yaksha

Yaksha, or yakṣa in Sanskrit, refers to a class of nature-spirits prominent in the religious and cultural traditions of the Indian subcontinent. They are typically imagined as supernatural beings connected to natural features such as water, forests, and minerals, and often serve as guardians of hidden treasure, sacred places, or sacred knowledge. The term is used across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain literature to describe a broad spectrum of beings—benevolent, protective, mischievous, or ambiguous in nature.

In Hinduism, yakṣas are a wide group of male nature spirits who can protect wealth, fertility, and natural sites. They are commonly depicted as guardians or attendants in temples and sacred spaces. Kubera, the god of wealth, is frequently described as a king of the yakṣhas, underscoring their association with riches and guardianship. Yakṣinīs are the female counterparts. In Hindu myth and iconography, yakṣas may accompany sages, deities, or heroes, and they appear in Puranic literature as both benevolent and formidable beings.

In Jainism, yakṣas and yakṣis are guardian deities attached to Tirthankaras, offering protection and support. Each Tirthankara is believed to have associated male and female guardians who feature in temple art and ritual devotion. In Buddhism, yakṣas are a class of semi-divine protective beings that may guard places, teach, or manifest as protective figures in temple complexes; they can be depicted in various forms, ranging from benevolent to fearsome.

In art and culture, yakṣas appear in ancient sculpture and literature as symbolic guardians of treasure and sacred spaces. Today, the concept remains in use in South Asian languages to describe nature-spirits and guardians, retaining both mythic and folkloric associations.