Dakshin Rai
Dakshin Rai (Bengali: দক্ষিণ রায়, "King of the South") is a revered deity in the Sundarbans in India and Bangladesh who rules over beasts and demons. He is regarded as the overall ruler of the Sundarbans.[1][2][3] The deity is worshipped by all those who enter the Sundarban forests of West Bengal, for subsistence, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion.[4]
Narrative
In the
Dakshin Rai's father is Prabhakar ray (Danda Baksha muni) a brahmin and mother is Narayani.[6] His father was the ruler of the Sundarban forests. He is depicted with large whiskers. His body is slender and has a shiny, yellow tinge decorated with tiger-like stripes. Drool drips from both sides of his mouth and he has a six-meter-long tail.
Inhabitants of the Sundarbans pray to Dakshin Rai or Bonbibi before venturing into the mangroves, as they believe this affords them protection. Natives of some tribes bind a mask with the face of Dakshin Rai to the back of their heads to confuse or scare an approaching tiger and ward off its attack.[2]
References
- ^ "Protection from the Gods". lairweb.org.nz/. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-520-21470-5. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ISBN 978-93-80262-16-1. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ "Dakshin-Ray". nationalmuseumindia.gov.in. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ISBN 978-81-295-2582-6.
- ISBN 9788121209458.