Rakshasas

E108945

Rakshasas are powerful, shape-shifting demon beings from Hindu mythology, often portrayed as malevolent antagonists in epics like the Ramayana.

All labels observed (3)

Label Occurrences
Rakshasas canonical 2
Rakshasa lineage 1
Shumbha and Nishumbha 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (61)

Predicate Object
instanceOf class of beings in Hindu mythology
demon
mythological being
shape-shifter
supernatural creature
alignment generally evil
appearsIn Mahabharata
Puranas
Ramayana
associatedLanguage Sanskrit
canAssumeFormOf animals
humans
monstrous beings
cosmicOrderRole forces of chaos
culture Indian
describedAs cannibalistic
malevolent
man-eating
powerful
shape-shifting
diet blood
human flesh
enemyOf gods
humans
kings
rishis
etymologyFrom Sanskrit word "rakṣasa"
gender both male and female
habitat cemeteries
desolate places
forests
includesFemaleForm rakshasi
includesNotableMember Bakasura
Hidimba
Indrajit
Kumbhakarna
Putana
Ravana
moralNature often cruel
often deceitful
mythology Hindu mythology
narrativeFunction test of dharma for heroes
opposedBy devas
heroes
power flight
illusion
magic
shape-shifting
superhuman strength
religion Hinduism
ritualAssociation sometimes appeased or warded off by mantras
roleInNarrative antagonists
sometimesDepictedWith claws
fangs
grotesque features
multiple arms
multiple heads
sometimesOpposedBy Krishna
Rama
Vishnu
timePeriodOfOrigin Vedic and epic period of ancient India

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ramayana hasCharacterGroup Rakshasas
Kumbhakarna associatedWith Rakshasas
this entity surface form: Rakshasa lineage
Devi Mahatmya containsStoryOf Rakshasas
this entity surface form: Shumbha and Nishumbha
Devas opposedTo Rakshasas