Rakshasa or the demon as depicted in Yakshagana, popular folk art of Karnataka

A rakshasa (Sanskrit: रा॑क्षसः, rā́kṣasaḥ; alternately, raksasa or rakshas) is a demon or unrighteous spirit in Hindu mythology. Rakshasas are also called man-eaters ("Nri-chakshas," "Kravyads") or cannibals. A female rakshasa is called a rakshasi, and a female rakshasa in human form is a manushya-rakshasi. The term Rakshasa, originally referring to a demon in Hindu mythology, has been used in western literature and culture. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A Yakshagana artist wearing pagaDe, one type of head-wear. ... , Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... “Fiend” redirects here. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ...

According to the Ramayana, rakshasas were created from Brahma's foot; other sources claim they are descended from Pulastya, or from Khasa, or from Nirriti and Nirrita. Legend has it that many rakshasas 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 venomous, and they feed on human flesh and spoiled food. They are shapechangers, illusionists, and magicians. For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Pulastya was one of the 7 saint when Bhrama was Prajabathi. ... The Khasas are an ancient people, believed to be a section of the Iranians who originally belonged to Central Asia from where they had penetrated, in remote antiquity, the Himalayas from Central Asia through Kashgar and Kashmir and dominated the whole hilly region. ... In Hinduism, Nirrith is one of the Ashta-Dikpalas, representing the southwest. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Demonic possession, in supernatural belief systems, is a form of spiritual possession whereby certain malevolent extra-dimensional entities, demons, gain control over a mortal persons body, which is then used for an evil or destructive purpose. ... Tsarevna Frog by Viktor Vasnetsov: a frog metamorphoses into a princess Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology and folklore, as well as in science fiction and fantasy. ...

Rakshasas in the Mahabharata

In the world of the Mahabharata, rakshasas are a frequently encountered and populous race of supernatural humanoids who tend generally toward evil. Powerful warriors, they resort easily to the use of magic and illusion when unsuccessful with conventional weapons. As shapechangers, they can assume various physical forms, and it is not always clear whether they have a true or natural form. As illusionists, they are capable of creating appearances which are real to those who believe in them or who fail to dispel them. Rakshasas are cannibals, and frequently make their gleeful appearance when the slaughter on the battlefield is at its worst. Occasionally they serve as rank-and-file soldiers in the service of one or the other warlord. For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ...

Aside from its treatment of unnamed rank-and-file rakshasas, the epic tells the stories of certain members of the race who rose to prominence, some of them as heroes, most of them as villains.

Rakshasas who fought at the Battle of Lanka

A bas-relief at Angkor Wat in Cambodia depicts Ravana fighting in the Battle of Lanka, the climax of the Ramayana.

The Battle of Lanka pitted an army of rakshasas under Ravana against an army of Vanaras or monkeys under Rama and Sugriva. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (672 × 896 pixel, file size: 220 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (672 × 896 pixel, file size: 220 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Bas relief is a method of sculpting which entails carving or etching away the surface of a flat piece of stone or metal. ... Aerial view of Angkor Wat The main entrance to the temple proper, seen from the eastern end of the Naga causeway Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. ... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the evil king Ravana in the epic Ramayana. ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... Vanara is a Sanskrit word literally meaning a human having the fur or tail of a monkey. It popularly refers to the race of monkey-like humanoids in the Hindu epic Ramayana who are brave and inquisitive in nature. ... Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ... In Hinduism, Sugriva was the younger brother of Vali. ...

• Ravana, a rakshasa with 10 heads, was the king of the rakshasas and the mortal enemy of Rama, the hero of the Ramayana. In the Mahabharata (Book III: Varna Parva, Section 271 ff.), the sage Markandeya recounts the story of how Ravana kidnapped Rama's wife Sita and whisked her off to his stronghold Lanka, and how Rama, aided by the monkey King Sugriva and his army of monkeys, laid siege to Lanka, slew Ravana, and rescued Sita.
• Vibhishana, Ravana's younger brother, was a rare good-hearted rakshasa; he was beautiful, pious and assiduous in his religions observances. When Brahma granted him a boon, he asked never to swerve from the path of righteousness and to be illumined by divine knowledge (Book III, Varna Parva: Section 273.) Vibhishana joined Rama in his campaign against Ravana, and helped Rama's army to cross the ocean into Lanka (Section 281). When invisible rakshasas infiltrated Rama's camp, Vibhishana caused them to become visible, and Rama's monkey soldiers destroyed them (Section 283). After Rama's final victory over Ravana, the loyal Vibhishana was made king of Lanka (Section 289).
• Kumbhakarna was another brother of Ravana. A fearsome warrior and master of illusion, he slept through most of the Battle of Lanka (having long before requested and received a gift of long-lasting sleep from Brahma), but arose and took the field when Ravana awakened him with alarming news about the progression of the conflict. Upon marching out of the city, Kumbhakarna was immediately swarmed by Rama's monkeys, causing him only to laugh and to wreak great mayhem among them. When the monkey king Sugriva attacked, Kumbhakarna grabbed him and started to drag him off. It was at that point that Rama and his brother Lakshmana used arrows and a secret "Brahma weapon" to kill Kumbhakarna, dropping the rakshasa like a huge tree cleft in twain by a thunderbolt. (Mahabharata, Book III: Varna Parva, Section 285.)

A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... Markandeya was an ancient Indian rishi (sage), and a devotee of Shiva and Vishnu. ... Lord Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. ... Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the evil king Ravana in the epic Ramayana. ... In Hinduism, Sugriva was the younger brother of Vali. ... Vibhishana (Sanskrit: विभीषण, ) is a character in the epic Ramayana. ... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ... Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the evil king Ravana in the epic Ramayana. ... Kumbhakarna (Sanskrit: कुम्भकर्ण, kumbhakarNa), in the Hindu epic Ramayana, was a Rakshasa and brother of Ravana. ... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the evil king Ravana in the epic Ramayana. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ... In Hinduism, Sugriva was the younger brother of Vali. ... Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ... Lakshaman (far left) with Rama (centre), Sita (far right) and Hanuman (kneeling) - Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple, Watford, England Lakshmana (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मण; IAST Lakṣmaṇa) was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana. Within Hindu tradition Lakshmana is considered to be... Kumbhakarna (Sanskrit: कुम्भकर्ण, kumbhakarNa), in the Hindu epic Ramayana, was a Rakshasa and brother of Ravana. ...

Forest-dwelling rakshasas slain by Bhima

The Pandava hero Bhima was the great nemesis of forest-dwelling rakshasas who dined on human travellers and terrorized human settlements. In the Mahabharata, the Pandava are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu, by his two wives Kunti and Madri. ... A motif depicting Bheema in the battle ready posture. ...

• Hidimva was a savage cannibalistic rakshasa who fought against and was slain by Bhima. The Mahabharata (Book I: Adi Parva, Section 154) describes him as a cruel cannibal with sharp, long teeth and prodigious strength. When Hidimva saw the Pandavas sleeping in his forest, he decided to eat them. However, he made the mistake of sending his eponymous sister Hidimvi to reconnoiter the situation, and the damsel fell in love with the handsome Bhima, whom she promptly warned of the danger. Infuriated, Hidimva declared himself ready to kill not only the Pandavas but also his sister, but he was thwarted by the heroism of Bhima, who defeated and killed him in a duel.
• Vaka was a cannibalistic forest-dwelling rakshasa who terrorized the nearby human population by forcing them to take turns making him regular deliveries of food, including human victims. Unfortunately for Vaka, the Pandavas travelled into the area and took up residence with a local Brahmana whose turn had come up to make the delivery. As the Brahmana and his family debated which one of them would have to be sacrificed, the rugged Bhima volunteered to take care of the matter. Bhima went into the forest and engaged Vaka in a ferocious wrestling match, which ended with Bhima breaking his opponent's back. The human townspeople were amazed and grateful, and the local rakshasas begged for mercy, which Bhima granted them on the condition that they give up cannibalism. The rakshasas agreed to the proposal, and soon acquired a reputation for being peaceful towards humans. (Book I: Adi Parva, Sections 159-166.)
• Kirmira, the brother of Vaka, was a cannibal and master illusionist. He haunted the wood of Kamyaka, dining on human travellers. Like his brother before him, Kirmira made the mistake of fighting the Pandava hero Bhima, who killed him with his bare hands (Book III: Varna Parva, Section 11).
• Jatasura was an especially cunning rakshasa who, disguised as a Brahmana, attempted to steal the Pandavas' weapons and to ravish their wife Draupadi. Fortunately, Bhima arrived in time to intervene, and killed Jatasura in a duel. (Book III: Varna Parva, Section 156). Jatasura's son was Alamvusha, who fought on the side of the Kauravas at Kurukshetra.

In the Mahabharata, Hidimba (sometimes called Hidimbasura and Hdimba) was a rakshasa, the brother of Hidimbi and a forest dweller. ... A motif depicting Bheema in the battle ready posture. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... In the Mahabharata, Hidimba (sometimes called Hidimbasura and Hdimba) was a rakshasa, the brother of Hidimbi and a forest dweller. ... The Pandavas were the five sons of the king Pandu. ... Hidimbi is a Rakshasi, in the Mahabharata. ... A motif depicting Bheema in the battle ready posture. ... For the short film of the same title, see ( ) (film). ... For the short film of the same title, see ( ) (film). ... The Pandavas were the five sons of the king Pandu. ... A motif depicting Bheema in the battle ready posture. ... For the short film of the same title, see ( ) (film). ... Kirmira (Sanskrit: किर्मीर) was a Rakshasa, the brother of Bakasura. ... For the short film of the same title, see ( ) (film). ... A motif depicting Bheema in the battle ready posture. ... Jatāsura (जटासुर) was a Rakshasa who disguised himself as a Brahman and carried Yudhishthira, Sahadeva, Nakula, and Draupadi. ... The Brahmana (Sanskrit ब्राह्मण) are part of the Hindu Shruti; They are composed in Vedic Sanskrit, and the period of their composition is sometimes referred to as the Brahmanic period or age (approximately between 900 BC and 500 BC). ... The Pandavas were the five sons of the king Pandu. ... Draupadi. ... The term Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means the descendants of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahabharata. ... Kurukshetra may refer to: The Kurukshetra war described in the Mahabharata, an Indian epic The town and district of Kurukshetra in the Indian state of Haryana This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Rakshasas who fought at the Battle of Kurukshetra

Rakshasa heroes fought on both sides in the Battle of Kurukshetra. Kurukshetra may refer to: The Kurukshetra war described in the Mahabharata, an Indian epic The town and district of Kurukshetra in the Indian state of Haryana This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

• Ghatotkacha, a hero fighting on the side of the Pandavas, was the son of Bhima and the rakshasa woman Hidimvi, the eponymus sister of a demon slain by Bhima. After performing many heroic deeds on the battlefield and fighting numerous duels with other great warriors (including the rakshasa Alamvusha, the elephant-riding king Bhagadatta, and Aswatthaman, the son of Drona), Ghatotkacha was himself slain by the human hero Karna. Significantly, in order to defeat Ghatotkacha, Karna found himself compelled to use a one-time secret weapon that he had been intending to reserve for use against his bitter rival Arjuna. When Arjuna finally defeated Karna in battle, it was in no small part due to the fact that Karna had already expended his secret weapon. (Book VII: Drona Parva, Section 179.)
• Alamvusha was a rakshasa skilled at fighting with both conventional weapons and the powers of illusion. According to the Mahabharata, he fought on the side of the Kauravas. Arjuna defeated him in a duel (Book VII: Drona Parva, Section 167), as did Arjuna's son Abhimanyu (Book VI: Bhishma Parva, Section 101-102). However, Alamvusha was able to kill Iravat, Arjuna's son by a naga princess, when the rakshasa used his powers of illusion to take on the form of Garuda. Alamvusha was also defeated by Bhima (Book VII: Drona Parva, Section 107), and he was slain by above-mentioned rakshasa Ghatotkacha (Book VII: Drona Parva, Section 108).

In the Mahabharata, Ghatotkacha is the son of Bhima and Hidimbi. ... A motif depicting Bheema in the battle ready posture. ... Bhagadatta was a mythological king of the city of Pragjyotisha in the epic of Mahabharata. ... In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Ashwatthama (Sanskrit: अश्वत्थामा, Aśvatthāmā) or Ashwatthaman (Sanskrit: अश्वत्थामन्, Aśvatthāman) was the son of guru Dronacharya. ... In the epic Mahabharata, Drona (Sanskrit: द्रोण, droNa) or Dronacharya (द्रोणाचार्य, droNāchārya) is the royal guru to the Kauravas and the Pandavas. ... Karna (Sanskrit: कर्ण written Karṇa in IAST transliteration) is one of the central figures in Hindu epic Mahabharata. ... For other uses, please see Arjun. ... For other uses, please see Arjun. ... Karna (Sanskrit: कर्ण written Karṇa in IAST transliteration) is one of the central figures in Hindu epic Mahabharata. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... The term Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means the descendants of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahabharata. ... For other uses, please see Arjun. ... Abhimanyu (Sanskrit: अभिमन्यु, abhimanyu) is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. ... Iravat or Iravan, in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, was the son of Pandava Arjuna and Naga princess Uloopi. ... The word Naga can refer to several different things. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A motif depicting Bheema in the battle ready posture. ...

Artistic and folkloric depictions of rakshasas

Depictions of rakshasas at Angkor in Cambodia

A bas-relief at Banteay Srei in Cambodia depicts Ravana shaking Mount Kailasa, the residence of Siva.

• The artists of Angkor in Cambodia frequently depicted Ravana in stone sculpture and bas-relief.
  • The "naga bridge" at the entrance to the 12th century city of Angkor Thom is lined with large stone statues of Devas and Asuras engaged in churning the Ocean of Milk. The ten-headed Ravana is shown anchoring the line of Asuras.^[1]
  • Likewise, a bas-relief at the 12th century temple of Angkor Wat that depicts the churning has Ravana anchoring the line of Asuras that are pulling on the serpent's head. It is speculated that one of the figures in the line of Devas participating in the churning by pulling on the serpent's tail is Ravana's brother Vibhishana.^[2]
  • A lintel at the 10th century temple of Banteay Srei depicts Ravana shaking Mount Kailasa.^[3]
  • Likewise, a bas-relief at Angkor Wat shows a 20-armed Ravana shaking Mount Kailasa.^[4]

A bas-relief at Preah Khan in Cambodia depicts the Battle of Lanka between rakshasas and monkeys.

• The artists of Angkor also depicted the Battle of Lanka between the rakshasas under the command of Ravana and the Vanaras or monkeys under the command of Rama and Sugriva.
  • The 12th century Khmer temple Angkor Wat contains a dramatic depiction in bas-relief of the Battle of Lanka between Ravana's rakshasas and Rama's monkeys. Ravana himself is depicted with ten heads and twenty arms, mounted on a chariot drawn by creatures that look to be a mixture of horse, lion and bird. Vibhishana is shown standing behind and aligned with Rama and his brother Lakshmana(Rama`s brother). Kumbhakarna, mounted on a chariot similar to that of Ravana, is shown fighting Sugriva.^[5]
  • Likewise, the battle is depicted in a crude bas-relief at the 12th century temple of Preah Khan.

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2240 × 1680 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2240 × 1680 pixel, file size: 1. ... Bas relief is a method of sculpting which entails carving or etching away the surface of a flat piece of stone or metal. ... Banteay Srei (or Banteay Srey) is one of the most unusual temples of Angkor, Cambodia. ... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... Kailasa (also called Kailash) is believed to be the home of Lord Shiva by Hindus, and is a pilgrimage site. ... This article is about the Hindu God. ... Map of the Angkor region in Cambodia. ... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... The word Naga can refer to several different things. ... Face-tower of the South Gate, showing Avalokiteshvara Bayon temple, Angkor Thom The Terrace of the Leper King, showing apsara Angkor Thom was the fortified inner royal city built by Jayavarman VII (1181 - 1220?), Buddhist king of the Khmer Empire, at the end of the 12th Century, after Angkor had... Deva can refer to: Deva (Hinduism), a Hindu deity. ... // In Hinduism In Hindu mythology, the Asura (Sanskrit: असुर) are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ... The Ocean of milk in Hindu mythology is the place where 13 precious treasures were lost. ... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... Aerial view of Angkor Wat The main entrance to the temple proper, seen from the eastern end of the Naga causeway Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. ... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... In Hindu mythology, the Asura are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes misleadingly referred to as demons. ... A Deva, in Hinduism, is a deity, controlling forces of nature such as fire, air, etc. ... Vibhishana (Sanskrit: विभीषण, ) is a character in the epic Ramayana. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Post and lintel. ... Banteay Srei (or Banteay Srey) is one of the most unusual temples of Angkor, Cambodia. ... Kailasa (also called Kailash) is believed to be the home of Lord Shiva by Hindus, and is a pilgrimage site. ... Aerial view of Angkor Wat The main entrance to the temple proper, seen from the eastern end of the Naga causeway Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. ... Kailasa (also called Kailash) is believed to be the home of Lord Shiva by Hindus, and is a pilgrimage site. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 1. ... Bas relief is a method of sculpting which entails carving or etching away the surface of a flat piece of stone or metal. ... The ruined temple is still a destination for Buddhist pilgrims. ... Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the evil king Ravana in the epic Ramayana. ... Map of the Angkor region in Cambodia. ... Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the evil king Ravana in the epic Ramayana. ... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana; sometimes transliterated as Raavana or Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of Rama in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ... Vanara is a Sanskrit word literally meaning a human having the fur or tail of a monkey. It popularly refers to the race of monkey-like humanoids in the Hindu epic Ramayana who are brave and inquisitive in nature. ... Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ... In Hinduism, Sugriva was the younger brother of Vali. ... The Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 13. ... Aerial view of Angkor Wat The main entrance to the temple proper, seen from the eastern end of the Naga causeway Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. ... Bas relief is a method of sculpting which entails carving or etching away the surface of a flat piece of stone or metal. ... Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the evil king Ravana in the epic Ramayana. ... Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ... Lakshaman (far left) with Rama (centre), Sita (far right) and Hanuman (kneeling) - Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple, Watford, England Lakshmana (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मण; IAST Lakṣmaṇa) was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana. Within Hindu tradition Lakshmana is considered to be... Kumbhakarna (Sanskrit: कुम्भकर्ण, kumbhakarNa), in the Hindu epic Ramayana, was a Rakshasa and brother of Ravana. ... In Hinduism, Sugriva was the younger brother of Vali. ... The ruined temple is still a destination for Buddhist pilgrims. ...

See also

• Raksha

In Hindi, Raksha means protection. This word is derived from the Sanskrit language. ...

Footnotes

References

• Freeman, Michael and Claude Jacques (2003). Ancient Angkor. Bangkok: River Books. 
• Rovedo, Vittorio (1997). Khmer Mythology: Secrets of Angkor. New York: Weatherhill. 

External links

• The Mahabharata of Vyasa translated from Sanskrit into English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, online version
• Photos of the bas-relief at Angkor Wat depicting the Battle of Lanka between Rakshasas and monkeys
• Photos related to the depiction of demons at the Angkorian temples in Cambodia.

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