Rakshasa
| |
| Rakshasa | |
|---|---|
| Powers and Abilities | Shapeshifters that can make themselves invisible. |
| Vulnerabilities | A knife of pure brass. Cannot enter a home without an invitation. |
| Appearance | Humanoid; can appear in any form it wants. |
| Episode(s) | 2.02 Everybody Loves a Clown |
Rakshasa
A demon or unrighteous spirit in Hinduism that feeds on human flesh. They are shapechangers and magicians, and often appear in the forms of humans, dogs, and large birds. They can make themselves invisible and can not enter a home without being invited. According to the Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit epic, they were created from the Foot of Brahma, the Hindu God of Creation. Many Rakshasa were particularly wicked humans in previous incarnations and are known to disturb sacrifices, desecrate graves and possess human beings. Translated to English, Rakshasa means injurer.
– Pad of Definitions (2.02 Everybody Loves a Clown), Official Website
History
Rakshasas are creatures from Hindu mythology and are very nasty. They eat human flesh, sleep on a bed of dead insects and are great at shapeshifting. A rakshasa cannot enter a house without first being invited. The one in Supernatural appeared as a clown at the fair who would follow children home, get the child to let them into the house and then eat the parents.
Characteristics
Ellen's best guess. It's a race of ancient Hindu creatures. They appear in human form, they feed on human flesh, they can make themselves invisible, and they cannot enter a home without first being invited.
Powers and abilities
- Invisibility – They can hide from their prey by turning themselves invisible.
- Shapeshifting – Rakshasas can shapeshift into anything they want to be.
- Super senses – A rakshasas senses are well developed that they can hear conversations over vast distances.
- Super speed – Rakshasa can move at a speed so fast it appears as a blur to the naked human eye.
- Super strength and durability – Rakshasa can easily overpower humans, and are invulnerable to most harm.
- Heightened senses – Barry Papazian could hear Dean's entire conversation, despite being outside human hearing distance.
Weaknesses
- Brass – An object of pure brass piercing their heart is the only known method to kill a rakshasa.
- Invitation – A rakshasa cannot enter a home without invitation.
Episodes
2.02 Everybody Loves a Clown
A rakshasa is disguised as the blind knife thrower who works with the circus. It appears to children as a clown, and, when they invite it into their home, it kills their parents. Ellen tells Dean and Sam the creature can be killed with a knife of pure brass. As it pursues them, it becomes invisible, but Sam manages to kill the rakshasa with a brass pipe from the organ in the funhouse.
Rakshasa in Lore
A rakshasa is a mythological being in Hindu mythology. They are thought of as spirits, demons or goblins, with many Hindus believing that rakshasa's were once wicked humans in a previous life. Rakshasa's have the ability to change their physical appearance, allowing them to appear as a monster, an animal or even a beautiful woman. Rakshasa's are known as man eaters because of their taste for human flesh, but are also known to dine on spoiled food.
