Vedic Mythology c8.s3.3

c8.s3.3

The Yātudhānas eat the flesh of men and horses, and drink up the milk of cows (10, 87 16. 17). In order to satisfy their greed for flesh and blood the Rakṣases attack men, usually by entering them. Agni is besought not to let the Rakṣas enter (*ā viś*) into his worshippers (8, 49²⁰); and the AV. describes a demon of disease, which flies about, as entering into a man (AV. 7, 76⁴). These evil spirits seem chiefly to have been regarded as entering by the mouth, especially in the process of eating and drinking (AV. 5, 29 ⁶⁻⁸), but also by other entrances (AV. 8, 6³). When once within they eat and lacerate a man’s flesh and cause disease (AV. 5, 29 5. 10). The Rakṣases are also said to produce madness and take away the power of eloquence (AV. 6, 111³; HGS. 1, 15⁵). Human dwellings are invaded by them (KS. 135⁹). Some of these spirits are described as dancing round houses in the evening, braying like donkeys, making a noise in the forest, laughing aloud, or drinking out of skulls (AV. 8, 6 10. 11. 14; HGS. 2, 3⁷).