Rakshasas | Indian Shapeshifting Demons

Few creatures of Indian legend inspired as much fear as the Rakshasas. Appearing as villains and anti-heroes in the Hindu epics and other Indian literature, the Rakshasas were demons with immense powers of shapeshifting and illusion casting, and often depicted with frightening appearances including tiger-like features, large fangs, wild hair, burning eyes, tremendous stature, and sometimes even multiple heads and limbs! If their appearance wasn't enough to chill the spine, their appetite for human flesh made them the epitome of demons!
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REFERENCES:
www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rama...
www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/...
www.vyasaonline.com/encyclope...
www.mythfolklore.net/india/enc...
www.newworldencyclopedia.org/...
www.newworldencyclopedia.org/...
symbolsage.com/rakshasa-hindu...
www.ocerint.org/socioint15_epu...
www.britannica.com/topic/raks...
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[@dragowolfraven3806]

I was waiting for the Rakshasa video. I never knew that there were good and evil Rakshasa as D&D/Pathfinder depicted them as universally evil.

[@blameadam4031]

hinduism doesnt have the concept of evil, anyone could do anything regardless of who they are.

[@Saints_ravenfortheRainbow]

​@@blameadam4031wouldn't narabali be considered evil as black magic is also illegal and narabali is human sacrifice...

[@lefrazier4304]

what makes this channel so interesting to watch is that i can hear myths i never heard before

[@lordnul1708]

Probably one of my favorite out of the concepts from real life folklore that I discovered through D&D. Although I'm still a little surprised how much the namesake entities remind me of a mix of Oni and Youkai from Japanese folklore compared to other mythological beings of similar roles. Some of that might be due to the fact that I have a limited, out of context perspective on most of the folklore in both cases though.

[@LaPtaVerdad]

Thats because they have nothing to do with the dnd art and serve a mythological purpose very similar to oni and youkai

[@robertdelaloye7865]

I literally JUST got done watching a Supernatural episode with this creature. That’s an insane coincidence!

[@rajramnarine123]

Hi. I know the episode. Sam and Dean were investigating a case at a Carnival... Terrific episode... My most favorite show!

[@TravisLee33]

It's a strange world.

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

​@@rajramnarine123link to video?

[@joestar6194]

It's not a coincidence 🙂

[@soccerandtrack10]

@@joestar6194 young?

[@robbabcock_]

Wonderful video!

[@sarahhurst701]

Cool video, stunning artwork as well. AsI always do from your channel, I learned something new. Thank you for that. Brilliantly done.❤️🌍

[@onlyhalfevil_333]

I always look forwards to watching your new videos.

[@nancyM1313]

Thank you for uploading all these wonderful tales from far & away🕊💙🕊

[@peterx2016]

Fun fact: 1. In Javanese, the word 'Raksasa', 'Yaksa', and 'Buta' came from Sanskrit and are used interchangeably as a word for 'giant'. There's also the word 'Brahala' that we used specifically for 'human turn into very big giant' Edit: 'Yaksa' and 'Buta' can also be used for dwarf giant, like Buta Cakil 2. Gatotkaca in Javanese mythology, has human form, and is often depicted like Superman figure. He can fly, shoot lightbeam from his chest, has powerful strength, but can also 'triwikrama'/transform into a giant.

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

Ghatotkach was born giant.

[@peterx2016]

@@piyushjaiswal9283 Javanese version is different from the Indian counterpart. And as I said, Gatotkaca in 'Javanese' mythology is depicted like Superman. To start, he was born like normal baby but his placenta can't be cut, except with a weapon called 'Kuntawijayadanu'. Unfortunately, Karna (who's told to have the same face with Arjuna in the Javanese legend) get the weapon, instead of Arjuna (who was tasked to get that weapon). They fought, and Karna gets away, leaving Arjuna only getting the weapon's sheat. Later, Arjuna uses the sheat to cut the placenta and it works. Gatotkaca then absorbs the weapon sheat into his body. Not long after, the 'kahyangan'/heaven is under attack. 'Bathara'/God Narada (again, this is Javanese mythology, not Indian) brought the baby Gatotkaca and throws him onto the sea of fire, named 'Kawah Candradimuka'. The baby didn't die, but only grow bigger and stronger, until he comes out unharmed as a handsome warrior. He then fights the enemies of the 'kahyangan'/heaven. Another thing that differentiate this version of Gatotkaca is on how he was killed. He was killed by Karna, yes. But in Javanese version, before Karna's arrow hit him (he's on the cloud, hiding), Gatotkaca's Uncle spirit (who was accidentally killed by Gatotkaca) grab the arrow and they talk for a while about how Gatotkaca regretted his action. After they finish, arrow was let go and kills Gatotkaca. The arrow's name was 'Kuntawijayadanu', the same arrow that supposed to cut Gatotkaca's placenta. The weapon and it's sheat has reunited, vanish from the world. And, Gatotkaca fell off, died. His body smashed Karna's chariot, again, almost the same as the Indian version. However, in Javanese version, he fell in human form because he fly onto the sky and he can't actually use his 'triwikrama'/giant transformation to hide from Karna, because he knows Karna will find him. He's aware of his own death by Karna's weapon, 'Kuntawijayadanu'.

[@VSM101]

Yasha was not a dwarf or giant its a nature sprite while a rakshasa are man eaters while a buta is a ghost

[@VSM101]

@@peterx2016 java is in valid because there were poised by Muslims abrhamic mythology poisoning the entire farmework

[@peterx2016]

So, before anyone want/try to correct my comment, let me say this I'm not Indian, in fact I'm Javanese from the Island of Java in Indonesia. I only share what fun little thing that I think is interesting. Raksasa, Yaksa, Buta, and also Denawa are words from Sanskrit, yes, but the usage within Javanese language is commonly used interchangeably for word "giant" (as in humanoid creature). "Dwarf giant" from my comment refers to smaller sized giant (I know it's silly), because they are smaller than the regular giants and often than not, they are about human-sized or even smaller like "Buta Bajang" (lit. means Toddler sized giant). Here's an example of Buta/Yaksa potrayed in Javanese culture kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJzFZadvjK6Nf7Mfeature=shared Just for context, the first fight is between Arjuna and 3 Buta Cakil, while the second fight is between Arjuna and a giant avenging his dead friends, later Gatotkaca (the black-skinned wayang puppet that flies around) comes to assist Arjuna. Another example (it is not that different from the previous one, still Arjuna and Gatotkaca fighting Buta/Yaksa) kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHS1mmWphLZkoJIfeature=shared Another another example (Fight between Abimanyu againts Buta Cakil) kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4DGfGibbtZ4maMfeature=shared Gatotkaca's Birth in Javanese myth kzbin.infowl9sv6fW_Bk?feature=shared Another another another thing The Javanese Myth is dating way back even before Islam came in the island (I mean we got empires like Tarumanegara, Singasari, Sriwijaya, Majapahit, etc.). We got records called "KAKAWIN"(s) which using Kawi Languange (which then developed into Javanese Language) that still rooted to Sanskrits. In these records you can tell there are things that differentiated Javanese myth from the Indian's, like in Java, Arjuna Sahastrabahu (or Arjunasasra as we like to call him here) is one of Vishnu's reincarnations instead of Parasurama (who still kills Arjunasasra in the end). Prabu (King) Jayabaya, king of Kerajaan Kediri, is also believed by many as the reincarnation of Vishnu because he "predicted" the arrival of Dutch and Japanese in the island hundreds year before. Not to mention the existent of local beliefs like Kejawen and Kapitayan, they already exist long before Hindu influence in the island. Or, the belief of Bathari Sri/Goddess Sri, the fertility goddess that also again, predates Hinduism in the region. I only bringing this up as I personally interested in story/myth and different culture around the world.

[@Hyper_Drud]

I finally watched all of these videos on the channel. I can’t wait for the next one.

[@TheLonelyLurker1995]

I only know Rakshasas from the Adult Swim Cartoon UNICORN WARRIORS ETERNAL. He's one of the MC's allies and he's powers were martial arts and can venture to the cosmic realm. Either way, I never thought that they are shape shifting demons, cool and very informative video. :)

[@Jay-ml2hd]

Same here lol

[@FilesdocumentsAndreposit-kr3vb]

All the demons you know in Abrahamic mythology are puny. Rakshasa can posses strength of thousands or even millions of elephants. They are beyond your comprehension. Djinns are too inferior in comparison.

[@paulhill8245]

The Rakshasa was featured in the Kolchak: The Night Stalker episode "Horror in the Heights." Kolchak killed it with a crossbow.

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

Killed by kolchak. A million kolchak together can't kill the weakest rakshasa.

[@omarflores9011]

I can't wait to see what you cover this Halloween 😍

[@adisura9904]

Pretty well made. Keep it up

[@DefinitelyNotHidan]

Thank you for your channel existence, it made me inspire to draw some character and villain base on these folk

[@christianchauhan23]

❤🤍💙 all your videos mate👍

[@tronjavolta]

this was a creature in a dnd campaign i played recently. synchronicity. 😶‍🌫️

[@bethanysmith5856]

Im trying to remember if Grimm ever had 1 of these show up, the show mainly stuck to stories from the Black forest (Germany) but went into other areas

[@dominicgartrell6636]

Was hoping for a vid on these, after hearing Circle of Cysquatch by Mastodon “A race of one-eyed beings All feared and shunned Rakshasa demon”

[@AalaFathi]

I love your videos. amazin channel

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

You should do a video on "Veerbhadra" - imagine the power of a being whose chariot was pulled by a million lions..

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

Rakshasa were created by highest gods ( brahma ) but they were very vengeful and theie strength is beyond comprehension of modern day humana..

[@morgainnejade]

I really enjoy your content, but I hate it when creators put text up on the screen to read at the same time they are talking. Who can actually follow both things at the same time? So annoying.

[@tameshashears1296]

You could just pause the video to read the words. Just a suggestion.

[@morgainnejade]

@@tameshashears1296 I do. It breaks the thought train & interrupts the video. Annoying.

[@annlouiserainey4888]

These guys remind me of the Ramayana story’s King Ravana and his demon kind

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

6:00 - by the way guys , Bhima was no normal human ...he was fathered by pawan or vayu dev.... His strength was equal to that of strength of 10,000 elephants put together.

[@beaudoty3465]

Please make a video talking about gremlins.

[@LacertaZilla2024]

The first time I saw one those creatures was from the mummy animated series

[@selimekurum2078]

süper

[@Duelinator]

How about the legends of Rama, Arjuna & Karna?

[@Random_Chiroptera]

Kinda remind me of Japan's Oni.

[@boyelfrain9058]

Next garuda

[@iamavoidtrippergutterslush666]

🕯️🙏🤘🙏🕯️

[@Kormhaeng_Ashura]

We call "Yak, Yaksa" in Cambodia.

[@Uknow_imright]

I looked these up when I saw it unicorn warriors eternal.

[@gageabdul]

Not me thinking of DnD 😅

[@AngelRiverar-yz7kz]

👍🏼✨️✨️🫧🫧

[@DaughterofAnubis]

I had never heard of this fearsome demon before. Well done.

[@blameadam4031]

bro check them out do some research its a rabbit hole.

[@adisura9904]

They aren't exactly demons. But I guess. That is the closest relation you can make.

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

People' would not even be able to imagine their strength. They can lift of mountains and hurl it several miles away. These are the weaker ones. The more ferocious ones are even more powerful.

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

​@@adult8325Asuras are not demons exactly. They are born from the same father as the devas...the heavenly gods worshiped throughout indo European cultures.

[@piyushjaiswal9283]

@@adult8325 aesir tend to more on negative side. Tyrannical but righteous in general mannerisms. Could be. You must understand all cultures have been through centuries of distortion by Christians..

[@benjamindebo9283]

There was one of these guys in Unicorn: Warriors Eternal.

[@DumpStatWisdom]

Great video! Just one small correction. You are pronouncing Pandavas as pan-daa-vas when it should be paan-da-vas. The stretch should be on 'pan', not 'da'. Other than that, this is awesome content.

[@cardboardbox5704]

Far Cry 4...

[@SelimeKurum-lx6fs]

🎃🎃🎃🎃👿👿👿👿🖤🖤🖤

[@MohammadAli-ht5ce]

Actual pronunciation is RAKHSHASS.

[@Jay92master]

Some are similar to jinns

[@FilesdocumentsAndreposit-kr3vb]

Jinns are inferior in comparison

[@narayanlaxmi4990]

Jinns are similar to boota

[@madamplatypus313]

“Mythology has no shortage of man-eating monsters and shapeshifting demons.” Louder for the white saviors in the back!

[@more17]

What does any of this have to do with white people?

[@MAW51187]

Demons?? lol

[@Cobra-gl7or]

They all died in the great flood of Noah and became disembodied evil spirits. That's why you see people in the Bible being possessed by an evil spirit and Jesus cast them (Rakshasas) out of people. Demons (Rakshasas) and Fallen Angels (Deva's) are not the same.

[@ivongrey9047]

no

[@ssukhdeepkaur1783]

No don't insert your christian nonsense in other religions

[@Jay92master]

This is similiar to Islam believes facts

[@Star_dragon]

Well these concepts existed before Islam came to existence

[@FilesdocumentsAndreposit-kr3vb]

Garbage. The most powerful of jinns is not 1/10th of the weakest rakshasa

[@akatsukigajou1639]

I also knew the rakshasa from *akame ga kill* and in *japanese* the are called *rasetsu*