5 - The seven lines
To understand Umbanda a little more, we must know the lines or vibrations. One line or vibration is equivalent to a great army of spirits that yield obedience to a "Boss". This "Boss" represents for us an Orisha and he has a great mission in space.
Let's see what the Seven Lines of Umbanda are:
- Line of Oxalá (or Orixalá)
- Yemanja Line
- Xango Line
- Ogun Line
- Oxossi Line
- Yori Line (Ibeiji)
- Yorimá Line (Souls)
These names are sacred and ancestral and name the seven Greater Orixás of Umbanda.
These Planetary Orixás are the seven highest spirits on the planet, and they never incarnated here.
The Greater Orixás do not incorporate, they have planetary government functions. Each of them extends its vibrations and ordinances to seven more entities called Minor Orixás and these, each to seven more inferior ones and so on.
Here's how a line is organized:
Category | The amount | Grade | Name |
Greater Orisha | 1 | - | |
Minor Orisha | 7 | (1st Degree) | Legion Chief |
Minor Orisha | 49 | (2nd degree) | Phalanx Chief |
Minor Orisha | 343 | (3rd Degree) | Sub-Phalange Chief |
Guide | 2401 | (4th Degree) | Group Head |
protector | 16807 | (5th Degree) | Group Member Head |
protector | 117649 | (6th Degree) | Deputy Group Chief |
protector | 823543 | (7th Degree) | Group Member |
Table 1
As the hierarchy descends, the number of entities is multiplied by seven, as each entity, within its hierarchy, delegates orders to seven more.
Lines, Legions and Phalanges
Each line consists of seven legions, each legion having its leader. Each legion is divided into seven major phalanges, which in turn also have a chief, and each phalanx is divided into seven sub-phalanges and so on, following a logical criterion.
Now we will present the lines and their Orixás with their respective heads of legions.
OXALÁ (or ORIXALÁ): (ORI ➔ Light, Reflection; XA ➔ Lord, Fire; LÁ ➔ God, Divine)
Therefore, THE LIGHT OF THE LORD GOD
The Seven Heads of Legion of Spiritual Vibration of Oxalá:
Caboclo Urubatã o Da Guia | representative of spiritual vibration |
Caboclo Guaracy | intermediary for Ogun |
Caboclo Guarani | intermediary for Oxossi |
Caboclo Aymoré | intermediary to Xango |
Caboclo Tupy | intermediary for Yorimá |
Caboclo Ubiratan | intermediary for Yori |
Caboclo Ubirajara | intermediary to Yemanjá |
OXOSSI: (OX ➔ Action or Movement; O ➔ Circle; SSI ➔ Living on Earth)
Therefore, THE DOCTRINE POWER, THE SOUL CATCHER
The Seven Chiefs of Legion of Spiritual Vibration of Oxossi:
Caboclo Arranca-Toco | Representative of Spiritual Vibration |
Caboclo Araribóia | Intermediate to Ogun |
Caboclo Arruda | Intermediate for Hope |
Caboclo Cobra-Coral | Intermediate to Xango |
Caboclo Tupinambá | Intermediate to Yorimá |
Cabocla Jurema | Intermediate for Yori |
Caboclo Pena-Branca | Intermediate to Yemanja |
OGUM : (OG ➔ Glory, Salvation; AUM ➔ Fire, Warrior)
Therefore, THE PEACEFUL COSMIC WARRIOR, THE FIRE OF GLORY
The Seven Spiritual Vibration Legion Chiefs of:
Caboclo Ogum Dilê | representative of Spiritual Vibration |
Caboclo Ogun Matinata | intermediary for Oxalá |
Caboclo Ogum Rompe-Mato | intermediary for Oxossi |
Caboclo Ogum Beira-Mar | intermediary to Xango |
Caboclo Ogum De Male | intermediary for Yorimá |
Caboclo Ogun Megê | intermediary for Yori |
Caboclo Ogum Yara | intermediary to Yemanjá |
XANGO: (XA ➔ Lord, Leader; ANGÔ ➔ Ray, Soul)
Therefore, THE DIRECTING LORD OF SOULS
The Seven Legion Chiefs of the Spiritual Vibration of Shango:
Caboclo Xang o Ka o | representative of spiritual vibration |
Caboclo Xangô Pedra-Branca | intermediary for Oxalá |
Caboclo Xangô Agodô | intermediary for Oxossi |
Caboclo Xangô Sete Montanhas | intermediary for Ogun |
Caboclo Xangô Sete Cachoeiras | intermediary for Yori |
Caboclo Xangô Pedra-Preta | intermediary for Yorimá |
Caboclo Xangô Sete Pedreiras | intermediary to Yemanjá |
YORIMÁ : (YO ➔ Power, Order, Principle; RI ➔ Reign, Enlightened; MÁ ➔ Law, Rule)
Therefore, PRINCIPLE OR REAL POWER OF LAW
The Seven Chiefs of Legion of the Spiritual Vibration of Yorimá:
Father Guin is | representative of spiritual vibration |
Father Thomas | intermediary for Oxalá |
Father Joaquim | intermediary for Oxossi |
Father Benedict | intermediary for Ogun |
Grandma Maria Conga | intermediary to Xango |
Father Congo D'aruanda | intermediary for Yori |
Father Rue | intermediary to Yemanjá |
YORI: (YO => Potency, Order, Principle; RI => Reign, Enlightened; ORI => Light, Splendor)
Therefore, POWER OF THE PURE OR PURITY
The Seven Legion Chiefs of Yori's Spiritual Vibration:
Tupanzinho | representative of spiritual vibration |
ori | intermediary for Oxalá |
Damião | intermediary for Oxossi |
Yari | intermediary for Ogun |
doum | intermediary to Xango |
cosmos | intermediary for Yorimá |
Yariri | intermediary to Yemanjá |
YEMANJA: (YE => Mother, Generating Principle; MAN => The Sea, The Water, Law of Souls;
YÁ => Matrix, Maternity)
Therefore, THE LADY OF LIFE
The Seven Heads of Legion of the Spiritual Vibration of Yemanjá:
Cabocla Yara | representative of spiritual vibration |
Cabocla Estrela Do Mar | intermediary for Oxalá |
Cabocla Indaiá | intermediary for Oxossi |
Cabocla Do Mar | intermediary for Ogun |
Cabocla Iansan | intermediary to Xango |
Cabocla Nana Burukun | intermediary for Yorimá |
Cabocla Oxum | intermediary for Yori |
1 - Oxalá Line
This line represents the beginning, the uncreated, the reflection of God, the solar verb. It is the reflected light that coordinates the other vibrations. The entities of this line speak calmly, calmly and always express themselves with elevation. Their sung points are true invocations of great mysticism, hardly heard today, as it is rare for them to assume a "Head of Head".
2 - Iemanjá Line
This line is also known as Povo d'Água. Yemanjá means the generating energy, the divine mother of the universe, the eternal feminine, the divine mother in Umbanda. The entities of this line like to work with salt water or the sea, setting vibrations, in a serene way. His sung points have a very beautiful rhythm, always talking about the sea and the Orixás of that line.
3 - Xangô Line
Xangô is the Orisha who coordinates all Karmic law, is the leader of souls, the Lord of the universal balance, who measures our spiritual state. In short, Xangô is the Orisha of Justice. Its sung points are serious invocations of strong images and always lead us to its vibrational sites such as mountains, quarries and waterfalls.
4 - Ogun Line
The vibration of Ogun is the fire of salvation or glory, the mediator of shocks resulting from karma. It is the line of the demands of faith, of the afflictions, of the struggles and battles of life. It is the deity that, in the mystical sense, protects the warriors. Caboclos de Ogum like to walk from one side to another and speak in a strong, vibrant way and in their attitudes they show vivacity. Their sung prayers translate invocations for the struggle of faith, demands, battles, etc.
5 - Oxossi Line
The vibration of Oxossi means enveloping or circular action of the living on Earth, that is, the soul hunter, who attends to doctrine and catechesis. Their entities speak serenely and their passes are calm, as are their advice and work. Its sung points translate beauty in images and music and are generally invocations to the forces of spirituality and nature, especially the forests.
6 - Yori's Line
These highly evolved entities express, through their horses, childlike manners and voices in a serene, sometimes a little lively, manner. When in the protectors plane, they like to sit on the floor and eat sweet things, but without excesses. Its sung points are happy and sometimes sad melodies, talking a lot about Heavenly Father and Mother and sacred robes.
7 - Yorimá Line
Also called the Line of Souls, this line is made up of the first spirits who were ordered to fight evil in all its manifestations. They are the Old Orixás, true magicians who, veiling their karmic forms, dress in the clothes of Pretos-Velhos, teaching and practicing the true "mirongas". They are the doctrine, the philosophy, the mastery of magic, in foundations and teachings. They usually like to work and consult while sitting, smoking a pipe, always in an action of fixation and elimination through their smoke.
Its fluids are strong, because they insist on "taking a good hold" of the device and tire it a lot, mainly on the part of the lower limbs, keeping it always curved. They speak slowly and think carefully about what they say. Very rare are those who assume the Headship, but they are the assistants of the other "Guides" - his right arm. The sung points reveal a sad melody and a more measured, doleful, melancholy rhythm, translating true prayers of humility.
Guide The Lines
Caboclos, Pretos-Velhos and Children, who are part of the so-called Astral Current of Umbanda, work within one of the Seven Lines of Umbanda: Orixalá, Ogun, Oxossi, Xangô, Yorimá, Yori and Yemanjá.
The Caboclos who work in the terreiros are from the following lines: Orixalá (these do not incorporate, they only pass vibrations), Ogun, Oxossi, Xangô and Yemanjá;
The Old Blacks are from the Yorimá Line;
And the Children of Yori's Line.
As described in “Table 1” (on the first page), the row is hierarchically divided into various degrees.
In terreiros, in general, 5th, 6th and 7th Degree Protectors are worked. To work with a Guide (4th Degree) a lot of experience and devotion on the part of the medium is required. Rare (practically impossible) are the incorporations of Minor Orixás (1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree), which need a very prepared medium, a safe mediumistic current, a clean terreiro in the physical, astral and mental, and absence of obsessors even coming from the assistance. It is impossible to incorporate Orixás Maiores.
Umbanda's militant spirits only use the same names as their Main Chiefs, even when they are of the 4th Degree, that is, even when they are Guides (Group Chiefs). From there on, up to the 7th Degree do not follow this rule, varying their names but having the same affine connection.