Mhasoba (also spelled Masoba) is a local guardian deity (Kshetrapal), mainly popular in Maharashtra. His idols have no definite shapes. People believe Mhasoba protects them from evil spirits, black magic, enemies, and natural disasters. The deity is more popular in rural areas than urban areas, although there are many temples of Masoba in urban areas also. Annual fairs are organized to honor the deity, and animal sacrifices are made most of the time.
Meaning of the Name Mhasoba:
The word Mhasoba comprises two words, viz. “Mhas” and “Baa”. The word “Mhas” means a buffalo, and “Baa” is a vocative word generally meaning chief/father. Therefore, the word Mhasoba means “the chief of buffaloes”.
Different Names/Forms of Mhasoba:
1. Mhaskoba.
2. Mhatoba.
3. Bapuji Bua.
4. Masoba.
Iconography:
Unlike other Hindu gods, Mhasoba is worshipped in a shapeless form. It is generally a round or a vertical stone coated in red lead with facial features etched on it. Some idols do not have facial features etched on them. In some temples, you would find a silver mask (male-faced) put on the idol. Most of the idols are depicted without horns, but some idols have horns.
Who is Mhasoba?
There is no mention of Masoba in any Hindu religious texts. It is a local deity mainly popular in villages of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Nobody can definitely tell who is Mhasoba, but we can speculate with available resources.
1. A guardian deity.
A. There is no doubt that Mhasoba is a guardian deity (Kshetrapal) and is very popular among nomadic tribes and farmers. Most of the nomadic tribes carry cattle with them. Therefore, to protect their cattle, they might have created a god who would protect their animals. Due to lack of money and time, they might have started worshiping stones that resemble a Shiva lingam they found nearby. Afterward, they might have started applying red lead over it to protect it from wear and tear. As Mhasoba is the protector of cattle, they must have started offering them animals in sacrifice, and the practice of offering animals to Masoba might have started.
B. In the old days, the villagers used to appoint a person who would be honest and conscientious to guard the village. Such people used to have some special powers. They used to patrol the border and main areas in villages. They were called Mahasubhedar, which was distorted to Masoba. But when these people died, and the villagers did not get any eligible person for the job, they installed a stone in the memory of that person like a tomb and started offering animals, coconuts, etc., as a sacrifice so that it would protect them.
Over time, the Mhasoba worship became popular all over the region.
2. An incarnation of Lord Shiva:
Most of the Maharashtrians believe that Mhasoba is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Some scholars also believe that Masoba is the local version of proto-Shiva, the horned deity of the Indus Valley civilization. He is also associated with Khandoba who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
3. Mahishasura:
Mahishasura was a part-man and part-buffalo demon who was killed by Goddess Durga. Many scholars believe that Mhasoba is a local version of this Asura because “Mahisha” means buffalo. As Mahishasura had horns, Masoba is also depicted with horns sometimes. The offering of animals and liquor is also consistent with Asura worship.
4. Brother of Sati-Aasara:
Sati-Asara is a group of seven river goddesses locally worshiped in Maharashtra. Mhasoba is said to be their brother and protector. Many Mhasoba temples are found near Sati-Asara temples.
5. Potu Raju:
Potu Raju is a local god popular in southern India. The name Potu Raju means “lord of buffaloes” which is the same as Masoba. He is the brother of Goddess Renuka, the mother of Lord Parashurama. He shares many similarities with Bhairava who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
Therefore, some scholars believe that Potu Raju and Masoba are very similar.
Priest of Mhasoba Temples:
Surprisingly, you won’t find a Brahmin priest in a Mhasoba temple. The temple is managed by local non-Brahmin priests called Gurav. This might be because of the animal sacrifice made to Mhasoba. Brahmin priests are strictly vegetarian. Therefore, they do not attend the temples where animal sacrifice is made.
Who is the wife of Mhasoba?
Goddess Jogubai is the wife of Masoba. She is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Durga.
Worship of Mhasoba:
It is believed that the worship of Mhasoba is in practice since the 13th century. His worship is more prevalent in the Maratha caste. Mhasoba controls ghosts and is believed to be as powerful as Vetala. He is also the guardian of farms, villages, and animals. He is also believed to control diseases, especially pandemics. Annual fairs are organized at many places, and people offer he-goats, lambs, roosters, milk, red lead, coconuts, alcohol, chilam, etc., to Mhasoba. Idols are coated with red lead on this occasion. Some people pay regular visits to the temples and offer coconuts, especially on full-moon or no-moon days. Oil pressers (the Teli community) worship him before the start of oil pressing season. Farmers worship him before the sowing of seeds.
One should not put his idol inside a home altar because it is believed to bring bad luck.
Mhasoba Temples:
Most of the Masoba temples are smaller in size. They are found under trees, on farm borders, on village borders, near water, or at the main spots in villages. There are a few big Mhasoba temples across Maharashtra.
1. Mhasoba Devasthan Kharawade:
It is located in Kharawade village in the Pune district. It is very famous in the Pune district. This temple is also notorious for black magic. The temple trust has taken appropriate steps to curb black magic activities, but the ill practice is still going on. Most of the black magic victims living in the Pune district are either affected by Kharawade Mhasoba or Kalubai.
2. Shreenath Mhaskoba Temple:
This temple is located in Veer village near Purandar. A big fair is organized on Magha Purnima every year.
3. Mhasoba Temple in Mhase, Thane.
Conclusion:
Although the origin of Mhasoba is unknown, people worship him as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Hopefully in the next few years, the taboo of black magic in the name of Masoba would be gone.