Ayagunna

Ayagunna is the youngest path, or avatar, or Obatala in the Lukumi (Santeria) pantheon. In this manifestation, Obatala is a youth who battles with a scimitar. He is credited with having spread gun powder throughout the world. In addition, he traveled to Asia, where he warred against and defeated his enemies, bringing their slain heads along with him as evidence of his destruction. The normally peaceful and calm Obatala manifests a fierceness and thirst for domination for peace in this aspect.In the Lukumi system, Ayagunna can turn out to be one's governing orisha. His receptacle contains the requisite items of Obatala as well as additional ones. When one receives Ochanla, one must already be in possession of Ayagunna or receive him alongside with her. Ayagunna is often envisioned in a similar fashion to Chango. He, as are all paths of Obatala, a member of the fun-fun (white) court. When his adherents manifest his energies during religious trance sessions, Ayagunna behaves with swift, strong, and battle like movements. Hence he is the paladin among orishas.

Ayagunna wears all white with the exception of a diagonal red sash that bisects his tunic. The patakis state that Olofin put Ayagunna in charge of bringing order on Earth since man had been left to his own devices. At first Ayagunna asked men to bring their lives in line with the laws of Olofi but they ignored his requests. After a while Ayagunna grew less and less patient and finally stopped making requests and took more punitive measures by executing those who refused to obey. Word got back to Olofi and he traveled to our World from Ara Onu to see for himself what Ayagunna had wrought. When Ayagunna saw Olofi coming he wiped his scimitar across his chest to clean the blood from his blade. Olofi scolded Ayagunna for causing such conflict but Ayagunna then responded in a lawyerly fashion, “Father without conflict there can be no progress”. Olofi considered his words and agreed.

Ayagunna is also known for being the breeder of conflict and war. His name means literally means “war dog”.

Ayagunna said the day he lays down his sword the world will cease to exist.

Ayagunna is a Spanish mispronuciation of the proper Yoruba Ajaguna. In Spanish the j sounds like a y.