Aja teaches the specific herbal preparations used to bind Abiku children to the living world. Healers trained by Aja know the forest plants and incantations needed to sever the spirit pacts that draw abiku back to death.
Aroni and Aja are both forest spirits who abduct humans to teach them herbal medicine. In Yoruba tradition they share the deep bush as their domain, each instructing captives in plant knowledge before releasing them as trained healers.
Aja and Iroko are both powerful forest spirits dwelling in the deep bush. Aja inhabits the wild forest where iroko trees grow tallest, and herbalists who learn from Aja must also know how to approach Iroko's sacred trees for medicinal materials.
Nana-Buruku's ancient swamplands border Aja's deep forest, and the most potent medicinal plants grow in the muddy transition zone between swamp and woodland where both spirits hold influence.
Aja teaches the herbal preparations that cure the diseases Obaluaye governs. The healers she trains are among the few who can treat his plagues, creating a balance between affliction and remedy.
In Ifá tradition, those chosen by Aja possess an Ori (personal destiny) marked for the healer's path. Their abduction into the forest fulfills a destiny their Ori accepted before birth.
Aja is closely linked to Osanyin as the forest spirit who directly teaches herbal knowledge to humans. Some traditions consider Aja an aspect or messenger of Osanyin who carries his botanical wisdom to chosen mortals.
Aja's herbal knowledge includes the fertility remedies and healing preparations used in Oshun's rites. Herbalists trained by Aja gather riverside plants sacred to Oshun for use in conception and childbirth medicines.
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