Yaksha Utpatti

The Yaksha Utpatti is the account of the birth of the Yakshas and the Rākshasas. It is told in Chapter 197 of the Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa. Both races were born from Khaśā, a wife of Kaśyapa. The Yakshas were born at the evening twilight and the Rākshasas at the morning twilight. The chapter then follows the Yaksha line for several generations.

Birth from Khaśā

Khaśā was one of the wives of Kaśyapa, the great Prajāpati. From Kaśyapa and Khaśā came two related races.

• Yakshas were born at the evening twilight (sāyaṃsandhyā).
• Rākshasas were born at the morning twilight (prātaḥsandhyā).

The Yaksha line

The Yaksha line in this chapter comes down through a celestial wife of Yama. Her line led to Rajanābha. From Rajanābha came two well-known Yakshas, Maṇichara and Vīrabhadra. They are the first figures of the Yaksha race in this genealogy.

Kubera is the lord of the yakshas and the deva of wealth.

Sources

• Vishṇu Dharmottara Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 197