Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c32.13

v2.c32.13

The cult of yakkhas seems to have arisen primarily from the woods and secondarily from the legends of sea-faring merchants. To the latter origin belong the stories connected with vimānas found in or near the sea or in lakes. The worship of trees and the spirits inhabiting them is one of the most primitive forms of religion. Some, at least, of the yakkhas are called *rukkha-devatā*¹² (spirits of trees), and others *bhummadevatā*,¹³ (spirits of the earth), who, too, seem to have resided in trees. Generally speaking, the Yakkhas were decadent divinities, beings half-deified, having a deva’s supernormal powers, particularly as regards influencing people, partly helpful, partly harmful. They are sometimes called *devatā*,¹⁴ or *devaputta*.¹⁵ Some of these, like Indakūṭa and Suciloma, are capable of intelligent questioning on metaphysics and ethics. All of them possess supernatural powers; they can transfer themselves at will, to any place, with their abodes, and work miracles, such as assuming any shape at will. An epithet frequently applied is *mahiddhika*.¹⁶ Their appearance is striking as a result of former good *kamma*.¹⁷ They are also called *kāmakāmī*, enjoying all kinds of luxuries,¹⁸ but, because of former bad *kamma*, they are possessed of odd qualities, thus they are shy, they fear palmyra leaf and iron. Their eyes are red and they neither wink nor cast a shadow.¹⁹ Their abode is their self-created palace, which is anywhere, in the air, in trees, etc. These are mostly *ākasaṭṭha* (suspended in the air), but some of them, like the abode of Ālavaka, are *bhūmaṭṭha* (on the ground) and are described as being fortified.²⁰ Sometimes whole cities—e.g., Āḷakamandā—stand under the protection of, or are inhabited by, Yakkhas.