Rakhshasa
/ˈrɑːkʃə.sə/noun
A demon or malevolent supernatural being in Hindu and Buddhist tradition.
Did you know?Rākṣasa is a Sanskrit term from Indic mythology, and its terrifying meaning is older than many modern “demon” words, but its exact root is debated rather than securely tied to a single dark literal phrase.
Etymological Timeline
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
rākṣasa
“A class of malevolent or disruptive supernatural beings; demon-like figures in myth.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
rākṣasa
“A demon, ogre, or hostile spirit in epic and later literature.”
Prakrit / Middle Indo-Aryan
Prakrit
rakkhasa
“A demon or ogre, continuing the older Sanskrit mythic term in popular speech.”
Modern English
English
rakshasa
“A demon or ogre-like being borrowed from South Asian mythology.”