Rakshasa

	Rakshasa
	ラクシャーサ
	MT2SMT1 SFCGMTSH1P5XDCBR Artwork from Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II SFC artwork from Shin Megami Tensei Artwork from Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation Artwork from Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers Artwork from Persona 5: The Phantom X Artwork from Devil Children Black Book and Red Book
Other Name(s)	MauiRevelations: Persona; ; Irreverent FiendSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy); ; Battle FiendPersona 5; Persona 5 Royal;
Origin	Dharmic religions
Race(s)	BruteDigital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2; ; EvilDigital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner; ; JakiShin Megami Tensei; Shin Megami Tensei II; Shin Megami Tensei if...; Shin Megami Tensei: Nine; Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey; Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux; Shin Megami Tensei IV; Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse; Shin Megami Tensei V; Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance; Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Revelation; Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine; Shin Megami Tensei if...: Hazama Hen; Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX; Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX; Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Requiem; Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2; Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis; Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers; Soul Hackers 2; Megami Ibunroku Persona; Megami Ibunroku Persona: Ikū no Tō Hen; Devil Survivor 2; Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker; Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner; Kētai Akuma Densho; ; KishinDigital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II; Kyūyaku Megami Tensei; ; OniDevil Children Black Book and Red Book; Devil Children White Book; ; ToukiAnother Bible;
Alignment(s)	Dark-LawShin Megami Tensei; Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Requiem; ; Dark-NeutralShin Megami Tensei II; Shin Megami Tensei V; Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance; Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX; Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX;
Arcana	ChariotPersona 2: Innocent Sin; Persona 2: Eternal Punishment; ; StrengthPersona 3 FES; Persona 3 Portable; Persona 3 Reload; Persona 4; Persona 4 Golden; Persona 5; Persona 5 Royal; Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth; Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth; Persona Mobile Online;
Order(s)	Fury

"Rasetsu" redirects here. For the skill from Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2, see Rasetsu (Skill). For the Demon erroneously called Rakshasa in the PlayStation 2 localization of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, see Vetala.

Rakshasa is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.

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Origin

A rakshasa,^[a] also called a rakshas,^[b] is a class of beings in Dharmic religions. Often glossed as "demon", they mainly serve as antagonists in the Hindu epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata. In the Ramayana, their king was Ravana who ruled from the island of Lanka.

In Buddhism, they are described as flesh eating demons that can fly, run like the wind and possess superhuman strength at night. Sri Lanka is inhabited by them, who can shape shift and seduce humans to eat them. They are also described as horse- or ox-headed wardens and torturers of hell.^[1]

Design

In the Devil Children series, Rasetsu is a plump gray-skinned being with beady eyes, fangs, and pointed ears. It wears a red cap with yellow embroidering, two horns, and a yellow streamer, red shorts with fur around the waist, and green sandals. It also wields a small machete.

Gameplay

For complete gameplay information, see Gameplay:Rakshasa.

Compendium

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Compendium Entries
Shin Megami Tensei (A-Mode DDS)	Origin: India A demon that appears on moonless nights. They live in corpses and are horrifically deformed, but can shapeshift at will. They have eyes like fire and a long tongue, and prey on children and pregnant women. In Buddhism, they are known as Rasetsu, and are again regarded as evil beings.
Shin Megami Tensei II (A-Mode DDS)	出身地：インド月のない夜に出没する悪鬼。墓場の屍体の中に棲み、恐ろしい異形の姿をしているが、変幻自在で、男にも女にも動物にもなれるといわれる。炎のような眼と長い舌を持ち、弱い者、特に幼児や妊娠中の女性を襲う。仏教では羅刹と漢訳され、やはり悪鬼とされる。 Translation:
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey	Evil spirits that battle the gods in Hindu lore. They also attack humans. Their hideous appearance symbolizes their evil nature, but they can also change shape to fool humans.
Shin Megami Tensei IV	Evil spirits that battle the gods in Hindu lore. They also attack humans. Their hideous appearance symbolizes their evil nature, but they can also change shape to fool humans.
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse	Evil spirits that battle the gods in Hindu lore. They also attack humans. Their hideous appearance symbolizes their evil nature, but they can also change shape to fool humans.
Shin Megami Tensei V	Evil spirits that battle the gods in Hindu lore. They also attack humans. Their hideous appearance symbolizes their evil nature, but they can also change shape to fool humans.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance	Evil spirits that battle the gods in Hindu lore. They also attack humans. Their hideous appearance symbolizes their evil nature, but they can also change shape to fool humans. They are also said to feed on human corpses to encourage slander and distrust.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (3DS)	Evil spirits that battle the gods in Hindu mythology. They also attack humans. Their hideous appearance symbolizes their evil nature, but they can also change shape to fool humans.
Soul Hackers 2	Evil spirits that battle the gods in Hindu lore. They also attack humans. Their hideous appearance symbolizes their evil nature, but they can also change shape to fool humans.
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army	Evil spirits that battle the gods in Hindu mythology. They also attack humans. Their hideous appearance symbolizes their evil nature, but they can also change shape to fool humans.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon	Evil spirits that battle the gods in Hindu mythology. They also attack humans. Their hideous appearance symbolizes their evil nature, but they can also change shape to fool humans.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin	Evil beings of Hinduism. Known as Rasetsuten in Buddhist lore.
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment	Demon also known as Rasetsuten. Hostile presence in some religions.
Persona 3 FES	Demon of Hindu myth. He is an enemy of the gods, and attacks humans to feed off of them. His hideous appearance strikes fear into those who see him. Can shift his shape to deceive his enemies.
Persona 3 Portable
Persona 3 Reload	Demon of Hindu myth. He is an enemy of the gods, and attacks humans to feed on them. His hideous appearances strikes fear into those who see him. Can shift his shape to deceive his enemies.
Persona 4	Demon of Hindu myth. He is an enemy of the gods, and attacks humans to feed off of them. His hideous appearance strikes fear into those who see him. Can shift his shape to deceive his enemies.
Persona 4 Golden
Persona 5	A Hindu demon. He is an enemy of the gods and attacks humans to feed off of them. His hideous appearance strikes fear into those who see him. Rakshasa shape-shifts to deceive his enemies.
Persona 5 Royal
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth	Demon of Hindu myth. He is an enemy of the gods and attacks humans to feed off of them. His hideous appearance strikes fear into those who see him. Can shift his shape to deceive his enemies.
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth	Demon of Hindu myth. He is an enemy of the gods and attacks humans to feed off of them. His hideous appearance strikes fear into those who see him. Can shift his shape to deceive his enemies.
Persona 5 Tactica	A Hindu demon. He is an enemy of the gods and attacks humans to feed on them. His hideous appearance strikes fear into those who see him. Rakshasa shape-shifts to deceive his enemies.
Persona 5: The Phantom X	A Hindu demon. He is an enemy of the gods and attacks humans to feed off of them. His hideous appearance strikes fear into those who see him. Rakshasa shape-shifts to deceive his enemies.
Devil Children Black Book and Red Book	GBC: ムダなたたかいを　このまない　チエとゆうきで　たたかう　マホウのとくいな　くろいデビル PS: ムダな戦いを　好まない　ちえとゆうきで　戦う　魔法のとくいな　黒いデビル Translation: It does not like to waste time fighting. A black Devil who excels in magic, and fights with wisdom and courage.
Devil Children White Book	ムダなたたかいを　このまない　チエとゆうきで　たたかう　マホウのとくいな　くろいデビル Translation: It does not like to waste time fighting. A black Devil who excels in magic, and fights with wisdom and courage.
Devil Survivor 2	Evil spirits that battle the gods in Hindu lore. They also attack humans. Their hideous appearance symbolizes their evil nature, but they can also change shape to fool humans.
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker
Kētai Akuma Densho	ヒンドゥー神話に伝えられる、神々に敵対すると言われる邪鬼の一族。人間の敵となる存在でもある。出身地：インドラクシャーサはインド・ヒンドゥー神話に登場する邪鬼の一族で、神に敵対する邪悪な部族であるとされている。同じくヒンドゥー神話に登場するアスラ族と同質の力を持つ、闇の種族であるとも言われる。彼らは神々にのみ敵対するものではなく、人間に対しても敵対関係にある種族だと言われる。彼らは人間の死体を食らい、中傷と不信感をあおると伝えられている。恐ろしい異形の姿をしているが、人間に接するときは違う姿で現れ、何かと陥れようとすると言う。 Translation:

Game Appearances

Devil Children Black Book and Red Book

The Rasetsu are one of the three clans which struggle for control over Marble Land in Makai, and live in Rasetsu Village under the leadership of Vibhishana.

Nomenclature

RakshasaEnemy-only

The Sanskrit word राक्षस rākṣasa has traditionally been derived from the word रक्ष् rakṣ, meaning "to guard or protect"; according to the Brahmanda Purana, they got their name because they wanted to protect the waters, in opposition to the yakṣas who wished to destroy the waters.^[2] However, this etymology is not supported in modern linguistic studies.

Names in Other Languages
Language	Name	Meaning
English	Rakshasa
English	MauiRevelations: Persona
Japanese	ラクシャーサ Rakushāsa	Rakshasa
Japanese	ラセツDevil Children Black Book and Red Book Devil Children White Book Rasetsu	Sino-Japanese rendering of Rakshasa
Simplified Chinese	罗刹 Luóchà	Rakshasa
Traditional Chinese	羅剎 Luóchà	Rakshasa
French	Rakshasa	Rakshasa
German	Rakshasa	Rakshasa
Italian	Rakshasa	Rakshasa
Korean	락샤사 Raksyasa	Rakshasa
	락샤샤Shin Megami Tensei IV Persona 4 Persona 4 Golden Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker Raksyasya	Rakshasa
	라크샤사Persona 3 FES Persona 3 Portable Rakeusyasa	Rakshasa
Polish	Rakszasa	Rakshasa
Brazilian Portuguese	Rakshasa	Rakshasa
Russian	Ракшаса Rakshasa	Rakshasa
Peninsular Spanish	Ráksasa	Rakshasa
Turkish	Rakşasa	Rakshasa

Names in Other Languages
Language	Name	Meaning
English	Irreverent FiendSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy)
English	Battle FiendPersona 5 Royal
Japanese	生命を弄ぶ羅刹Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Seimei o Moteasobu Rasetsu	Rakshasa Who Toys with Life
Japanese	無頼の戦闘狂Persona 5 Royal Burai no Sentōkyō	Roguish Battle Maniac
Simplified Chinese	玩弄生命的罗刹Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Wánnòng Shēngmìng de Luóchà	Rakshasa Who Toys with Life
Simplified Chinese	无赖战斗狂Persona 5 Royal Wúlài Zhàndòu Kuáng	Roguish Battle Maniac
Traditional Chinese	褻瀆生命的羅剎Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Xièdú Shēngmìng de Luóchà	Rakshasa Who Desecrates Life
Traditional Chinese	無賴戰鬥狂Persona 5 Royal Wúlài Zhàndòu Kuáng	Roguish Battle Maniac
French	Démon jouant avec la vieSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy)	Demon Toying with Life
French	Monstre combattantPersona 5 Royal	Fighting Monster
German	Respektloser DämonSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy)	Disrespectful Demon
German	Fieser UnholdPersona 5 Royal	Dislikeable Fiend
Italian	Demone che gioca con la vitaSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy)	Demon Who Toys with Life
Italian	Demone della battagliaPersona 5 Royal	Demon of Battle
Korean	생명生命을 희롱戱弄하는 나찰羅刹Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Saengmyeong-eul Huironghaneun Nachal	Rakshasa Who Toys with Life
Korean	건달乾達 전투광戰鬪狂Persona 5 Royal Geondal Jeontugwang	Scoundrel Battle Maniac
Peninsular Spanish	Demonio irreverenteSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy)	Irreverent Demon
Peninsular Spanish	Bárbaro de la batallaPersona 5 Royal	Barbarian of Battle

Gallery

See Gallery

Notes

↑ Sanskrit: राक्षस, romanized rākṣasa; Pali: rakkhasa; Simplified Chinese: 罗刹, Traditional Chinese: 羅剎, romanized luóchà; Japanese: 羅刹, romanized rasetsu; Classical Tibetan: སྲིན་པོ, romanized srin po
↑ Sanskrit: रक्षस्, romanized rakṣas

References

↑ "In Sanskrit, “ogre”; a species of demigod in Buddhist mythology (the female form is an “ogress,” or rākṣasī) usually described as a flesh-eating demon that is able to fly, run like the wind, and possess superhuman strength during the night. According to numerous Buddhist texts, including the SADDHARMAPUṆḌARĪKASŪTRA (“Lotus Sūtra”) and the ABHINIṢKRAMAṆASŪTRA, the island of Sri Lanka is inhabited by ogres, who are able to shape-shift and seduce human beings in order to eat them. In the MAHĀPARINIRVĀṆASŪTRA, the king of the gods, INDRA, is said to have assumed the form of a rākṣasa in order to test the spiritual resolve of a young ascetic—ŚĀKYAMUNI Buddha in one of his previous life-times. Rākṣasas are also described as horse- or ox-headed wardens of a hell, who torture the hell denizens (NĀRAKA); in this case, they are often identified with YAKṢA. In the Buddhist pantheon, there is a rākṣasadeva (C. luocha tian), or lord of the rākṣasa, who presides over the southwest as one of the twelve directional guardians; this deva is also called NIRṚTI. The deva appears on the outer perimeter of the two MAṆḌALAs, the VAJRADHĀTU and GARBHADHĀTU maṇḍalas, at the bottom right side, representing the southwesterly direction. In Tibetan Buddhist accounts of the early spread of Buddhism (SNGA DAR), the land of Tibet is described as the supine body of a female ogress (rākṣasī; T. srin mo) who has to be pinned down with a series of temples (MTHA’ ’DUL GTSUG LAG KHANG) built over strategic places on her body." The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism (2014), Donald S. Lopez and Robert E. Buswell. Published by Princeton University Press. English. Page 695. ISBN-13: 978-0-691-15786-3.
↑ G. V. Tagare (translator), Chapter 8 - God Brahmā’s mental creation. Retrieved March 7, 2025. Wisdom Library.

[1] Sanskrit: राक्षस, romanized rākṣasa; Pali: rakkhasa; Simplified Chinese: 罗刹, Traditional Chinese: 羅剎, romanized luóchà; Japanese: 羅刹, romanized rasetsu; Classical Tibetan: སྲིན་པོ, romanized srin po

[2] Sanskrit: रक्षस्, romanized rakṣas

[3] "In Sanskrit, “ogre”; a species of demigod in Buddhist mythology (the female form is an “ogress,” or rākṣasī) usually described as a flesh-eating demon that is able to fly, run like the wind, and possess superhuman strength during the night. According to numerous Buddhist texts, including the SADDHARMAPUṆḌARĪKASŪTRA (“Lotus Sūtra”) and the ABHINIṢKRAMAṆASŪTRA, the island of Sri Lanka is inhabited by ogres, who are able to shape-shift and seduce human beings in order to eat them. In the MAHĀPARINIRVĀṆASŪTRA, the king of the gods, INDRA, is said to have assumed the form of a rākṣasa in order to test the spiritual resolve of a young ascetic—ŚĀKYAMUNI Buddha in one of his previous life-times. Rākṣasas are also described as horse- or ox-headed wardens of a hell, who torture the hell denizens (NĀRAKA); in this case, they are often identified with YAKṢA. In the Buddhist pantheon, there is a rākṣasadeva (C. luocha tian), or lord of the rākṣasa, who presides over the southwest as one of the twelve directional guardians; this deva is also called NIRṚTI. The deva appears on the outer perimeter of the two MAṆḌALAs, the VAJRADHĀTU and GARBHADHĀTU maṇḍalas, at the bottom right side, representing the southwesterly direction. In Tibetan Buddhist accounts of the early spread of Buddhism (SNGA DAR), the land of Tibet is described as the supine body of a female ogress (rākṣasī; T. srin mo) who has to be pinned down with a series of temples (MTHA’ ’DUL GTSUG LAG KHANG) built over strategic places on her body." The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism (2014), Donald S. Lopez and Robert E. Buswell. Published by Princeton University Press. English. Page 695. ISBN-13: 978-0-691-15786-3.

[4] G. V. Tagare (translator), Chapter 8 - God Brahmā’s mental creation. Retrieved March 7, 2025. Wisdom Library.

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Rakshasa

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