Rakshasa
（重定向自Rakshas）
![Rakshasa as depicted in Yakshagana, an art form of coastal Karnataka](/Images/godic/202502/06/Demon_Yakshagana3737.jpg")
![Death of Hiranyaksha, the son of Diti at the hands of Vishnu's avatar, Varaha.](/Images/godic/202502/06/Varaha_avtar,_killing_a_demon_to_protect_Bhu,_c17403737.jpg")
![Rakshasa sculpture at](/Images/godic/202502/06/lossy-page1-220px-KITLV_87790_-_Isidore_van_Kinsbergen_-_Sculpture_Raksasa_at_Tjandi_Sewoe_in_Yogyakarta_-_Before_1900.tif3737.jpg")
![Taraka](/Images/godic/202502/06/Taraka_Ramayana3737.jpg")
A Rakshasa (Sanskrit:rākṣasa) is a demonic being from Hindu mythology. As mythology made its way into other religions, the rakshasa was later incorporated into Buddhism. Rakshasas are also called maneaters (Nri-chakshas, Kravyads). A female rakshasa is known as a Rakshasi. A female Rakshasa in human form is a Manushya-Rakshasi. The terms Asura and Rakshasa are sometimes used interchangeably.