Mystical Mythology from around the world

HINDU DEMON - RAKSHASA

A rakshasa (fem: rakshasi) is a vampiric ghoul or demon who in old tales haunts charnel grounds (cemeteries and cremation grounds) but, in modern Indian folklore, dwells in trees.

A rakshasa can appear in many forms, as a beautiful woman or as an animal such as an owl, a bat, a vulture, a monkey, or a dog. They have also the power to take half-human and half-animal shapes. In their essential form, they have fangs and unkempt hair, and are covered with blood. The rakshasas’ favorite prey are infants and young children.

The Ramayana describes them as being created from Brahma's foot; elsewhere, they are descended from Pulastya, or from Khasa, or from Nirriti and Nirrita. Many Rakshasa were particularly wicked humans in previous incarnations. Rakshasas are notorious for disturbing sacrifices, desecrating graves, harassing priests, possessing human beings, and so on. Their fingernails are poisonous, and they feed on human flesh and spoiled food. They are shapechangers and magicians, and often appear in the forms of humans and large birds. Hanuman, during a visit to the rakshasas' home in Lanka, observed that the demons could come in any form imaginable.

Rakshasa

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The great ten-headed demon Ravana, enemy of Rama, was king of the rakshasas. His younger brother Vibhishana was a rare good-hearted rakshasa; he was exiled by his brother the king, who was displeased by his behavior. Vibhishana later became an ally of Rama and a ruler in Lanka. Other notable rakshasas include the guardian god Nairitya, who is associated with the southwest direction.

A female rakshasa is called a Rakshasi, and a female rakshasa in human form is a manushya-rakshasi.

If there be hundreds thousands of kotis of beings
who in search of gold, silver, lapis lazuli,
moonstones, agate, corals, amber, pearls and other treasures,
go out on the ocean and if a black gale blows
their ships to drift upon the land of the rakshasa-demons,
and if amongst them there be even a single person
who calls upon the name of the Bodhisattva Regarder-Of-The-Cries-Of-The-World,
all those people will be delivered from the woes of the rakshasas.

The Sutra Of The Lotus FLower Of The Wonderful Law

HINDU DEMON - RAKSHASA

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