Brahm Rakshas or Brahma-Rakshasa[1][2] are fierce demon spirits, as per Hindu mythology. It is actually the spirit of a Brahmin, a dead scholar of high birth , who has done evil things in his life or has misused his knowledge, who has to suffer as a Brahm Rakshas after his or her death. The earth-bound duties of such a scholar would be to dissipate or impart knowledge to good students. If he did not do so, he would turn into a Brahma Rakshas after death which is a very fierce demonic spirit.[3][4] The word Brahm means Brahmin and Rakshas, a demon. As per Hindu mythology Brahm Rakshas are powerful demon spirit, who have lot of powers and only few in this world can fight and over-come them or give them salvation form this form of life. It would still retain its high level of learning. But it would eat human beings.[3] They have the knowledge of their past lives and vedas and puranas. In other words they are have qualities of both Brahmin and Rakshas.
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Brahma-Rakshas were regular feature in old Indian stories like Vikram and Vetala,[5] Panchatantra[6][7] and other old wives tales.[3] As per these stories, Brahma-Rakshas, were powerful enough also to grant any boon, money, gold, if they became pleased with any person. In most of the stories, they are depicted as huge, mean & fierce looking having two horns on head like a Rakshas and Choti like a Brahmin and usually hanging upside down on a tree.
In many Hindu temples, you can find idols of Brahm Rakshas in outer walls and are generally offered pooja, respects and an oil lamp is lit on regular basis in front of their idols.[8] There are many temples, where they are also worshiped as demi-gods, like in Malliyor Temple of Kottayam District of Kerala, it is customary to take permission from Brahma Rakshas before commencing the construction activities.[9] Further, at Thirunakkara Shiva Temple also in Kottayam in Kerala, there is a separate temple for Brahm Rakshasa. There is an interesting story about why the Brahma Rakshas temple was built here. One person called Moose was a great friend of the king. The king was not known for his beauty but his friend Moose, was very handsome. The queen fell in love with this friend knowing which the king ordered his servants to kill Moose. Instead of killing him the King’s servants killed the junior priest of the temple (keezh Santhi). The wife of the priest became a Brahma Rakshas and started troubling every body. So the king built a temple for her. For a long time afterward women did not prefer to enter this temple.[10] Further, it is said that at Madikeri the Omkareshwar Shiva temple was built by king to ward of evil caused by Brahm-Rakshasa.[11] At Shringeri, the Malayala Brahma Temple is of a Brahma-Raskshas.[12] Similarly, there is separate temple for Brahma Raksha within complex of famous Kandiyoor Shiva Temple near Mavelikkara.In Njarakkal in Kerala there is an 800-year-old Bhagavathi temple where the other temples include Shiva, Nagaraja, and Sree Brahmarakshas.[13] [14]
There are different plays like Kaisika Natakam in South India where artist play role of Brham-Rakshas.[15]
Further, there are mention of Brahma-Rakshas also in Jainism in their scripts and stories.[16][17]