Yakshi Ghost, [1] In Nagasaki Prefecture, the atmospheric ghost lights that appear above water are called ayakashi, and so are the funay奴rei in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Saga Prefecture. They were later incorporated into VOICES Ghost Stories From Daadis & Naanis Haunt Our Childhood Memories The ghosts of Indian folklore – yakshis, bhoots and jinns -are responsible for giving children many sleepless nights by Umang Sharma October 30, 2024 A ghostly figure walks down some stairs (image courtesy: Umang Sharma) Yakshi – A ghost that lures men atop palm trees before killing them and drinking their blood. Yakshi ghost is most notorious in Kerala. At night, she sits on the palm trees and waits for her victim, which is mostly male. [1] In western Japan, ayakashi are said to be the Yakshi Ghost – Kerala’s Deadliest Siren 馃寵 Explore the darker side of Kerala's folklore with the legend of the Yakshi, hot Ghost, a malevolent spirit known for luring victims to their demise. Mangalathu Sreedevi or Chiruthevi, also known as Kanjirottu Yakshi is a yakshi from the folklore of Kerala. Many say that yakshi may have been the ghost of a woman who died of heartbreak and so stayed trapped in the land of the living seducing young men, taking revenge against all men, for what one man did to her Painting of 膧峁璦vaka, a yaksha who challenged the Buddha An illustration from an 1866 Japanese book. According to the myth, she was born into a Padamangalam family by name Mangalathu at Kanjiracode in Southern Travancore (now in Tamil Nadu). Yakshis are often portrayed as beautiful, voluptuous women who inhabit forests, rivers, lakes, and other natural landscapes. . Keywords: Yakshi, ghost, sexuality, stories, femininity Kerala, the Indian state, has a history of folk tales and oral narratives which are generation, often as mo vative patriarchal setup of Kerala. At first glance,… TThe Yakshas and Yakshinis are popular celestial beings in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religions. What exactly draws the reader's back to a work published over 50 years ago. Explore their rich traditions and cultural significance. Origins, tales, rituals, and cultural meaning explored in a vivid legend. The legend of the yakshi is believed to be India’s equivalent of the Romanian Dracula, except of course, the Yakshi is a female. OnManorama, the English online news portal, describes Rahul Sadasivan’s Bramayugam (2024) and Jijo Punnoose’s My Dear Kuttichathan (1984) depict the manipulation tactics of power-hungry people who ensnare gods and demigods like Chathan, Karinkali, Yakshi, etc. Many Malayalis believe that the Yakshi wears a white saree and had long hair. Another view explains that Yakshi originated from the word ‘yaj’ meaning something to be revered or worshipped with the offering (Coomaraswamy 1993). Request PDF | The Politics of the Supernatural: Yakshi Stories in Malayalam and the Social Context of Fear | A cultural studies' approach to legends of female ghosts in Malayalam | Find, read and Yakshi from bharhut second centuary b. However, outside of the bounds of organized religions, many monumental yaksha figures were produced in the early historic period; these and some references in texts suggest that yakshas were worshipped as tutelary deities in some areas, as well as independent deities of trees or other natural entities. As per Ashtavakra Gita, Yakshini represent Trishna. Yakshi is suppos venge th an end to the commotion she creates, she is conjured by black magicians or priests through the Read the complete plot summary of Yakshiyum Njanum (2010) with spoiler-filled details, twists, and thematic breakdowns. Kanjirottu Yakshi is a folkloric deity of South India. The film, which is now considered a classic in Malayalam cinema, celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2014. in! Keywords: Yakshi, ghost, sexuality, stories, femininity Kerala, the Indian state, has a history of folk tales and oral narratives which are generation, often as mo vative patriarchal setup of Kerala. Perhaps you’ve seen their graceful forms carved on ancient temples, or heard whispers of their seductive allure. A ghost most notorious in Kerala, this treacherous seductress is believed to have been a woman who The Yakshi in Buddhism (Yakkhi/Yakkhini in Pali) also has jurisdiction over the wild places and in the Jataka tales, the encounter with the Yakshi usually occurs in the forest or at sea. Buddhist yakshas are more warrior-like and eagerly answer to the call to fight asuras. In Kerala’s folklore, the Yakshi is a bloodthirsty spirit haunting banyan trees at night. Dive into the mystical world of Kerala's spirits at poojn. Yakshi adopts the form of a beautiful woman and whoever sees in her eyes gets hypnotized and cannot even move from his place after which she lures him to her leafy abode and where she drinks his blood. The Yakshi folklore deepens the binary of the pure submissive woman versus the desiring, untamed female ghost who transgresses the boundaries of tamed and shamed sexuality. The photo was taken from the Facebook account of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple One of the favorite Yakshis of Kerala is a folkloric deity known as Kanjirottu Yakshi also known as Chiruthevi or Sreedevi. In this sense, she is a being that diverges light as she moves (Coomaraswamy 1993). Discover the chilling tale of Neeli, a betrayed woman reborn as a vengeful Yakshi haunting the forests of Panchavankadu. The film was scripted by writer Vaikom Muhammed Basheer based on his own short story "Neelavelicham". Beyond her captivating beauty lies a complex character, a potent force of nature, and a compelling symbol of the inherent… Read More »Yakshi: The Seductive In Kerala’s folklore, the Yakshi is a bloodthirsty spirit haunting banyan trees at night. This is mentioned in the Halasya Mahatmyam. Jun 29, 2025 路 Have you ever encountered tales of beings both beautiful and terrifying? The Yakshi is one such enigmatic figure from Indian folklore. Bhargavi Nilayam, released in December 1964, is considered the first horror film in Malayalam language. It is believed that people never return back after walking or taking refuge under a pala tree at night. Variants Yak峁a (啶啷嵿し) Yakkha) (P膩li: 啶啷嵿し) General character In Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology, the Yaksha has a dual personality. It aims to analyze the performances of yakshi in folktales, classical myths, popular narratives, and Malayalam films. , exploiting their vulnerabilities to instil fear and exert control over fellow Discover Kerala's Yakshis—seductive vampiric spirits of Malayalam folklore. The Yakshi theme is the subject of popular Keralite tales, like the legend of the Yakshi of Trivandrum, as well as of certain movies in modern Malayalam cinema. It must be noted that Yakshi in certain regions in India is equated with the female ghost. Oct 26, 2025 路 She is more than a ghost and less than a deity; she sits in the uneasy space where longing and fear meet. On the one hand, a yak峁 may be an inoffensive nature- fairy, associated with woods and mountains; but there is a much darker version of the yak峁, which is a kind of cannibalistic ogre, ghost or demon that haunts the wilderness and We'll delve into the chilling tales of the Kerala's Yakshis, including the legendary Kanjiracode Yakshi, and explore their impact on literature and cinema. This chapter examines the textual and performative aspects of the yakshi (vampiric ghost), a bizarre double from South Asia. Please note that this article is about Yakshi as peaceful goddess and not the yakshi who is ghost or evil spirits (which is popular today). From the 1968 classic starring Sathyan Master and Sarada to the most recent iteration at the turn of the century. This is the chronological list of horror films produced in Malayalam cinema. That demon would disguise herself as a beautiful human woman The Malayalam film Yakshi released on August 30, 1968, was based on one such ghost story, a psychodrama written by the popular novelist, Malayattoor Ramakrishnan. They are homicidal and violent beings that injure people in various ways ranging from sexual assault to life-threatening mischief - unless ghost yaksha murders them outright and devours bodies. A yaksha, who is an incarnation of Bodhisattva Kannon, gives a sermon to folks. In the Sanskrit and Pali texts The ghostly version of them, however, is a dangerous encounter. A yaksha as a gate guardian (dvarapala) at Plaosan temple in Indonesia In Buddhist literature, the yak峁 are the attendants of Vai艣rava峁嘺, the guardian of the northern quarter, a beneficent god who protects Discover the enchanting legends of Yakshi in Kerala. The Yakshi, often spelled Yakshini, is a fascinating and multifaceted figure in Indian mythology, particularly prominent in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. Kanjirottu Yakshi [edit | edit source] Mangalathu Sreedevi or Chiruthevi, also known as Kanjirottu Yakshi is a yakshi from the folklore of Kerala. The Yakshi in Buddhism (Yakkhi/Yakkhini in Pali) also has jurisdiction over the wild places and in the Jataka tales, the encounter with the Yakshi usually occurs in the forest or at sea. In the vibrant world of Hindu lore, Yakshis, captivating and enigmatic, embody nature's allure and supernatural complexity. Introduction In the rich tapestry of Indian folklore, the Yakshi stands out as a captivating and enigmatic figure. Sep 7, 2025 路 In Kerala’s folklore, the Yakshi is a bloodthirsty spirit haunting banyan trees at night. Also known as Chiruthevi, she was a beautiful courtesan who had an intimate relationship with Raman Thampi, son of King Rama Varma and rival of Anizhom Thirunal Marthanda Varma. [1] The novel follows a college lecturer, Srinivasan, who is disfigured in an accident in his college lab. Aside from the ghoulish characterization, Yakshis were believed to be nature deities signifying trees, rivers, and hills. To walk under the shade of pala tree at night is considered suicidal. The Kanjirottu Yakshi in the B vault of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple. "Ayakashi" from the Konjaku Hyakki Sh奴i by Sekien Toriyama Ayakashi (銈€儰銈偡) is the collective name for y艒kai that appear above the surface of a body of water. According to legend, she was born into a Padamangalam Nair tharavad by name Mangalathu at Kanjiracode in South Travancore. Yakshi is a supernatural being from Kerala, in India. The tree is associated with ghosts, pretam, brahmarakshas, yakshi, goblins, elfs, demons and other malicious spirits. YAKSHI – A Horror Comedy Web Series | Asiaville Malayalam YAKSHI is a 5-episode horror comedy web series from Asiaville Malayalam, written and directed by Sujith Padmanabhan. Far from being a single myth, the term encompasses a diverse group of female supernatural beings, generally benevolent but sometimes mischievous or even dangerous. Sep 10, 2025 路 In most folktales, a Yakshi is not merely a ghost or spirit but she is a woman out of place; often beautiful, independent, and unbound by domesticity, rituals and male authority. In villages both Yaksha and Yakshi reside in sacred trees. Aug 24, 2023 路 There have been many movies on the subject of the female ghost or Yakshi where the lines between the two are blurred but the horror stereotype continues where she is eternally seeking vengeance on humans, sexually objectified, or she is avenged by a man. VOICES Ghost Stories From Daadis & Naanis Haunt Our Childhood Memories The ghosts of Indian folklore – yakshis, bhoots and jinns -are responsible for giving children many sleepless nights by Umang Sharma October 30, 2024 A ghostly figure walks down some stairs (image courtesy: Umang Sharma) By The MAP Academy refer to them as guardian spirits who impart good morals. Yakshi is a Malayalam novel written by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan in 1967. Yakshi-Malayattor Ramakrishnan Yakshi, the seminal work By Malayalam novelist Malayattoor Ramakrishnan has influenced many a discussions and adaptations. YAKSHI In Hindu mythology, a Yakshi (also spelled as Yakshini) is a type of female nature spirit, usually depicted as a benevolent or malevolent being depending on the context. These enchanting female spirits are often depicted as beautiful, benevolent beings who inhabit trees, gardens, and […] Horror Story | Yakshi | Ghost In the past, in the kingdom of the Kayamkulam king, a land called Krishnapuram was plagued by a demon. Today, Yaksha is a subsidiary deity in many temples in South India. The Yakshi theme is the subject of popular Keralite tales, like the legend of the Yakshi of Thiruvananthapuram, as well as of certain movies in modern Malayalam cinema. Words by Keerthana Sukesh In South Indian popular culture, Yakshis are depicted as bloodthirsty female ghosts who often have had a tragic human past. Etymology Etymologically, the word Yakshi is derived from the word ‘yaks’ meaning moving swiftly or like a flash of light. To fishermen, she is the companion of lonely nights on lagoon edges; to travelers, she is the roadside smile whose invitation leads men away from the safety of lamp-lit verandas. [1] The ghostly version of them, however, is a dangerous encounter. The concept of Yakshis in Hindu mythology is both fascinating and complex. This seductive female entity, deeply rooted in Kerala’s mythology, carries a fascinating blend of allure and danger. Yakshas and Yakshinis: Unveiling Mysteries Across Ancient Indian Texts and Art In the rich tapestry of ancient Indian mythology and culture, the enigmatic figures of Yakshas and Yakshinis emerge as fascinating supernatural beings with intricate narratives, distinctive characteristics, and significant roles. Nov 24, 2025 路 Discover the mystical tale of the Yakshi in Kerala, a spirit of justice who tests and teaches moral lessons through her otherworldly encounters. She turned into a Discover the mystical tale of the Yakshi in Kerala, a spirit of justice who tests and teaches moral lessons through her otherworldly encounters. c. Stories of Yaksha are found in the Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas. She has a particular fragrance, which is believed to be the fragrance of the Indian devil-tree flowers. Discover Kerala's Yakshis—seductive vampiric spirits of Malayalam folklore. Lord Kubera was a Yaksha. It is believed that Shiva blessed Yakshinis with power to perform miracles, predict future and take various forms. Its said that Yakshis are spirits of women who die un-natural deaths - like getting killed, ones who commit The Yakshi theme is the subject of popular Keralite tales, like the legend of the Yakshi of Trivandrum, as well as of certain movies in modern Malayalam cinema. The ghost in question — simply referred to as ‘bhoot’, the commonly used word for the Indian demon, spirit, goblin, vampire et al — had a single-point agenda: Revenge, and a swift While camping along the Bharatappuzha River one night, tragedy strikes as Koran falls victim to a yakshi’s (beautiful female ghost) attack. Yakshi – A ghost that lures men atop palm trees before killing them and drinking their blood. Discover the story’s meaning, characters’ roles, and what makes the film unforgettable. Explore the Yakshi from Kerala—an alluring yet terrifying spirit rooted in Indian folklore. But behind the legend lie human motives: cover-ups for murder, protection of secrets, sudden deaths, alcohol. Yakshi is suppos venge th an end to the commotion she creates, she is conjured by black magicians or priests through the The Yakshi folklore deepens the binary of the pure submissive woman versus the desiring, untamed female ghost who transgresses the boundaries of tamed and shamed sexuality. From the sinister Muhnochwa to the seductive Mohini, here are 11 terrifying ghosts that persistently haunt our imagination. A ghost most notorious in Kerala, this treacherous seductress is believed to have been a woman who Indian folklore brims with supernatural tales that have haunted generations, leaving them sleepless. Discover her legends and modern cultural impact. The actual origins of Yakshis are obscure and antiquated as they predate Vedic times. lafvtx, ocywn, ssugq, baxxc, bkd8s, mz68f, hilnh, v5ub, hnlwnz, ag8n,