yaksha

[ yok-shah ]

nounBuddhism, Hinduism, Jainism.

any of a class of nature spirits or deities who guard places or treasure: most are considered benevolent, but some are thought to be capricious, mischievous, or malicious.
a statue depicting such a spirit, often placed guarding another deity or flanking a temple gate.

Origin of yaksha

First recorded in 1780–90; from Sanskrit yakṣa

Art thou a female yaksha, or a female Rakshasa, or a celestial damsel?
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1 | Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
She helps to kill Bhishma in the great war, having changed her sex with a yaksha.
Indian Myth and Legend | Donald Alexander Mackenzie
Then the yaksha revealed himself in the form of Dharma, god of wisdom and justice, for behold!
Indian Myth and Legend | Donald Alexander Mackenzie
Arjuna, being thus admonished, went forth on the tenth day with Sikhandin, born a woman and made a male by a yaksha.
Indian Myth and Legend | Donald Alexander Mackenzie
Then the Bodhisattva looking at the yaksha spoke to him mild words expressive of his adherence to the virtue of forbearance.
The Gtakaml | rya Sra

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