Yakshas (Sanskrit masculine singular yakṣa, Sanskrit feminine singular yakṣī or yakṣinī) are sometimes considered to be a class of the Gandharvas, but are definitely of a more malevolent disposition.
They appear in both Buddhist and Hindu folklore...
These fairy-like creatures in Indian folklore are considered to be the sons of the sage Kashyapa and Khasa...
They live under the earth in the Himalayas where they guard the wealth of the earth (gems, gold, silver, etc.)...
Yakshas have all fat bellies and plump legs...
They are also shape-changers and can appear in the form of handsome youths or fat black dwarfs, or even as objects such as trees...
They have no special characteristics, are not violent, and are therefore called punyajana ("good beings").
In other tales, they are said to have dual personalites, and thus the much darker version of the Yaksha, is a kind of cannibalistic ogre, ghost or demon that haunts the wilderness and waylays and devours travelers.
They also can harrass mortals, chiefly by enchanting forests, lakes and rivers and killing any human who ventures near them...
In this context, the exterior appearance of yakshas is inconstant, they are capable to werewolfness!!!
Sometimes they were imaged by abominable, gigantic and shapeless monsters with long arms and a monstrous mouth, or furious giants, "strong as one thousand elephants", sometimes beautiful and seductive girls with wide hips, a narrow waist, huge eyes and a black hair...
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