù Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) these orishas speak: Eshú (Larufa), Orunmila, Shangó, Oyá, Oshún (Iyalode), Ikú (Death), Ibeyis (the twins) e Ideu, Inle.

What is a proverb of the Odù Oyekun Bedura (Ofun)?

One of the proverbs of Oyekun Bedura (Ofun) says: «Do not drop what is certain for what is doubtful.».

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