Mhasoba (म्हसोबा in Maharashtra), pronounced "MUH-SO-BAA", or Masoba is a horned buffalo deity of pastoral tribes in Western and Southern India.
[3] Rosalind O'Hanlon, Professor at the University of Oxford stated that Mhasoba is traditionally very popular in the Maratha caste.
He is also considered a "guardian brother of the seven river goddesses termed as Sati-Asara"[9][10] Mhasoba is sometime connected with Shiva,[1][11][12][13] who may have been a pre-Vedic deity adopted by Hindu culture.
Masoba is considered to be God of Spirit and temples are generally found near Smashan (cemeteries) or outside the village.
[16][17][18] Many communities like Lajjhars,[16] Joshis,[16] Pradhans,[17] Mangs,[18] Chamars[18] and Dhangars[18] worship Masoba and at times offer sacrifice of he-goats.