A yawn is generally believed to be harmless, as it does not foretell either good or evil. Still as sometimes it results in accidental instantaneous death, the elders of a person when he yawns, exclaim, “Be long-lived! Patience! Live long!”, and the spiritually disposed repeat the name of the god of their devotion.[103]
Lest spirits may make their way into the body of a person through his mouth when he is yawning, or lest his soul may pass out of it, some people pinch him to stop the yawn while others utter the words “Rām” “Rām” to divert his attention.[104]
In mythological times, Brahma, one of the gods of the Hindu Trinity, once left his body for a time. Some people began to molest the body, when he cried out, “Rākho! Rākho!” that is “Keep aloof! Keep aloof!” or “Wait! Wait!”. These people came to be called Rākho[105] which in course of time corrupted into Rākshasa. The beings who hold sway over rākshasas are called Mahārākshasas. In the Rāmāyan and other purāns, rākshasas are represented as feeding on human flesh.[106]
A rākshasa is supposed to be sixteen miles in height and to roam about for his prey within a circle with a radius of sixteen miles.[107]
The Mahārākshasas are supposed to have their abode in the seas. It is said that they burn or swallow ships sailing thereon.[108]
The rākshasas are supposed to number 60,000,000 and the mahārākshasas 20,000. Kubera, a mahārākshasa, is the lord of the rākshasas.[109]
It is said that the rākshasas, mahārākshasas, wizards and witches were visible to the human eye during the tretāyuga. With the commencement of the present or kaliyuga they have become invisible. It is stated in the Purāns that during the recitation of the Surya kavach, Saptasani or the Nārāyan kavach, if the rākshasas or mahārākshasas fall into or approach the limits circumscribed for them, the recitation proves ineffective.[110]
It is a common belief that there is bitter enmity between the gods and rākshasas. The former follow the path of virtue while the latter lead immoral lives devouring Brāhmans and cows, feeding on flesh, and indulging in intoxicating drinks. The habitat of the rākshasas is the pātāl or nether world, Rāwan being their king.[111]
The exploits of some of the rākshasas are described in the Mahābhārat, Bhāgvat and the Rāmāyan. For instance, the misdeeds of Jarāsandh, Ghatotkacha and Hedamba are described in the Mahābhārat; those of Kansa, Bānāsur, Pralambāsur, Adhāsur, Dhenukāsur, Kālanemi, Shankāsur and Vritrāsur in the Bhāgvat; and those of Rāvan, Kumbhakarna and Indrajit in the Rāmāyan.[112]
A rākshasa named Tripurāsur conquered the heavens, the earth and the nether regions, and began to annoy the gods. The god Shiva burnt the rākshasa to ashes.[113]