Mhasoba, also known as Mahisha or Mhasur, is a form of a deity revered in rural Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat. He is often seen as a guardian deity associated with the cattle herders and farmers. Mhasoba's worship is connected to fertility, livestock protection, and the rural way of life. This guide provides a step-by-step method to worship Mhasoba using eco-friendly and traditional products while maintaining the sanctity of the ritual.
Importance of Worshipping Mhasoba
Mhasoba is often worshipped by those who depend on agriculture and cattle, as he is considered the protector of the village and livestock. His blessings are sought for prosperity, protection, and harmony in the community. Worshipping Mhasoba is believed to bring fertility to the land, safeguard the cattle, and offer protection against misfortune.
Benefits of Worshipping Mhasoba
- Protection for livestock: Farmers and herders invoke Mhasoba for safeguarding their cattle and ensuring healthy livestock.
- Agricultural success: Mhasoba is considered a deity who ensures fertility of the land and good harvests.
- Community well-being: He fosters harmony, community protection, and general prosperity.
- Peace and Stability: Worshipping Mhasoba brings peace to households and stability in agricultural practices.
- Removal of obstacles: Mhasoba helps remove obstacles in day-to-day activities, including business and agricultural challenges.
Cleanliness & Preparation Before Worship
- Personal Cleanliness: Before starting the puja, ensure that you take a bath and wear fresh, clean clothes. Cleanse your body and mind to prepare for the worship.
- Cleaning the Puja Space: Clean the area where the worship will take place. Wipe the floor and the altar space with water or eco-friendly solutions like a mix of water and turmeric or neem. Keep the environment pure and free from clutter.
Best Time to Worship Mhasoba
- Mhasoba is typically worshipped in the morning or early evening. These times are considered auspicious for invoking the deity’s blessings.
- Tuesdays and Fridays are traditionally favored for worship.
- Worship during the full moon (Purnima) or during harvest festivals like Makar Sankranti is also considered auspicious.
Clothes to Wear
- It is recommended to wear traditional attire in white, yellow, or green colors while performing Mhasoba worship. These colors symbolize purity, fertility, and harmony, aligning with the deity's role as a protector of farmers and livestock.
- Avoid wearing black or dark colors during the worship, as it may not be in line with the festive and positive nature of the ritual.
Puja Items Required (Eco-Friendly Products Only)
Using natural and biodegradable items in worship helps preserve the environment while maintaining the sanctity of the puja.
- Mhasoba Idol or Symbol: Made from clay or stone.
- Diya (Lamp): Use earthen lamps filled with pure ghee or sesame oil.
- Incense sticks: Use incense made from natural ingredients like sandalwood or cow dung.
- Flowers: Offer fresh, local flowers like marigolds, jasmine, or lotus. Avoid artificially dyed flowers.
- Panchamrit: A mixture of milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar for abhishekam (ritual bathing).
- Turmeric powder (Haldi), Kumkum, and Akshata (uncooked rice grains) for offering.
- Betel leaves, coconuts, and fruits like bananas, sugarcane, and mangoes.
- Water: Keep a brass or copper vessel filled with water for purification.
- Leaves and Grass: Include tulsi leaves and durva grass as part of the offerings.
- Prasad Items: See the "Prasad Preparation" section below.
Simple Steps of Mhasoba Puja
Purify the Puja Space: Sprinkle the place where the idol is kept with water mixed with turmeric or holy Ganga water.
Invoke Mhasoba: Sit facing East or North and chant the Mhasoba invocation mantra.
Offering Panchamrit: Bathe the idol or symbol of Mhasoba with panchamrit, followed by a wash with clean water. Wipe the idol gently.
Lighting the Lamp and Incense: Light the eco-friendly diya and incense to invoke the divine presence.
Flower Offerings: Offer fresh flowers at the feet of the deity. You can also offer durva grass and tulsi leaves.
Applying Kumkum and Haldi: Apply turmeric and kumkum to the deity's forehead or base.
Reciting Mantras: Recite the following mantra with devotion:
Mhasoba Mantra:
Offering Prasad: Place the prasad in front of the deity and offer it with both hands.
Aarti: Perform aarti (circling of the lamp) in a clockwise direction while chanting the following prayer or aarti specific to Mhasoba.
Aarti Prayer:
Meditation and Silent Prayer: After the aarti, sit quietly for a few moments and meditate on Mhasoba, asking for his blessings and protection.
Prasad Preparation
Prepare simple, eco-friendly prasad such as:
- Puran Poli: A traditional sweet flatbread made from jaggery and chana dal.
- Coconut: Fresh coconut pieces or coconut ladoos.
- Seasonal Fruits: Offer locally sourced, seasonal fruits like bananas, mangoes, or guavas.
Concluding the Puja
- Thanking Mhasoba: Offer a final prayer of gratitude to Mhasoba, asking for his continued protection and blessings.
- Distributing Prasad: Share the prasad among family members and guests.
- Immersing the Water: Pour any leftover water (used during the puja) in a sacred place such as a garden or at the base of a tree. This helps return the offerings to nature in a respectful way.
- Eco-Friendly Disposal of Puja Items: Collect the flowers, leaves, and other biodegradable items, and compost them in your garden. Avoid using plastic or non-biodegradable materials during the puja to honor the eco-friendly tradition.
What to Do with the Puja Leftover Items
- Flowers and Leaves: Compost them or place them in a clean, flowing water body, if possible. Ensure that they are biodegradable and will not harm the environment.
- Oil from Diyas: Reuse any remaining oil or dispose of it in the soil around a plant.
- Panchamrit and Water: Pour the leftover panchamrit and water into plants or trees as it is considered sacred and nourishing.
- Prasad: If any prasad remains, distribute it to others or offer it to animals or birds.
Worshipping Mhasoba is a simple and heartfelt process, focusing on agricultural prosperity, cattle protection, and community well-being. By using eco-friendly and traditional products, you maintain the balance with nature, honoring the earth that Mhasoba himself protects. The steps of cleanliness, simplicity, and respect toward nature make this worship highly meaningful for followers.