The Raantas or Rantus is another mythical entity. She is your classical run of the mill bollywood ki ‘chudel’. The witch with the feet
turned in the opposite direction. The kind of entity who kidnaps men and then takes
them to her cave in the mountain. There are many similar female mythical entities in Kashmiri Folklore.
The 'Rih' is said to be a seductress too, who entices men in order to devour them. Many stories have merged into one, therefore the raantaas and the rih have kind of become one entity.
Then there are others-the 'Dyn' or like she is called in Hindi 'Daien' who is also a female; who too eats out the hearts of men. The Degins and the Degus, according to Vigne, ''seek husbands amongst mortals, but that their attachment is productive of fatal consequences, as its object dies in the course of two or three months.''
The 'Rih' is said to be a seductress too, who entices men in order to devour them. Many stories have merged into one, therefore the raantaas and the rih have kind of become one entity.
Then there are others-the 'Dyn' or like she is called in Hindi 'Daien' who is also a female; who too eats out the hearts of men. The Degins and the Degus, according to Vigne, ''seek husbands amongst mortals, but that their attachment is productive of fatal consequences, as its object dies in the course of two or three months.''
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| Folklore Of Kashmir-Raantas |
