YEMAJA

[African] The mother goddess of the Yoruba people of Nigeria. She is the patroness of birth and worshipped primarily by women. The river Ogun is associated with her because the water of this river is considered to be a remedy for infertility. She is the daughter of the gods Odudua and Obatala, and her brother is Aganju. Orungan, her son, raped her once and when he tried again, her body burst open and fifteen gods sprang forth (among which Ogun, Olukum, Shango and Shakpana). Among the Brazilian Umbandists, Yemaja is the goddess of the sea and patroness of shipwrecked persons. In Santeria, Yemaja (Yemaya) is the equivalent of the Catholic saint Our Lady of Regla.