Rakshasa

This article is about malevolent beings in Hinduism and Buddhism. For other uses, see Rakshasa (disambiguation).

Rakshasa
Rakshasa as depicted in Yakshagana, an art form of Uttara Kannada. Artist: Krishna Hasyagar, Karki
GroupingDemigod
Similar entitiesAsura
Folklore
Other name(s)
  • Nri-chakshas
  • Nishacharas
  • Kravyads
  • Rakshasi
  • Manushya-rakshasi
  • Asura
CountryIndia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia

Rākshasa (Sanskrit: राक्षस, IAST: rākṣasa, pronounced [raːkʂɐsɐ]; Pali: rakkhasa; lit. "preservers")[1] are a race of usually malevolent beings prominently featured in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Folk Islam. They reside on Earth but possess supernatural powers, which they usually use for evil acts such as disrupting Vedic sacrifices or eating humans.[2][3]

The term is also used to describe asuras, a class of power-seeking beings that oppose the benevolent devas. They are often depicted as antagonists in Hindu scriptures, as well as in Buddhism and Jainism. The female form of rakshasa is rakshasi.[4]

  1. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (18 April 2019). "God Brahmā's mental creation [Chapter 8]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  2. ^ Skyes, Edgerton; Kendall, Alan; Sykes, Egerton (4 February 2014). Who's Who in Non-Classical Mythology. Routledge. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-136-41437-4.
  3. ^ Rodrigues, Hillary (2018). "Asuras, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pretas, and so forth". In Knut, A. Jacobsen; Basu, Helene; Malinar, Angelika; Narayanan, Vasudha (eds.). Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill.
  4. ^ Knappert, Jan (1991). Indian Mythology: An Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend. Aquarian Press. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-85538-040-0.