Type of mortal being associated with evil and mischief, appearing first in Vedic texts and throughout later Brahmanical mythology. Typically, rakshasas disrupt and pollute the Brahmanical ritual sacrifice, committing various kinds of misdeeds and violence. They appear mostly in human form but are capable of shapeshifting into animals; they live in their own states with their own kings. The term rakshasa — or rakshasi, if female — derives from the Sanskrit raksha meaning ‘protection’ or ‘protector’. Rakshasas generally represent members of non-Aryan tribes who were historically in conflict with Brahmanism.