Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.87

c9.87

RĀKṢASA I. A particular sect of asuras. The ancients had ordained that Rākṣasas should not be killed at dusk. Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, Canto 22, Verse 22). Uttararāmāyaṇa, contains the following story about the origin of Rākṣasas. When Brahmā was reciting the Vedas at the beginning of Kṛtayuga he felt very hungry and certain forms emanated from his face. Those who were born from his anger assumed the form of Rākṣasas and those from his hunger that of Yakṣas. The Rākṣasas turned out to be evil folk killing and eating cows and brahmins. Praheti and Heti were the first born Rākṣasas, the latter of whom wedded Bhayā, daughter of Kāla, and to them was born a son called Vidyutkeśa. He married Sālakaṭaṅkā, daughter of Sandhyā. Though a child was born to them they forsook it in the Himālayan slopes and went their own way.