The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c23.s2.19

v1.c23.s2.19

Like most evil spirits, the Rakṣases love the night,¹⁴ especially the night when there is no moon, for in the east the sun disperses them, and in this connexion with night they are akin to the souls of the dead. Hence, it seems, a falling meteor¹ is considered to be the embodiment of a Rakṣas.