Questions tagged [rakshasa]
One of the category of Asuras descended from Kashyapa and Khasha, others being Daityas and Dānavas. Rakshasas were born in the lineage of Heti, Vidyutkesa, Sukesa, Malyavana, Sumali, and Mali.
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Difference between Devas, Daevas, Asuras and Rakshasa
What is the difference between Devas, Daevas, Asuras and Rakshasa fundamentally?
It is very confusing to distinguish and characterize them without clear examples.
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Who were Ahiravan and Mahiravan?
Were there any characters like Ahiravan and Mahiravan in Ramayana? What did they do in Lord Rama's battle against Ravana?
I heard they captured Lord Rama and Laxmana. Can someone explain this ...
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Who are the demonic beings called Yatudhanas?
This verse of Rigveda mentions a class of beings called Yatudhanas:
I balm with oil the mighty Rakṣas-slayer; to the most famous Friend I come for shelter
Enkindled, sharpened by our rites, ...
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Are the Rakshasas (demons) eternal?
God (Paratma) in Hinduism is beyond the realm of time, as a result of which He is eternal. According to the Hindu philosophy, each living creature possesses a soul (inner core of consciousness) which ...
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How do Rakshasas look? Physical appearance of Rakshasas?
What are the various physical appearances of Rakshasas?
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Who is the 'messenger' of Asuras and what is his story?
Shatapatha Brahmana 1.4.1 mentions how Agni was chosen by the gods as their messenger:
He recites [the eighth sâmidhenî]: 'Agni we choose as messenger!' Now the gods and the Asuras, both of them ...
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Who is the current leader of Asuras?
The leader of Asuras, also known as Asurapati. The only one alive is Raja Bali who is now under protection of Shriman Narayana in the form of Vamana avatar.
If he is in some other place and not ...
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Who killed Ahiravan or Mahiravan?
I was thinking that Ahiravan and Mahiravan are two different Rakhasas but according to the answer of this question, I found both are two different names of same Rakhasa and he is a brother of Ravan. I ...
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How were Rakshas created?
Rakshas definitely don't fall under the four varna system . So, What is the story of creation of Rakshas ?
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Righteousness among Rakhshasas
Even though Ravana was among topmost in Bhakti towards Shiva the entire clan is branded evil for misdeeds that he alone was responsible.
Vibhishana was a god man of morals, could rule well not ...
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Who is the three headed son of Ravana
In Ashok.K.Banker 's Ramayana he has written that in the forests of Chitrakoot Khara and Dushana were led by a three headed demon named Trisiras leader them against Ram.
Grieved at the giants' ...
user21413
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What was the relationship between Ravan and Tadaka?
I remember watching some mythological in which Ravan calls Mareech his mama i.e. maternal uncle. But Mareech and Subahu were the sons of Tadka so does that make Ravan the grandson of Tadka?
I checked ...
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Did demons also have a Varna system?
Is there any reference of a demon or rakshasa having a varna? Was the Varna system followed by Rakshasas?
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What is the story of Kali the demon?
There is a demon named Kali on whose name Kaliyuga is there. In which of the Puranas his story is given? What is the story of the demon Kali?
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What is the story of the one-eyed demon Kabandha in Ramayan?
Does any scripture say about Kabandha, a demon who appears in Ramayana, having no head or neck with one large eye on the breast and a mouth on the stomach?
Why does he have only one eye instead of ...
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Do Rakshasas have a gotra?
Did all Rakshasas descend only from Kashyapa or from other sages as well ?
Were Vasishta Agasthya of Rakshasa origin?
What proportion of Rakshasas were evil and what part pious and neutral judging ...
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Asuras/Rakshasas who became good?
There were some Rakshasas like Vibhishana who were noble.
Were there any Asuras/Rakshasas who were initially evil but eventually became good i.e moved to the side of Dharma?
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What is the meaning of Brahmarakshasa?
What is the meaning of Brahmarakshasa and how is it different from Narasura, Rakshasa, Asura etc?
Is Ravana a Brahmarakshasa?
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Did Lord Rama or Lord Krishna ever convince any Rakshasa?
Did Lord Rama or Lord Krishna ever convince any Rakshasa and also did the Rakshasa changed his attitude to only spiritual life leaving behind all his sinful actions and follow them?
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Is it a sin for Rakshasas, Pisachas, and Asuras to kill humans?
The armies of the Asuras (Daityas and Danavas), Rakshasas, and Pisachas frequently come to Earth and kill humans.
It is even said in scriptures that the food for Pisachas is human flesh.
Do these ...
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Why is Ravan considered a Rakshasa?
Ravana's father was a Brahmin while his mother a Rakshasi. Then why is he considered a Rakshasa, Rather than a Brahmin. Is it because of his actions?
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Who is the Rakshasa named Ravani in Ramayan?
Who is the Rakshasa named Ravani in Ramayan?
Is Ravani the charitor of Ravan or the son of Ravan?
It is said that Ravani was more powerful than Ravan and sometimes he bounds Indra with his magical ...
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Was Raavan really a Ved pandit, and a great scholar? What were his dharmik qualities and acts if any?
It is often heard that Raavan was one of great person to live. He was expert in Vedas, and other scriptures. He was sitar player. However, I'm not able to find any scriptures' details to ascertain ...
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Do the demons ever try to conquer Brahma loka or Shiva loka?
When Daitya Hiranyakashipu conquered the universe, he conquered up till Swarga.
Text 13: O my dear King, Hiraṇyakaśipu was always drunk on strong-smelling wines and liquors, and therefore his ...
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Are non-Hindus secretly assisted by asuras and rakshasas in their translations of the Vedas?
It is known that pitrs and devas assist brahmanas in their performance and dissemination of dharma, which includes interpretation of the vedas with the correct meaning.
It's also known that rakshasas ...
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Was Vibhishana powerful?
We all know that Vibhishana was a Brahmin-Daitya/Brahmin-Rakshasa and was an ardent follower of Lord Rama. But I think he didn't kill even a single person in the Rama-Ravana war. So, in my view, he ...
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How long to meditate for god to come and visit?
In Hindu mythology, God has given boon to demons for meditating. Generally, how long the different demons had to meditate to make god visit them.
Wanted to know general estimate of time to meditate, ...
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Is Duryodhana awarded as leader of Rakshashas by Lord Shiva?
I want to know if there is any reference in our puranas saying that Duryodhana is awarded as leader of Rakshashas by Lord Shiva. The reason for his birth is a boon to Rakshashas or something along ...
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Why viradha said that he should be buried in a Pit?
I was reading bengali ramayan by parashuram and came accross this .
ramayan aranya kand , viradh vadh
this says that it is the customary for rakshasas to get buried after death.
अवटे च अपि माम् रा...
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The difference between the term ‘Maya’ used for Rakshasas and Brahman respectively
Maya, is a frequently used term across various scriptures with different connotations as below:-
When talking of Brahman, Maya is used in the context of jada Prakriti tattva as is stated in the ...
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According to Hinduism, are all demons dead by now in the current time line or can new demons get created now? [closed]
According to Hinduism, Are there any demons yet to be killed, or will get killed now i.e in the present timeline at this moment, or is there any god battling with demons now and we are not aware of it?...
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What are sacrifices done on new moon and full moon where a part is thrown for Rakshasas?
Sage valmiki uses many metaphors and writes in a poetic sense while explaining an incident in the Valmiki Ramayana. There are hundreds of usages of Upama and rupaka alankara which is used to explain ...
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Do demons (Asuras, Rakshasas, Pisachas, Nagas, etc) reveal false religions to humans according to Hindu scriptures?
According to the Puranas, Vishnu as Buddha revealed a false religion, which we know today as Buddhism, to deceive the Daityas who were using the Vedas to acquire power.
Similarly, do Hindu scriptures ...
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Can a human become demon or viceversa?
Can a human of degraded character become demon or rakshasa? Or can a demon become human through his good character? Justify with refrence of scriptures.
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What is scriptural reference for the concept of Brahma Rakshasa?
As per this wikipedia article Brahma Rakshasha are Sprit with quality of brahmin as well as Rakshasha. Can someone please tell what is
Origin of the concept
Scriptural reference where this concept is ...
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Is anti-Brahminism a quality of Asuras and Rakshasas?
Is anti-Brahminism a characteristic of Asuras and Rakshasas?
Which group of created beings is the most anti-Brahmin (hatred and opposition to Brahminism and Brahminical way of life)?
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Why do we acquire Karma only in human birth and not in higher births such as Demi gods, etc?
There are tales of Rakshasas (Demi gods) in Mahabharata (Kansa, etc), Ramayana, etc. who committed mass murders.
Did they not acquire bad Karmas for what they did?
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Can Asuras or Rakshasas be summoned by any ritual?
In certain Pagan traditions in the West especially Goetia, demons are summoned by rituals mainly for material purposes. Can Asuras and Rakshasas be summoned in Hinduism by rituals? If yes, for what ...
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Who are the sons of Pulastya that were born as Duryodhana's brothers?
Rishi PUlastya had sons who were born as Duryodhana's brothers. Whhat are the names of the sons of Pulastya that were born as Duryodhana's brothers?
https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm
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Can Rakshasas do Yajnas?
Can Rakshasas do Vedic Yajnas?
Are there instances where Rakshasas were doing Vedic Yajnas, like in the Ramayana?
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Is it the dharma of Rakshasas to be evil?
I remember Ravana being berated for being adharmic (fighting while rendering himself invisible, if i recall right) and he says thats the way Rakshasas behave.
Is Rakshasa Dharma described anywhere?
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What texts/books deal with Hindu demonology?
I have studied Western demonology over the past two years. I would like to study it now from a Hindu perspective. So can anybody recommend me books/texts regarding it?
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Why two Rakshasa idols are kept near the main idol of Govindaraja Temple, Tirupati?
I was listening to Chaganti Koteswara Rao's speeches about the Govindaraja Temple, Tirupati. He said that there 2 Rakshasas are kept near main idol.
Why 2 Rakshasas are kept near the main idol of ...
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Is Raavana a rakshasa or a brahmin and how he can be a king too?
First, how is Raavana a rakshasa and a brahmin at the same time? Second, if Raavana is Brahmin, how is he the king of Lanka? Since one's caste was determined based on one's karma, I would think ...
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What is Rakshasa, were they only in Ram period and not any more?
I could not understand who are the RAKSHASAS and if they belong only to India, Lanka or anywhere else in the world?
If they were in that period then why don't they exist in today's world? How did ...
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Which scriptures did rakshasa use to study?
What did the rakshasa use to study? Did they also have some kind of their own Veda? What did Ravana use to study?
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Aren't Rakshasas known for uncontrollable passions, lust, greed and deceit?
Aren't Rakshasas known for uncontrollable passions, lust, greed and deceit ?
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Is it true that Ghatotkacha had the Ravana bow as well as demons from the Ravana clan?
Quora answers, like this claim that Ghatotkacha had Ravana's bow, demons of Ravana's clan and even his floats. Is this true?
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Rakshasa sleeping habits
In Mahabharata, Bhishma told that one should wake up at Brahma Muhurta.
Does rakshasa follow that? If not, provide an example that rakshasa won't follow proper sleeping times.
Are there any ...
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Do Rakshas have Brahmana Varna among them?
Rakshas can have Kshatriya Varna in them . The proof of it is , Ravana was son of a Rakshasi woman , but he was still considered as Brahmin.
The mother of Ravana was Rakshasi-Kshatriya . This is why ...
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