Rakshas
/ˈrɑːkʃəs/noun
A demon or malevolent supernatural being in Hindu mythology.
Did you know?In early Vedic Sanskrit, rakṣas could mean harmful supernatural forces generally; later Hindu epics developed rakshasas as intelligent, shape-shifting beings with complex motives.
Etymological Timeline
Vedic Sanskrit, c. 1500–500 BCE
Sanskrit
rakṣas
“Harm, injury, or a harmful supernatural force”
Classical Sanskrit, c. 500 BCE–500 CE
Sanskrit
rākṣasa
“A demon-like or supernatural being associated with hostility and magical powers”
Early Epic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
rākṣasa
“A class of shape-shifting beings appearing in the Mahabharata and Ramayana”
Middle Indo-Aryan period
Prakrit
rakkhasa
“A demon or ogre-like supernatural being”
19th Century
English
rakshas
“An English transliteration used for a demon in Hindu mythology”
Modern English
English
rakshas
“A variant form of rakshasa, referring to a demon or malevolent mythological being”
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