piśācā

 The Sanskrit word "piśācā" is written in 

Devanagari script as पिशाचा

Piśācā in Sanskrit refers to a class of supernatural 

beings, often considered malevolent spirits or demons 

in Hindu mythology.

Definition and Linguistic Analysis

The term piśācā is derived from Sanskrit, where it can be the feminine 

form of piśāca (पिशाच). While piśāca refers to a group of ghostly 

or demonic spirits, piśācā may denote a female member of this 

group or be used in a more general sense to describe entities 

with similar characteristics 

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Cultural and Mythological Context

In traditional Hindu and Sanskrit literature, piśācas and piśācās 

are described as spirits that inhabit desolate places like cremation 

grounds and are often associated with haunting, mischief, 

or consumption of human flesh and blood 

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. While generally considered 

malevolent, some texts depict them as beings whose actions 

reflect cosmic balance or karmic consequences. They are sometimes 

included in lists of semi-divine deities or entities with supernatural 

power, illustrating the broader Hindu cosmology of spirits and 

divine beings 

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.

Occurrence in Texts

The word piśācā appears in various Sanskrit scriptures and literary 

sources, including Puranas and epics, sometimes as an adjective 

meaning “related to piśācas” or as a noun indicating a class of female 

spirits 

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. These references help linguists and scholars 

trace the usage, grammatical forms, and nuances of the term in 

classical Sanskrit literature.

Summary

• Word: piśācā (पिशाचा)
• Type: Noun / Feminine form of piśāca
• Meaning: A female demon or spirit / ghostly being; part of a mythological 
• class of supernatural entities
• Context: Appears in Sanskrit literature depicting spirits inhabiting 
• desolate locations, haunted spaces, or involved in supernatural 
• events 

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Understanding piśācā provides insight into the rich vocabulary of 

supernatural and mythological entities in Sanskrit, reflecting both 

linguistic precision and cultural imagery.