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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
productive of pecuniary gain, and one from rakshasas are called Maharakshasas. In the the north-east of general wellbeing.1
Ràmàyan and other puràns, rakshasas are It is a common belief that if while one is represented as feeding on human flesh. about to commence some act, somebody sneezes A ràkshasa is supposed to be sixteen miles once, the act is doomed to fail, and to avoid
in height and to roam about for his prey failure it must be postponed. But if the
within a circle with a radius of sixteen miles. sneeze is repeated, no harm ensues.1
The Maharakshasas are supposed to have A sneeze by an ailing person is believed to
their abode in the seas. It is said that they be a sign of his recovery, and more sneezes by
burn or swallow ships sailing thereon. the same person are supposed to indicate his
The rakshasas are supposed to complete recovery, even though the symptoms
number be not favourable.
60,000,000 and the maharàkshosas 20,000 A sneeze by a cow at the commencement of
Kubera, a maharakshasa is the lord of the an auspicious act is supposed to be the worst
rakshasas, possible omen, and a sneeze by a cat is prover
It is said that the rakshasas, maharàkshasas bially a portent of failure in any act taken wizards and witches Were visible to the human in hand at the time.2
eye during the tretàyuga. With the commenceA yawn is generally believed to be harmless, ment of the present or kaliyuga they have as it does not foretell either good or evil. become invisible. It is stated in the Puràns Still as sometimes it results in accidental that during the recitation of the Surya kavach, instantaneous death, the elders of a person Saptsasani or the Narayan kavach, if the when he yawns, exclaim. "Be long-lived ! rakshasas or maharàkshasas fall into or Patience! Live long!" and the spiritually approach the limits circumscribed for them, disposed repeat the name of the god of their the recitation proves ineffective. devotion.
It is a common belief that there is bitter Lest spirits may make their way into the body enmity between the gods and rakshasas. The of a person through his mouth when he is former follow the path of virtue while the yawning, or lest his soul may pass out of it, latter lead immoral lives devouring Brahmans some people pinch him to stop the yawn while and cows, feeding on flesh, and indulging in others utter the words " Ram" "Råm" to intoxicating drinks. The habitat of the divort his attention.
rakshasas is the patàl or nether world, Rawan In mythological times. Brahma, one of the being their king. gods of the Hindu Trinity, once left his body | The exploits of some of the rakshasas are for a time. Some people began to molest the described in the Mahabharat, Bhàgvat and the body, when he cried out, “Rakho! Ràkho!” Ramayan. For instance, the misdeeds of that is "Keep aloof! Keep aloof!" or "Wait! Jaràsandh, Ghatotkacha and Hedamba are Wait!". These people came to be called Rakho* described in the Mahabharat; those of Kansa, which in course of time corrupted into Bànàsur, Pralambasur, Adhàsur, Dhenukasur, Rakshasa. The beings who hold sway over Kålanemi, Shankàsur and Vritrdsur in the
1 The School Master of Limbdi.
2 The School Master of Jhinjhuwada. 3 The School Master of Vanod.
The School Master of Dhank This derivation of the word akshasa is obviously fanciful. Rakshasa is a Sanskrit word and has no connection with the Gujarati word rakho which itself is derived from the Sanskrit root raksha to protect. 5 The School Master of Dhank.
• The School Master of Påntva. 1 The School Master of Moti Parabdi.
The School Master of Rajpara. • The School Master of Charadva,
10 The School Master of Kotda Sangani.
