Rakshasa

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

Gameplay

For complete gameplay information, see Gameplay:Rakshasa.

Compendium

Compendium Entries
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.
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.
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 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 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 5	A Hindu demon. He is an enemy of the gods and attacks humans to feed off of them. His hideous appearances strikes fear into those who see him. Rakshasa shape-shifts to deceive his enemies.
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.
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.

Nomenclature

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	無頼の戦闘狂Persona 5 Royal (Shadow) Burai no Sentōkyō	Roguish Battle Maniac
Simplified Chinese	罗刹 Luóchà	Rakshasa
Simplified Chinese	无赖战斗狂Persona 5 Royal (Shadow) Wúlài Zhàndòukuáng	Roguish Battle Maniac
Traditional Chinese	羅剎 Luóchà	Rakshasa
Traditional Chinese	無賴戰鬥狂Persona 5 Royal (Shadow) Wúlài Zhàndòukuáng	Roguish Battle Maniac
French	Rakshasa	Rakshasa
French	Monstre combattantPersona 5 Royal (Shadow)	Fighting Monster
German	Rakshasa	Rakshasa
German	Fieser UnholdPersona 5 Royal (Shadow)	Dislikeable Fiend
Italian	Rakshasa	Rakshasa
Italian	Demone della battagliaPersona 5 Royal (Shadow)	Demon of Battle
Korean	락샤사 Raksyasa	Rakshasa
Korean	건달乾達 전투광戰鬪狂Persona 5 Royal (Shadow) Geondal Jeontugwang	Scoundrel Battle Maniac
Polish	Rakszasa	Rakshasa
Brazilian Portuguese	Rakshasa	Rakshasa
Russian	Ракшаса Rakshasa	Rakshasa
Spanish	Ráksasa	Rakshasa
Spanish	Bárbaro de la batallaPersona 5 Royal (Shadow)	Barbarian of Battle
Turkish	Rakşasa	Rakshasa

Gallery

Render for Persona 5
Render from Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
Render for Persona 4 The Animation
Model from Persona 3 Reload
Model from Persona 4 Golden
Sprite from Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Animated sprite from Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Sprite from Shin Megami Tensei (PlayStation)
Sprite from Shin Megami Tensei II (PlayStation)
Sprite from Shin Megami Tensei (Mega-CD)
Map sprite from Devil Survivor 2

Videos

Rakshasa's Daily Demon Showcase for Shin Megami Tensei V

Notes

↑ Sanskrit: राक्षस, romanized rākṣasa
↑ 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

[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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