Rakshasa - Rasetsu

A transliteration of the Sanskrit word rākasa and the Pāli word rakkhasa, it is a type of demon that appears in Indian mythology. Originally it meant harmer or protector. It is said that it can change its form by using its spiritual powers, charm people, and eat their flesh and blood. Ravana, who appears in the epic poem Ramayana, is known as the king, and was also the enemy king (of Lanka) conquered by the hero Rama (India). It is said that it lives in water, runs fast on the ground, flies in the sky, and exerts its greatest power in the dark of night and loses its power at dawn, and is often identified with a yaksha. Later, it became a guardian deity in Buddhism and is counted as one of the twelve heavenly beings. Its statue is depicted as a god-king in armor, holding a sword, and riding a white lion. Similarly, female rakshasas (rāksasī) are also known, but in Buddhism, ten female rakshasas are preached as guardian deities.

[Katama Kazuyoshi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

サンスクリット語のラークシャサrākasa、パーリ語のラッカサrakkhasaの音写で、インド神話に現れる悪鬼の一種。もとは害する者、守る者の意。通力によって姿を変え、人を魅惑し血肉を食うという。叙事詩『ラーマーヤナ』に登場するラーバナはその王として知られ、英雄ラーマ（インド）に征服される敵王（ランカー島）でもあった。水をすみかとし、地を疾(はや)く走り、空を飛び、また闇夜(やみよ)に最強の力を発揮し夜明けとともに力を失うといわれ、しばしば夜叉(やしゃ)と同一視される。のちに仏教では守護神となり十二天の一つに数えられ、像は神王形で甲冑(かっちゅう)をつけ、刀を持ち白獅子(しろじし)に乗った姿で描かれる。同様に羅刹女(らせつにょ)（ラークシャシーrāksasī）も知られるが、仏教では守護神としての十羅刹女が説かれた。

［片山一良］

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