Can a demon reach enlightenment?

[Znanna]

Namaste,

I was given permission to cross post this here, I thought perhaps some may shed some perspective on question raised ...




I understand that in India, they have concept of
demons also. There demons are a race of beings,
who are not human. These demons can find and
study with a true Guru and find enligntenment.
Can you imagine a demon who is enligntened? In
India, they can.



Have any here heard of such?


Love,
ZN

[Kaos]

Why not? It's possible. But obviously, it is very hard for a demon to gain enlightenment.

In Buddhism, even those in the hell realms can accumulate merit and hear Dharma. After all, in Buddhism, the hell realms are but mind states.

However, again, it is difficult for a demon in the hell realms to gain enlightment for obvious reasons.

[Yaruki]

Im interested in these demons, can you give me more information on them?

[Ganeshprasad]

pranam all

i do not know what one's defination of a demon is.
but in the Asura (Raksas) race there were born some great devotees of the Lord to give a few names, Prahlad maharaj, Bali maharaj, Vibhisan to name a few.
even Kansa and other who Lord Hari Killed personaly, got libration for they were for ever engaged in remembering Krishna although as an enemy.

Jai Shree Krishna

[Agnideva]

Namaste Y'all,

In Hindu cosmology, various classes of beings (ganas) are mentioned. Some of them are demonic, some are not. They are said to inhabit the various worlds that exist along with our own.

Here's a non-exhaustive list:


Adityas – The Sun Gods or Solar Devas
Angirasas – Rishis from Jupiter
Apsaras – Semi-divine angelic-like female beings of the heavens and lower regions
Ashvins – Divine youthful Physicians with flying chariots and the stars of Orion
Asuras – A class of demonic entities like the Rakshasas, Daityas and Danavas
**Atrins – Devouring asuras mentioned in Atharvaveda
**Arayas – Class of disease-causing and grudge asuras mentioned in Atharvaveda
**Kimidins – Class of disease-causing asura mentioned in Atharvaveda
**Vigriva – Class of Crooked-necked asuras of Atharvaveda
**Visikha – Class of Crestless asuras mentioned in the Atharvaveda
Atharvans – Rishis associated with the Fire-God, thus of Planet Mars and stars of Orion
Atris – Rishis from the Moon
Bhrigus or Bhargavas – Rishis from Venus
Bhutas – Invisible ghostly entities or elementals
Charanas – Class of beings like the Gandharvas
Danavas – Class if demonic entities, sons of Danu
Daityas – Class of demonic entities, sons of Diti
Dakas – Sky dancing semi-divine beings like the Yakshas and Guhyakas
Devas – Celestial beings, or Gods as Shining Ones
Ganas – Class of demonic entities, often ghoulish
Gandharvas - Semi-divine angelic-like male beings of the heavens and lower regions
Garudas – Class of large, sometimes half-human and half-bird species
Guhyakas – Semi-divine and demonic class entities like the Yakshas
Kalas – ‘Black ones’, class of beings like Yama and associated with death and judgement (MB).
Kalakeyas – Class of demonic brings, mentioned along with the Nivatakvachas and Paulomas
Kashyapas – Class of Rishis associated with the Sun and a star of the Big Dipper
Kinnaras – Class of semi-divine beings like the Gandharvas, but with animal heads or bodies
Kimpurushas – Class of semi-divine beings with half-horse and half humanoid bodies
Krodhavasas – Class of demonic entities mentioned in Mahabharata
Kruras – Wicked class of demonic entities born from Krura (Mahabharata)
Manavas – Human beings that dwell on Earth Planet, descended from the Sun Lord
Maruts – Class of higher beings as Shaivite Rishis. Associated with the Pleiades
Nagas – Serpent class of demonic species. As humans they are Mongoloids in India and Asia
Nirritis – Class of females asuras that cause havoc
Nishadas – Dark-skinned, short and red-haired demons, also a Human species. Born from Vena
Nivatakavachas – Demonic beings that have air-like armoury or clothing
Pannagas – Group of serpentine beings like the Nagas
Paulomas – Class of demonic entities mentioned in the texts
Pisachas – Class of demonic entities. Associated with Nordic peoples / beings of the Himalayas
Pitas – Class of bhutas that are departed souls of the cosmos
Pramathas – Class of ghostly beings like the Bhutas
Pretas – Class of demonic beings
Rakshasas – A Class of demonic entities, often flesh-eaters. Sometimes they set up on Earth
Ribhus – A class of Divine Craftsmen under Vishvakarma who built Palaces, Cities and Chariots
Rishis – Divine Sages that move through the Cosmos, Planets and Lokas (dimensions)
Rudras – Also called Bhairavas. More wrathful forms of the Maruts, of Milky Way and Orion
Sadanvas – Class of demonic species mentioned in the Atharvaveda
Sadhyas – Class of semi-divine beings like the Pitas
Sapratishis – Seven Major Seers associated as rulers of the stars of the Big Dipper
Siddhas – Class of beings with supernatural powers
Uragas – Class of serpent beings like the Nagas
Vanaras – Monkey-like beings that have civilisations like and resemble humans as Hanuman
Vidyadharas – Class of beings like Gandharvas, but more demonic
Vasus – Class of Devas that control the Elements and associated with Mars
Vetalas – Class of demonic entities
Vritras – Class of demonic Nagas mentioned in the Rig Veda who had powers of Maya (illusion)
Yakshas – Class of Semi-divine entities
Yatudhanas – Class of demonic sorcerer beings or black magicians of the demons, also known as Dasyus. They are like Rakshasas, and also shape-shifters, taking forms as humans, hoofed animals, dogs etc.
The demons (usually termed Rakshasa, Danava, Daitya, or Asura) are usually considered sworn enemies of the Devas. They are not necessarily beings that live in hellish planes, some live on earth too :). Some of them in the Puranas are great devotees and achieve enlightenment also, as mentioned by Ganesh Prasad above. Not all the demons are evil beings to begin with. Many become evil after they achieve great powers from their sadhanas, meditation, etc. and start threatening the Devas and the order of the world.

OM Shanti,
A.

[Agnideva]

Im interested in these demons, can you give me more information on them?

Namaste Yaruki,

Check this page out: Wikipedia: Rakshasa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshasa)

A.

[satay]

Actually some demons or asuras were quite powerful and great bakthas. E.g. Ravana, a great baktha of Lord Shiva. performed tapas for thousands of years to please Lord Shiva. Finally, got liberation by the Lord himself playing a nice part in his leela...