Piśācas
group · 4 works · 13 mentions · 17 anchored passages
piśācas · piśāca
in the texts
Atharvaveda (Paippalāda)
A class of malevolent demonic beings named as unable to harm the gold-amulet wearer.
Neither demons nor piśācas can overpower this, for it is the firstborn vigour of the gods;
you are the crusher of Piśācas — svāhā!
Destroy, O Agni, the brilliance, mind, and offspring of the Piśācas;
Rigveda
A class of beings (often demonic/goblin-like in later tradition) invoked here as a simile for the Maruts' fearsome adornment.
beautifully adorned like Piśācas, all-knowing;
Manusmṛti
Flesh-eating spirit-beings whose food is used as a negative comparison for forbidden diet.
The food of Yakshas, Rākṣasas, and Piśācas is liquor, meat, and distilled spirits;
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa
Flesh-eating spirits listed among the creatures indiscriminately devoured by the maddened Kumbhakarṇa.
Hungry and greedy for blood and flesh, Kumbhakarṇa penetrated that fierce monkey army and in his frenzy devoured in battle rākṣasas, monkeys, piśācas, and bears alike.