RAKSHASH

Rakshash were republic people known to Panini and mentioned in Mahabharat. The term was used in ancient Indian literature and mythological books of Hinduism and Buddhism. Rakshashs are also called 'maneaters', the savages, having horrifying faces, living in jungles and uncivilised ones, or simply the devils.

The terms Asur and Rakshash are sometimes used interchangeably.

Some scholars, including Maharishi Dayanand have opined that African blacks are descendants of Rakshashs.

Variants of name :

Rakshash (Monster)

Rakshasi - A female Rakshash is known as a Rakshasi.

Mention by Panini :

Rakshas, a warlike tribe, is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

In Ramayan :

According to Ramayan, the king of Lanka, Ravan was the commander of the army of Rakshashs. The story that he had ten heads, is only a myth. He was the mortal enemy of Ram the hero of the Ramayan.

In Mahabharat :

Mahabharat mentions Rakshash in several verses: (I.59.7), (I.65), (I.60.7), (1.66), (I.60.53), (1.66), (I.61.1), (1.67), (I.61.87), (1.67), (III.164.30), (III.170.8), (IV.2.11), (VI.68.9), (VIII.4.44), (IX.36.21), (IX .44.7), (IX.44.26).

In the Mahabharat (Book III: Vana Parv), the Sage Markandeya recounts the story of how Ravan kidnapped Ram's wife Sita and whisked her off to his stronghold, Lanka. Ram aided by King Sugriv and his army, laid siege to Lanka, slew Ravan and rescued Sita.

Shalya Parv, Mahabharata / Book IX Chapter 36 describes Baladev's journey along the bank of the Sarasvati river. Rakshashs are mentioned in verse (IX.36.21)....."There dwell Yakshs, and Vidyadhars, and Rakshashs of immeasurable energy and Pisachas of immeasurable might, and Siddhs, numbering thousands.

History :

Agrawala Vs, mentions Sanghs known to Panini which includes - Rakshas (raksas), under Parshvadi (parsavadi) (V.3.117).

V. S. Agrawala mentions Ayudhajivi Sanghas in the Ganpath, which includes - Rakshas – By adding the suffix in a pleonastic sense (svarthe) prescribed by this very sutra (V.3.117) we get the word form Rakshash. They all appear to have been real people, probably of the north-west group and of the same racial character as the Pishachas. The Rakshash, Nags and the Pishachs fight also in the Bharat war on both sides (Pargiter, JRAS, 1908, p. 331). We find an important tribe named Rakshanis settled in Chagai district of north Baluchistan (Imp. Gaz., X, p.117).

It is needless to say that the demons were a particular caste of ancient India, who were the children of the Brahmi sages. The Vedas of Ravanadi Rakshash, being proficient in Shastraadi Arya literature, performing Yagyas are clearly proved by Ramayan. The demons were Indians, they were not inferior to Indians in civilization and material progress. They had gone to the countries of America etc. for political reasons (Vishnu's persecuted). Through them, Vedic civilization was well publicized in Patal Desh (America). The story of Quetsalakatla or Salkatankut returning from the land of hell again is also written in great detail in the eighteenth canto of Uttarakhand of Ramayan.

Chiratsumali Vyacharadasatalam, S Rakshaso Vishnubhayarditastada.

Putraishta Potraish coordinates Bali, Tattastu Lankamavasdhaneshwar: 729

Suffering from the fear of Lord Vishnu, the demon Sumali wandered with his son's grandchildren in the abyss (America) for a long time. In the middle, Dhanadhyaksha Kubera (Vaisravan) made Lanka his residence.

In this way the demons were the children of the Aryans, but these Indras used to haunt the deities.

The three great demons Sumali, Mallyavan and Mali, etc., living with their many sons and other demons, began to torment Indra and other gods, sages, serpents and Yakshs with pride of their muscle power. (Uttarakhand 5.7)

Then Lord Vishnu, in consultation with Lord Shankar, destroyed these Sumali demons several times and disrupted them and drove them away to Himalayas (America). After the resettlement of Lanka by Vaisravan, these demons returned from America and settled in Lanka.

In this way we briefly described the demons, their stories and genealogy are described in detail in Ramayana and Mahabharat. He got the name of demon because of protecting creatures. When Prajapati Brahma asked who would protect these living beings, then those who took over the protection were called demons . Yagnis who perform Yajna are called Yakshs.

‘Raksham’ Iti Yairuktam Rakshashsthe Bhavantu Vah.

'Yaksham' Iti Yairuktayaksha and Bhavantu: 7139

(Answer Case Canto 4)

You who it is said will we protect those monsters admitted to both known and sacrifice who they directly are known. Thus, both these names are named after Brahma Prajapati.

The demons who protect and perform the yajna are called Yakshas. All these happened in the lineage of Brahma etc.

Raksharaj Raja Sumali's daughter got married to Vaisravan (Kuber) at the behest of her father. They had children like this.

Vishrava (wife - girl child of Sumali)

It is known that both Ravan and Kumbhakarn were going to create udveg (movement) in the Mahabali demon world. Vibhishan was a god from childhood. He was always stable in religion. Self control and regular diet kept the senses under control.

Vibhishanastu Dharmatma organized every day.

Self-reliance uvas vijendendriya: 4396

(Answer Case 4 canto)

It seems that many sages named Vishrava and Vaisravan have been in this dynasty. Only one of them was Ravan, the demon, child of Vishrava. It was a custom in ancient literature that after giving names of famous people, they used to leave the names of ordinary people. The same has been done here.

This proves that Dev, Asur, kinnar, demon, monkey etc. are the children of all the sages. Maharishi, who is the only child of Brahma's disciples (manasputras), had many disciples, all the devasuradi creation and tradition started from his children. This is attested by ancient literature. Their children settled the countries like America and spread the Aryan civilization there. By educating agriculture, he mobilized the means of material progress. Also teach food, drink, muffling, wearing, building construction, animal husbandry and many types of art skills.

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