Rakshasa

Spoiler Alert! Warning! This page contains spoilers for Aru Shah and the Song of Death.

Not part of Riordanverse The following article/section is from the Pandava Quintet continuity under Rick Riordan Presents and not the Riordanverse canon.

Surpanakha, born Meenakshi, sister of King Ravana

A Rakshasa (male; pronounced "RUCK-shaw-sah"), also called Raksha, or Rakshasi (female) is a mythological being like demigods, who are sometimes good and sometimes bad. They are powerful sorcerers and can change shape to take on any form.

History

One notable rakshasa is King Ravana ("RAH-vah-nah"), a character in the Hindu epic the Ramayana, where he is depicted as the ten-headed demon who stole Rama’s wife, Sita. He was once a follower of Shiva, a great scholar, a capable ruler, a master of the veena (a musical instrument), and someone who wished to overpower the gods.

Rick Riordan Presents

Pandava Quartet

Aru Shah and the End of Time

A raksha appeared at the end of the line when Aru Shah and Mini first arrive at the Night Bazaar. He told them to empty their pockets and take off anything remotely enchanted and put them in the crystal baskets on their left. Any miniature universe was to be placed in one of the bins on the right. A Devourer of Worlds would eliminate it if unregistered. The raksha tells them not to bother making complaints, and that they are to notify him if they are cursed beings or under enchanted forms before stepping through security. Mini says her backpack is actually his brother's but the raksha says that's what they all say. Before Mini was cleared, the raksha got a call on his earpiece saying that there was no sign of the godly mounts. Boo was able to get in by whispering something to the raksha to make him feel sorry. Aru had to take her shoes off as per the Otherworld Transportation Security Guidelines. The raksha asks if they are fake feet making Aru comment that she was not hiding cloven hooves. After checking his earpiece to question if Aru was a threatening and unregistered demon, the raksha allows her to pass. He says to her "On behalf of the gods and storytellers around the world, we hope you leave with your life intact and your imagination brimming."

When the Sleeper arrives at the library to find the pandava reincarnations, he reveals that the raksha are very talkative. Another raksha dropped a snack when Aru came by on Uchchaihshravas, but a smaller one swooped down and ate it.

Multiple rakshas appear with the Sleeper during the battle at Aru's museum home on the new moon. One was attacked by a tiger and peacock vahana, another slammed into Mini, and many of them soon became out of commission. But this was only a fraction of the Sleeper's army. Afterwards, many of the rakshas, who were melted lumps, vanished in a puff of smoke.

The Friday after time was restored, Aru found out that the raksha she met before was replaced with a different one.

Aru Shah and the Song of Death

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Appearance

The raksha at the Night Bazaar was a muscular man with the head of a bull and bored black eyes. His replacement was one with a tortoise shell. One of the sleeper's rakshas had the head of a stag.

Notable Rakshasas

• Ravana
• Meenakshi (Surpanakha)
• Kumbhakarna
• Vidyutjihva

Abilities

• Mystiokinesis: As powerful sorcerers (or sorceresses), they can cast and manipulate magic.
  • Shapeshifting: They can shapeshift.