Mhasoba Explained

Mhasoba (म्हसोबा in Maharashtra), pronounced "MUH-SO-BAA", or Masoba is a horned buffalo deity of pastoral tribes in Western and Southern India.^{[1] [2]} In Maharashtra, many Gawlis (tribes making their living cow-herding and by selling milk and milk products) have been worshipping this deity for hundreds of years.^[3]

Rosalind O'Hanlon, Professor at the University of Oxford stated that Mhasoba is traditionally very popular in the Maratha caste. She quotes about the devotion of the Marathas in the 19th century to Mhasoba as follows:Mhasoba is also worshiped by the Bhonsles. There is a shrine of Mhasoba at the Purandar Fort and there is also a beautiful water reservoir nearby that is named after him i.e. 'Mhasoba Taki'.^{[4] [5] [6]}

Mhasoba's shrines are not Brahminical and there is nothing written about him in Sanskrit literature. He is considered a "kshetrapal" i.e. guardian deity worshiped by farmers. He is also considered a "guardian brother of the seven river goddesses termed as Sati-Asara"^{[7] [8]}

Mhasoba is sometime connected with Shiva,^{[1] [9] [10] [11]} who may have been a pre-Vedic deity adopted by Hindu culture. In the Mhasoba cult of Maharashtra, Mhasoba (Mahisha/Mahesha, which is another name for Shiva/Shankar) is worshipped with his wife Jogubai (Durga).^{[12] [13]}

His temples are found mainly in States of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Masoba is considered to be God of Spirit and temples are generally found near Smashan (cemeteries) or outside the village.^{[14] [15] [16]}

Many communities like Lajjhars, Joshis, Pradhans, Mangs, Chamars and Dhangars worship Masoba and at times offer sacrifice of he-goats. They believe that Masoba is their guardian deity and protects them from evil spirits. However, it is the Dalit community, which mainly worship Masoba. There are many places, where annually a religious rally (Yatra) called Masoba Yatra is held, when the deity is carried in Palkhi (palanquin).^[17]

External links

• www.shrimhasobamaharaj.org
• www.aghori.it

18.4544°N 73.5846°W

Notes and References

1. Book: Drury, Nevill. The dictionary of the esoteric: 3000 entries on the mystical and occult traditions. 2004. Motilal Banarsidass. 978-81-208-1989-4. 285.
2. Book: Fuller, Christopher John. The camphor flame: popular Hinduism and society in India. 2004. Princeton University Press. 978-0-691-12048-5. 144.
3. Book: Berkson, Carmel. The divine and demoniac: Mahisa's heroic struggle with Durga. 1995. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-563555-3. 85.
4. Book: Sacred Animals of India. 2014. Penguin. 9788184751826.
5. Book: The Deccan Forts: A Study in the Art of Fortification in Mediaeval India. 37. J. N. Kamalapur. 1961. Popular Book Depot. A little further is a beautiful reservoir called Mhasoba Taki, a source of constant supply of water.
6. Book: Offbeat Tracks in Maharashtra. 65. Milind Gunaji. 2010. popular prakashan. 9788179915783.
7. Web site: Devdutt Pattanaik: The forgotten Buffalo King. 9 June 2018 .
8. Web site: The riddle of Mhatoba, Mhaskoba and Mahishasura. 28 March 2016.
9. Web site: Mhasoba Mandir . 2023-08-30 . map.sahapedia.org . en.
10. Web site: 2016-03-28 . The riddle of Mhatoba, Mhaskoba and Mahishasura . 2023-08-30 . The Indian Express . en.
11. Book: Maharashtra. 9788179911006. Bhanu. B. V.. 2004.
12. Berkson; pg. xiii
13. Book: Kosambi, Damodar Dharmanand. Myth and reality: studies in the formation of Indian culture. 1962. Popular Prakashan. 978-81-7154-870-5. 90. Maharastra durga..
14. Book: Singh, Kumar Suresh . Maharashtra . Bhanu . B. V. . India . Anthropological Survey of . 2004 . Popular Prakashan . 978-81-7991-101-3 . en.
15. Book: Rāmarāju, Bi . Glimpses Into Telugu Folklore . 1991 . Janapada Vijnana Prachuranalu . en.
16. Book: Danda, Ajit K. . Weaker Sections in Indian Villages . 1993 . Inter-India Publications . 978-81-210-0305-6 . en.
17. http://villages.ws/india/maharashtra/kolhapur/sulkud_kagal_0180543.htm Festival:Previously the event was celebrated as \'Masoba yatra\' in Sulud