Editing Demon (section)

=== Hinduism ===
{{See also|Surapadman|Narakasura}}
[[File:The Army of Super Creatures.jpg|thumb|The Army of Super Creatures – from The Saugandhika Parinaya Manuscript (1821 CE)]]
Hinduism advocates the reincarnation and transmigration of souls according to one's [[karma]]. Souls ([[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]]) of the dead are adjudged by the [[Yama]] and are accorded various purging punishments before being reborn. According to Hindu cosmology, nothing is either purely evil or good, and even demonic beings could eventually abandon their demonic nature. Humans that have committed extraordinary wrongs are condemned to roam as lonely, often mischief monsters, spirits for a length of time before being reborn. Many kinds of such spirits ([[Vetala]]s and [[Pishacha]]s) are recognized in the later Hindu texts. Even celestial beings are subject to change.

The identification of {{Lang|sa-latn|asura}} with ''demons'' stems from the description of {{Lang|sa-latn|asura}} as "formerly gods" ({{Lang|sa-latn|pūrvadeva}}). In the [[Veda]], gods (''[[Deva (Hinduism)|deva]]'') and demi-gods or titans (''[[asura]]'') are not yet differentiated beings and both share the upper world.<ref>Rodrigues, H. (2018). Asuras, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pretas, and so forth.. In K. A. Jacobsen (ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_1030340</ref> Rather than denoting a separate class of being, the asuras are characterized by being great leaders, often warriors.<ref>Rodrigues, H. (2018). Asuras, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pretas, and so forth.. In K. A. Jacobsen (ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_1030340</ref> {{Lang|sa-latn|Asura}}, in the earliest hymns of the [[Rigveda]], originally meant any supernatural spirit, either good or bad. Since the {{IPA|/s/}} of the Indic linguistic branch is cognate with the {{IPA|/h/}} of the Early Iranian languages, the word ''{{Lang|sa-latn|asura}}'', representing a category of celestial beings, is a cognate with Old Persian ''Ahura''. Ancient Hinduism tells that [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]] (also called ''suras'') and [[Asura (Hinduism)|Asuras]] are half-brothers, sons of the same father [[Kashyapa]]; although some of the Devas, such as [[Varuna]], are also called Asuras. Later, during [[Puranic]] age, [[Asura (Hinduism)|Asura]] and [[Rakshasa]] came to exclusively mean any of a race of anthropomorphic, powerful, possibly evil beings. [[Daitya]] (lit. sons of the mother [[Diti]]), [[Danava (Hinduism)|Danava]] (lit. sons of the mother "[[Danu (Hinduism)|Danu]]"), [[Mayasura|Maya Danava]], Rakshasa (lit. from "harm to be guarded against"), and {{Lang|sa-latn|asura}} are sometimes translated into English as {{Gloss|demon}}.<ref>Asian Mythologies.&nbsp;(1993).&nbsp;Vereinigtes Königreich:&nbsp;University of Chicago Press. p. 52</ref>

It is only by the time of the [[Brahmana]]s that the asuras are said to inhabit the underworld and are progressively, despite originally distinct beings, assimilated to the rakshasas.<ref>Rodrigues, H. (2018). Asuras, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pretas, and so forth.. In K. A. Jacobsen (ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_1030340</ref> The gods are said to have claimed heaven for themselves and tricked the asuras, ending on earth. During the Vedic period, gods aid humans against demons. By that, gods secure their own place in heaven, using humans as tools to defeat their cosmic enemies.<ref name="O'Flaherty Doniger 1988 p65-95">O'Flaherty,&nbsp;W.&nbsp;D.,&nbsp;Doniger,&nbsp;W.&nbsp;(1988).&nbsp;The Origins of Evil in Hindu Mythology.&nbsp;Indien:&nbsp;Motilal Banarsidass. p. 65-95</ref> The rakshasas are often portrayed as vile creatures associated with greed and magical abilities, unleashed through rites considered inappropriate by the Brahmins.<ref>Rodrigues, H. (2018). Asuras, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pretas, and so forth.. In K. A. Jacobsen (ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_1030340</ref> However, the asuras retain some of their previous features, and function often as individual leaders of the rakshasas.<ref>Rodrigues, H. (2018). Asuras, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pretas, and so forth.. In K. A. Jacobsen (ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_1030340</ref> The asuras also mostly dwell in the heavenly worlds, while the Earth is plagued by lower demonic beings such as rakshasas, bhutas, pretas, and pishachas.<ref>Rodrigues, H. (2018). Asuras, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pretas, and so forth.. In K. A. Jacobsen (ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_1030340</ref> The pretas are ghosts, who could not go to the afterlife yet.<ref>Rodrigues, H. (2018). Asuras, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pretas, and so forth.. In K. A. Jacobsen (ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_1030340</ref> The Pishachas, likewise, are spirits of the dead, but associated with eating human-flesh.<ref>Rodrigues, H. (2018). Asuras, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pretas, and so forth.. In K. A. Jacobsen (ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_1030340</ref>

With increase in [[Sannyasa|asceticism]] during the post-Vedic period, withdrawal of sacrificial rituals was considered a threat to the gods.<ref name="O'Flaherty Doniger 1988 p65-95"/> Ascetic humans or ascetic demons were supposed to be more powerful than gods. Pious, highly enlightened {{Lang|sa-latn|asura}}s and {{Lang|sa-latn|Rakshasa}}s, such as [[Prahlada]] and [[Vibhishana]], are not uncommon. The {{Lang|sa-latn|asura}} are not fundamentally against the gods, nor do they tempt humans to fall. Many people metaphorically interpret the Asura as manifestations of the ignoble passions in the human mind and as symbolic devices. There were also cases of power-hungry asuras challenging various aspects of the gods, but only to be defeated eventually and seek forgiveness.

Despite the impermanence of beings, demonic entities share characteristics impeding the chance of liberation through the realization of the ''Ātman'', such as greed, pride, or improper rituals.<ref>Rodrigues, H. (2018). Asuras, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Bhūtas, Pretas, and so forth.. In K. A. Jacobsen (ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_1030340</ref> However, all demonic appearances are only temporary.