Pishacha

Pishachas (Sanskrit: पिशाच, Piśāca) are flesh-eating demons in Hindu theology. Such theology describes them as the sons of either Krodha (figuratively "Anger") or as Dakṣa’s daughter Piśāca. They have been described to bulging veins and protruding, red eyes. They are believed to have their own languages, known as Paiśāci.

According to one legend, they are sons of Kashyapa and Krodhavasa, one of the daughters of Prajapati Daksha. The Nilamat Puran of the 7th century mentions the valley of Kashmir being inhabited by two tribes: the Nagas and the Pisachas.

Piśācas like darkness and traditionally are depicted as haunting cremation grounds along with other monsters like bhutas and vetālas. Piśācas supposedly possess the paranormal ability to shapeshift and assume any forms at will, and may also become invisible. They also feed on human energy. Sometimes, they possess human beings and alter their thoughts, and the victims are afflicted with a variety of maladies and abnormalities like insanity. Certain mantras are supposed to cure such afflicted persons and drive away the Piśāca which may be possessing that particular human being. In order to keep the Piśāca away, they are given their share of offerings during certain religious functions and festivals.

The origin of Piśāca is unknown, although it may be the personification of the will-o'-the-wisp.[1] Pāṇini, in his Aṣṭādhyāyi, described the Piśāca as a "warrior clan". In the ancient literature, the Dardic people in the north of Kashmir were referred to as Piśāca and Dardic languages were called Paiśāci.[2] They are said to have been descendants of Prajāpati Kaśyapa.[3]

Thailand

According to the Royal Institute Dictionary, the Thai term "ปิศาจ" (pisat), from Sanskrit, Piśāca, is defined as "ghost" (ผี).[4] Although not strictly Thai ghosts, the Pishacha are present in some stories of the Thai folklore. They are one of the spirits from the Hindu-Buddhist tradition in Thailand and are represented as well in some paintings of Buddhist temples. Pisaj or Khon Phi Pisat (คน ผี ปีศาจ) is a movie of Thai cinema based on a Pishacha story.[5]

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See also

References
  1. Sanskṛit-English dictionary : etymologically and philologically arranged with special reference to cognate Indo-European languages (Corrected ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 2005. p. 628. ISBN 81-208-3105-5.
  2. Dardestān, Encyclopaedia Iranica, Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  3. The Piśāca languages of north-western India, Sir George Abraham Grierson, Royal Asiatic Society, 1906
  4. Royal Institute Dictionary, 1997 Edition Archived 2009-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Pisaj (2004)

Sources


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