The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c23.s2.22

v1.c23.s2.22

As is natural in a priestly collection, we hear much of the attacks of the Rakṣases on the sacrifice: with the Yātus they taint it and throw it into confusion.² On the other hand, the sorcerer can use a spell, and by the Rakṣases and the Yātudhānas ruin the sacrifice of his enemy.³ In order to obtain the advantage of sacrifices, the evil spirits often assume the form of souls of ancestors and come to the offerings for the dead.⁴ But the demons can be yoked by a skilled man to his own ends; in the Atharvaveda we find that demons are invited to attack the man who sends them, and the later texts recognize the need of providing against the attacks of sorcerers.⁵ In these cases and for the protection of the offering the essential aider is Agni, the burner, who therefore represents the primitive and universal belief in the power of fire to repel hostile demons. An isolated mention is made of Kubera Vaiçravaṇa as their king.