Abrahmarakshasa (Sanskrit:ब्रह्मराक्षसः,romanized: Brahmarākṣasaḥ,pronounced[brɐʰmɐraːkʂɐsɐḥ]) is one of a class ofrakshasas, a race of usually malevolent beings inHinduism. A member of theBrahmincaste who engages in unrighteous deeds is cursed to become a brahmarakshasa after his death.
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TheManusmriti states that a Brahmin who lives a life of Adharma by performing some black magic, seduces the wives of other men, or steals the property of other Brahmins would become a brahmarakshasa following his death.[1]
TheBrahma Purana describes a conversation between achandala and a brahmarakshasa. When enquired regarding the sin he had committed, the brahmarakshasa revealed that he had once been a Brahmin named Somasharma. Since he had performed asacrifice on behalf of an ostracised king, in the service of whommantras were forbidden to be employed, he had been turned into a brahmarakshasa.[2]
TheNarada Purana describes an episode ofKalmashapada conversing with a brahmarakshasa, whose abode was abanyan tree. The brahmarakshasa told the king that he had previously been a wealthy Brahmin from the country ofMagadha named Somadatta. Having mastered theVedas, Somadatta had grown arrogant from the knowledge he had acquired and his youth, due to which he stopped heeding his preceptor. He was hence reduced to the state of a brahmarakshasa. Unable to experience happiness, he is described to consume the flesh of Brahmins and lead a life of agony.[3]
TheSkanda Purana features the legend of King Viduratha ofVidarbha. Having accidentally killed a sage during his hunt, he was forced to undertake eleven terrible births. During his seventh birth, Viduratha was born as a brahmarakshasa, possessing sharp and curved fangs, a terrible mouth, and dried-up limbs, and subsisting on a diet of flesh and blood. He was slain by KingNimi in a war with theBrahmastra.[4]
Brahmarakshasas were a regular feature in old Indian stories likeSimhasana Dvatrimsika,[5]Panchatantra[6][7] and other old wives tales.[8] As per these stories, brahmarakshasas, were powerful enough also to grant any boon, money, gold, if they became pleased with any person. In most of the stories, they are depicted as huge, mean and fierce looking having two horns on head like a rakshasa and alock of hair like aBrahmin and usually found hanging upside down on a tree. Also a brahmarakshasas would sometimes eat human beings in stories.
It is said that the 7th centurySanskrit poetMayurabhatta, who composed the notedSurya Sataka (one hundred verses in praise ofSurya) was troubled by a brahmarakshasa while performing a penance under apeepal tree at theDeo Sun Temple located at theAurangabad district of Bihar. According to legend, the being repeated the verses pronounced by Mayurbhatta, disturbing him. In order to get rid of him, Mayurbhatta started to pronounce his words through his nose. Since brahmarakshasas do not have a nose it left the tree, which immediately turned dry. After the being left, Mayurbhatta could peacefully create the hundred verses in praise ofSurya, which cured him of leprosy.[9]
In many Hindu temples ofMaharashtra and states of South India like Kerala and Karnataka, idols of brahmarakshasas are depicted in outer walls and are generally offeredpuja. An oil lamp is lit on a regular basis in front of their idols.[10]
There are many temples where the beings are venerated as demigods, like in Malliyor Temple ofKottayam. In the Kottarathil Bhagavati temple ofKerala, the shrines of the beings are located in the southern side facing the east.[11]
According to theregional legend of the Omkareshvara Shiva temple ofMadikeri, the temple is said to have been built by a king to ward off the evil caused by a brahmarakshasa.[12]
AtShringeri, the Malayala Brahma Temple is of a brahmarakshasa.[13]
At the complex of the KandiyoorShiva Temple nearMavelikkara, a separate temple exists for a brahmarakshasa.
InNjarakkal,Kerala, there exists an 800-year-oldBhagavathi temple where there are adjacent temples forShiva,Nagaraja, and a brahmarakshasa.[14]
InUdupi of Karnataka, there are many temples, such as one inMaranakatte, to rid possession or troubles believed to be caused by a brahmarakshasa.
In countries likeThailand,Cambodia, andJava, whose cultures saw influence from Hinduism, there are shrines elevated on poles. These are erected in the neighborhood of every house for the veneration of nature spirits, some of them identified with brahmarakshasas.[15]
In 2014,Vikram Bhatt made India's first 3D creature horror film entitledCreature 3D in which the creature or demon is a brahmarakshasa - a mutant from Indian mythology.[16]
In July 2016,Zee TV announced the weekly horror based television series titledBrahmarakshas.
In June 2024,Munjya (film) In a film named Munjya was released, in which Brahmarakshas was mentioned well.