A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

The Deity sends an ox to warn early humans against wasting food and to teach them to cook only enough rice for each meal. On the journey a crow removes the insects tormenting him. Learning his errand, she protests that careful cooking would deprive birds of leftovers and asks him instead to encourage abundant rice and food offerings. Out of gratitude, he mixes her advice into the divine message.

On returning, the ox confesses what he has done. The angry deity strikes his mouth, knocking out his upper teeth, then strikes behind his ribs and leaves a hollow. Driven away, the ox offers to work for people in exchange for food and shelter. The narrative makes his lasting bodily marks and service to humans consequences of this failed embassy; the crow is neither punished nor revealed as a transformed spirit.

The account’s statement that the ox lacks upper teeth is a traditional explanation, not a complete anatomical description of cattle. Likewise the interpretation of rice offerings belongs to Rafy’s English retelling, not an assessment of living religious practice. The ox has no personal name, and the text does not identify him with Nandi or another named sacred bull.

Divine messenger whose punishment explains his bodily formSelected regional narrative
01

Origins & earliest records

Khasi tale selected and presented in English by Mrs. Rafy

02

Records & interpretation

Complete named chapters, title page and foreword read.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Folk-Tales of the Khasis

    Mrs. Rafy (title-page credit; foreword signed K. U. R.) · 1920

    XXX, How the Ox came to be the Servant of Man, pp.134–136; Macmillan, London

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Direct primary record

Mrs. Rafy, Folk-Tales of the Khasis (1920)

English collection. XXX, How the Ox came to be the Servant of Man, pp.134–136

Complete independent tale read. The account’s statement that the ox lacks upper teeth is a traditional explanation, not a complete anatomical description of cattle. Likewise the interpretation of rice offerings belongs to Rafy’s English retelling, not an assessment of living religious practice. The ox has no personal name, and the text does not identify him with Nandi or another named sacred bull.

Inspect the digitized plate · Source collection manifest

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical English folklore collectionRafy, Folk-Tales of the Khasis, XXX, How the Ox came to be the Servant of Man, pp.134–136Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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