As folhas formando a grande força: As ervas na ritualística em terreiros de Candomblé em Campina Grande/PB

Abstract

Little has been studied about the diversity, the use and the importance of the plants used in the Afro-Brazilian culture in the candomblé terreiros. The motivation to develop this study has become, as a result, increasingly, become public the recognition of the importance of the herbs used in the Afro-Brazilian rituals. On the other hand, it is also worth mentioning the knowledge about the effects that they cause in those who are used, either for the cure of diseases or in the ritualistic activities in which they are used. Camargo (1997, p. 21) justifies and considers essential the need to treat all life and every way of using biodiversity with respect.Verger (2004, p 59), emphasizes that, in African-Brazilian religions, especially in Candomblé, it is necessary to know the leaves that are part of the religious foundation and the person-nature-divinity linkage, he also emphasizes that this involvement between nature and the use of leaves for therapeutic use is diffused as scientific knowledge and studied by medicine. In this context, and due to the wide use of the plants used in Afro-Brazilian culture in society, even associated with religiosity, it becomes relevant to carry out studies that seek to investigate their importance to the community. Prandi (1991, p 262) of the herbs and other elements within the candomblé, and says that the orixás are associated with elements of nature, meteorological phenomena such as rain and rainbow, certain plants, animals and economic activities. We emphasize the traditional knowledges involved in the culture of use of plants in rituals as a way of seeking vibrations and energetic irradiation for therapeutic and mystical purposes or as offerings to spiritual entities. In this ethnographic research, we aimed to identify the understanding of people who visit candomblé terreiros located in the city of Campina Grande / PB, and inquire about the importance and use of herbal rituals. The present work proposes to contribute with the studies that involve the plants used in folk medicine and the syncretism with ocada ritual presented in the ceremonies. The data collection was done through questionnaires applied among the regulators of three cases of candomblé. The participants were asked about the knowledge about the management of plants for ritual use, about the knowledge about their therapeutic indication and about their preparation for use. We believe that this work will contribute to the daprática essence of the Afro-Brazilian religion, through the unfolding of the nature of the mystical elements of vegetal origin; since this understanding can, according to candomblé's own belief, obtain the vital energy of these herbs and use them beneficially. In this belief, the plants that are cultivated and then offered and the sacrifices made, in which the life that is withdrawn, return to the earth; feeding it and completing the cycle of energy. The research showed that candomblé followers use the plants corresponding to each orixá, but without the knowledge in this respect, because they follow the directions of Babalorixá / Yalorixá, depositing in them their total indication and confidence.