Khandoba is probably a deified form of an ancient warrior-hero (vira) who rode a magnificent horse, battled local threats, protected local people and property and brought diverse people together. In modern times, he tends to be considered to be a form of Shiva-Bhairava on earth, in an attempt to make him meaningful to the larger Hindu community. Many refer to this as a local (desi parampara) manifestation of mainstream Hindu traditions (margi parampara).