A rakshasa is a demon or evil spirit in Hindu mythology. A female Rakshasa is called a rakshasi. The rakshasas were generally mischief makers and very often their targets were the poor
sanyasis and
rishis who lived in the forests. They usually disturbed the sacrifices, and tortured the priests. Rakshasas are known to carry away beautiful women to whom they were attracted. The rakshasas, male or female, were ugly in appearance, but they could assume any form they pleased with the powers they possessed. The great ten-headed demon
Ravana, enemy of
Lord Ram, was a rakshasa king.
