demon de·mon (DEE - mun) noun 1. An evil supernatural being; a devil. 2. A persistently tormenting person, force, or passion: the demon of drug addiction. [Middle English, from Late Latin daemon, from Latin, spirit, from Greek daimon, divine power.] In folklore, mythology, and religion, a demon is a supernatural being that is generally described as an evil spirit, but is also depicted to be good in some instances. In Hindu mythology, the Nagis were a race of serpents who are said to populate the underworld, Patalas. They were the 1000 offspring of two important sages. These demons are typically associated with weather (especially rain and hail) and pictures of them are taken out during times of extreme drought for use in ceremonial worship. In many religions, demons are considered evil influences which hinder the cultivation of a spiritual life. These can take an infinite number of forms, including heinous beings or horrible hallucinations. Disease and death, as well as the 'poisons' of greed, anger and delusion are also equated to demons, since they are disturbances of the mind. Christianity says that demons, like angels, have never existed as mortals but are assigned to have specific purposes in relation to the living human being. They are always considered cunning and in the service of the devil. They are known for tempting and tormenting humans and can manifest themselves in nearly any form. They are known for thier ability to possess humans (and even inanimate objects) and cause the person to act or perform in manners completely alien to his or her character, including engaging in excessive violence. Removal of a demon, in this case, requires the services of an exorcist or anyone considered pious and pure of heart. Spawned in the depths of Hell (of course!), demons come in myriad forms. Some are grotesque, some are beautiful, others are somewhere in between. Something they all have in common, however, is that they are all crafty and bear a varying amount of loyalty to the Dark Side. It is not unheard of for demons to breed with mortals, either by rape, as part of a Faustian contract, or to increase their own power. A pure demon actually falling in love with a mortal is exceedingly rare, and more often than not, what the mortal thinks is love is actually just the demon! | home | demons | story | artist | faq | links | contact