Caught an old episode of the Kolchak– the Night Stalker TV series and it was on the Hindu demon known as the Rakshasa. In this episode the monster was killing and eating a group of elderly individuals in a Jewish neighborhood. Well it was suggested that it was a hate crime. In truth the Rakshasa was randomly choosing these elderly victims since they were vulnerable. At the end Kolchak is searching for this demon with a special bow and arrow that has been blessed and designed to kill the Rakshasa. When Kolchak’s friend, a sweet little elderly woman, materializes, he has to struggle;e with his conscience and has to shoot the little lady who turns out to be this Hindu demon. This episode was well researched. The Rakshasa is a notorious demon in Hindu folklore and connected with the wild spirits of the forest. They were believed to be nasty buggers who could shape-shift into a variety of forms. They are also a type of ghoul who think nothing of possessing and reanimating corpses and using these bodies to harass the living. They also think nothing of attacking and eating the living. But like many of these mythological figures they have a duel nature being both benevolent and malignant. The can be called upon to do good deeds and well as bad. This makes then somewhat similar to fairies and genies of folklore. According to Hindu myth the villain god Ravana ruled over the diabolical Rakshasa and sent them to war against the forces of good. But the god Hanuman sent his army of monkeys to battle the devilish Rakshasa. This is why monkeys are revered by Hindus for their fight against evil forces. The Rakshasa are sometimes lusty and will set out to seduce mortal women. It is likely a means to vilify the Rakshasa and discourage the veneration. As I have already stated the Rakshasa is a spirit gifted in taking many forms. They often take the form of dogs, owls, and vultures. Their actual form is that of a hairy monster with devilish horns, sharp fangs and a wide mouth to show off their many fangs. They are potbellied showing off their voracious appetites. Like the Native American wendigo they were believed that could take possession over mere mortals and act out their sinister plans. And so it goes.
