View source for Rakshasa (5e)

{{edition|Rakshasa}}
{{5evaried|canon=true|sources=SRD5, MM5, ERftLW}}
[[File:Rakshasa DnD.JPG|thumb|180px|right|Rakshasa from {{Pub|Monster Manual (1e)}}<br />by [[D. A. Trampier]]<br />&copy; [[TSR Inc.]] (Fair Use)<br />''Image is not part of the SRD'']]
{{5e Monster Short|Rakshasa|Rakshasa|Overview|Fiend, Rakshasa
|habitat=Urban
|plane=Nine Hells
|refs=<ref name="mm5.257">{{Cite Pub|Monster Manual (5e)|pages=257}} Licensed: &copy; Wizards of the Coast.</ref> <ref name="erftlw.309">{{Cite Pub|Eberron Rising from the Last War|pabes=309}} Licensed: &copy; Wizards of the Coast.</ref> <ref name="dmg5hab">habitat - {{pub|Dungeon Master's Guide (5e)}} p.302-305</ref>}}

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{{blockref|Rakshasa (Sanskrit: राक्षस, IAST: rākṣasa: Pali: rakkhaso), while female rakshasa are known as a rakshasi, is a adjective for cannibalistic beings in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Rakshasas are also called "man-eaters" (nri-chakshas, kravyads). Rakshas is also used to describe Asuras, which are power seeking deities that lack divinity. They are often depicted as antagonists in Dharmic religious scriptures… 

Rakshasas were most often depicted as shape-shifting, fierce-looking, enormous monstrous-looking creatures, with two fangs protruding from the top of the mouth and having sharp, claw-like fingernails. They were shown as being mean, growling beasts, and as insatiable man-eaters that could smell the scent of human flesh. Some of the more ferocious ones were shown with flaming red eyes and hair, drinking blood with their cupped hands or from human skulls (similar to representations of vampires in later Western mythology). Generally they could fly, vanish, and had maya (magical powers of illusion), which enabled them to change size at will and assume the form of any creature. The female equivalent of rakshasa is rakshasi.<ref>{{cite Source|author=Madan Gopal|date=1990|title=India through the Ages|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|pages=72}}</ref>|<ref name="wp.rakshasa">{{cite Source|accessdate=2022-02-04|title=Rakshasa|website=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshasa}} Licensed: [[CC-BY-SA]].</ref>}}
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==Eberron==
{{5e Setting|Eberron}}
{{blockref|Once upon a time, the rakshasas dominated both Khorvaire and Sarlona. However, the dragons of Argonnessen and the couatls of Xen'drik joined forces, and waged a great war against the rakshasas and their rulers, the great rakshasa rajahs. Though the dragons and couatls were victorious, most of the couatls gave their lives to bind the rakshasa rajahs, called the Overlords, deep within the Khyber. A number of rakshasas remain free, and call themselves the Lords of Dust. Their end goal is to free their rajah rulers and avenge themselves against the dragons and the remaining agents of the couatls: the devas.<ref name="ecs">{{Cite Pub|Eberron Campaign Setting|pages=242-243}} (3.5e) Licensed:&copy; Wizards of the Coast {{fairuc}}.</ref> <ref name="epg">{{Cite Pub|Eberron Player's Guide|pages=34}} (4e) Licensed: &copy; Wizards of the Coast {{fairuc}}.</ref>|<ref name="ew">{{cite Source|accessdate=2022-02-04|title=Rakshasa|website=Eberron Wiki|url=https:/ /eberron.fandom.com/wiki/Rakshasa
}} Licensed: [[CC-BY-SA]].</ref>}}

==List of Rakshasa==
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{{5e Monster List|Rakshasa}}
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==Sources and Notes==
<references />
[[Category:SRD5 Monsters]]

{{5e Footer|Fiend}}
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Author	"Varied" +
Canon	true +
Creature Name	Rakshasa Overview +
Habitat	Urban +
Name	Rakshasa Overview +
Plane	Nine Hells +
Publication	"Varied" +
Setting	Eberron +
SortText	Rakshasa AAA Overview 5e +
Subtype	Fiend + and Rakshasa +
Type	Overview +