Erinlé transforms into a river and meets Oxum
Erinlé, the orixá of hunting and warfare, once met Orunmilá and they became friends.
Erinlé needed money, and his friend Orunmilá lent him what he needed.
Time passed, and Orunmilá had to return to Ifé. Since Erinlé had no way to repay the debt, he sought the guidance of the babalawo. The oracle instructed him to make offerings, as that would help him obtain all the money he owed and more. However, the offerings were too expensive, and Erinlé couldn't afford the sacrifice.
Erinlé, with no way out, was overcome with shame. He went to the remote place where he used to hunt, placed his hunting tools on the ground, and disappeared into the earth.
Next to his ofá (hunting stick), there remained only a small water jar.
His children, desperate, sought Orunmilá's guidance in their search for their father.
Orunmilá told them that they might never see him again, but if they made offerings, they would at least receive a sign from the hunter.
Erinlé's children searched everywhere. One day, when they arrived at the mysterious place where Erinlé had vanished, they found their father's weapons next to the water jug.
They offered many roosters for Erinlé, calling out to their father persistently.
Suddenly, the water jug overflowed, and water began to gush abundantly, flowing onto the ground. The water stream took a path into the forest, swelled, and formed a new river, which everyone knew was Erinlé himself. His relatives followed the river, which guided them to his home. Along the way, Erinlé let them know that he wanted the roosters that were offered to him to be released alive.