Originally posted by Ghost of a DukeNow, as each part is performed, the Raksases seek to injure the sacrifice; ‘The Raksas is encompassed, the evil spirits are encompassed’, he says, to smite away the Raksases
”…Here do I cut off the neck of the Raksas, who hateth us, and whom we hate’, he says; there are two people, he whom he hates and he who hates him; verily straightway he cuts their necks…” Krishna Yajur Veda 6.2.10
Not wishing to provide an inferior translation, or take something out of context, i'm open to reasonable elucidation.
The Raksas are hostile spirits which try to intefere with a ritual