Rakshas, Rakṣas: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Rakshas means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Rakṣas can be transliterated into English as Raksas or Rakshas, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: archive.org: Natya ShastraRakṣas (रक्षस्).—Description of a women of rakṣas type;—A woman who has large and broad limbs, red wide eyes, coarse hairs, loves to sleep in day time, speaks loudly, has the habit of hurting one with nails and teeth, is disposed to anger, jealousy and quarrel, and likes to roam at night, is said to possess the nature of a rakṣas (rākṣasa).
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaRakṣas (रक्षस्).—A particular sect of asuras. Yakṣas and Rakṣas were offsprings born to Kaśyapa prajāpati of his wife Muni. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 19).
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: University of Vienna: Sudarśana's Worship at the Royal Court According to the AhirbudhnyasaṃhitāRakṣas (रक्षस्) refers to “Demons”, according to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā, belonging to the Pāñcarātra tradition which deals with theology, rituals, iconography, narrative mythology and others.—Accordingly, “[This rite] should be employed by utterly glorious Sovereigns when they are in distress—[for this rite] removes the three kinds of sorrow which begin with the one relating to oneself; causes the destruction of all afflictions; is marked by auspiciousness; destroys all enemies; pacifies (i.e. removes unwanted consequences of ritual mistakes etc.); is the cause of triumph; kills the Demons (rakṣas-han—rakṣohaṇam); brings about prosperities; subdues all; bestows the longest of lives; is meritorious; [and] was perfomed by ancient Kings”.
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryRakṣas (रक्षस्).—n. [rakṣyate havirasmāt, rakṣ-asun]
1) An evil spirit, a demon, an imp, a goblin; चतुर्दशसहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्म- णाम् । त्रयश्च दूषणखरत्रिमूर्धानो रणे हताः (caturdaśasahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarma- ṇām | trayaśca dūṣaṇakharatrimūrdhāno raṇe hatāḥ) || Uttararāmacarita 2.15.
2) Ved. Hurt, injury.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryRakṣas (रक्षस्).—n.
(-kṣaḥ) Rakshas, an evil spirit, apparently distinguishable into three classes; one sort of Rakshas is of a domi-celestial nature and is ranked with the attendants on Kuvera; another corresponds to a goblin, an imp, or ogre, haunting cemeteries, animating dead bodies, disturbing sacrifices, and ensnaring and devouring human beings; the third kind approaches more to the nature of the Titan, or relentless, and powerful enemy of the gods. E. rakṣ to preserve, (Kuvera'S treasure, &c.) asun aff.; also rākṣasa .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryRakṣas (रक्षस्).—[rakṣ + as] (perhaps a kind of euphemism, cf. denoting the ), n. A Rākṣasa, or evil spirit, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] 54, 5.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryRakṣas (रक्षस्).—1. [adjective] protecting, cf. pathirakṣas.
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Rakṣas (रक्षस्).—2. [neuter] harm, injury, damage; harmer, [Name] of a kind of evil beings or demons (also rakṣas).
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Rakṣas (रक्षस्).—v. asurarakṣasa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Rakṣas (रक्षस्):—[from rakṣ] mfn. guarding, watching (See pathir)
2) [v.s. ...] n. ‘anything to be guarded against or warded off’, harm, injury, damage, [Ṛg-veda]
3) [v.s. ...] (in, [Ṛg-veda] and, [Atharva-veda] also rakṣas, m.) an evil being or demon, a Rākṣasa (q.v.; in [Viṣṇu-purāṇa] identified with Nirṛti or Nairṛta), [Ṛg-veda]; etc.
4) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a warlike race [gana] parśv-ādi.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryRakṣas (रक्षस्):—(kṣāḥ) 1. m. An evil spirit.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryRakshas in Hindi refers in English to:—(nm) a demon, monster; (a) ruthless, demonic; ~[raja] the king of demons; -[vivaha] one of the various types of marriages, referred to in ancient Indian literature, wherein the groom fought his way to the bride’s hand..—rakshas (राक्षस) is alternatively transliterated as Rākṣasa.
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See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+61): Rakshahpasha, Rakshahprakandaka, Rakshahsabha, Rakshaisha, Rakshasa, Rakshasa baale, Rakshasa-raa, Rakshasabale, Rakshasabhedi, Rakshasacikiccai, Rakshasadvipa, Rakshasagana, Rakshasaghna, Rakshasagraha, Rakshasajit, Rakshasakanam, Rakshasakavya, Rakshasalaya, Rakshasalinga, Rakshasaloka.
Ends with: Arakshas, Asurarakshas, Brahmarakshas, Devarakshas, Girirakshas, Maharakshas, Pathirakshas, Prakshas, Purusharakshas, Riterakshas, Saharakshas, Virakshas, Vrakshas.
Full-text (+255): Rakshasa, Pishitasha, Narasa, Riterakshas, Nikharvata, Dhvajagriva, Kshanadacara, Rakshahsabha, Rakshoghna, Nishacara, Rakshaspasha, Asurarakshasa, Rakshoyuj, Apalala, Kankatunda, Ulkajihva, Kharaketu, Nikashatmaja, Kshiprahasta, Prahasta.
Relevant text
Search found 48 books and stories containing Rakshas, Rakṣas, Raksas; (plurals include: Rakshases, Rakṣases, Raksases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra (by C. G. Kashikar)
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 13: Abandonment of Sītā < [Chapter VIII - The abandonment of Sītā]
Part 6: Rāvaṇa’s conquests < [Chapter II - Rāvaṇa’s expedition of Conquest]
Part 10: Lakṣmaṇa’s household < [Chapter VIII - The abandonment of Sītā]
The Forces in the Ramayana < [April - June 1972]
Rukmini Devi < [July – September, 2004]
Somapalle Temple < [July – September, 1981]
Satapatha-brahmana (by Julius Eggeling)
Kāṇḍa I, adhyāya 6, brāhmaṇa 1 < [First Kāṇḍa]
Kāṇḍa V, adhyāya 2, brāhmaṇa 4 < [Fifth Kāṇḍa]
Kāṇḍa XI, adhyāya 7, brāhmaṇa 4 < [Eleventh Kāṇḍa]
Jnaneshwari (Bhavartha Dipika) (by Ramchandra Keshav Bhagwat)
Verse 10.23 < [Chapter 10 - Vibhuti-yoga]
Asvalayana-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)
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