Dakshin Rai

Sources present Dakshin Rai as a forest sovereign whose name literally marks him as the 'King of the South.' One account records his parentage—father Prabhakar Ray (Danda Baksha muni), described as a brahmin and former ruler of the Sundarban forests, and mother Narayani—locating Dakshin Rai within a local genealogical framing that links his authority over the Sundarbans to a familial lineage. His territorial jurisdiction is described as stretching from south Namkhana–Kakdwip and the Bhagirathi–Hooghly (Ganga) in the west to Ghatal–Bakla in the east and into Khulna–Jessore districts of Bangladesh. His cult is practiced pragmatically by all who enter the mangroves for subsistence and is integrated with other regional protective figures (for example Bonbibi, whom people also pray to before venturing into the forest).

Dakshin Rai is depicted with large whiskers, a slender body with a shiny yellow tinge and tiger-like stripes, drool dripping from both sides of his mouth, and is said to have a six-meter-long tail. A recognizable face-variant of his likeness is used in material culture: some native groups bind a mask with the face of Dakshin Rai to the back of their heads to confuse or scare an approaching tiger.

He is described as ruling over beasts and demons and as the overall sovereign power of the Sundarbans, implying authority over wild animals (notably tigers) and malevolent spirit-entities. He is said to be attracted to music and draws musicians; communal dancing and singing are performed to please him. Ritually he is appeased through animal sacrifice, especially on the new moon (Amavasya). As a territorial deity he functions both protectively—people pray to him before entering the mangroves to seek protection—and punitively or dangerous in potential, insofar as his favour must be maintained by ritual (sources imply that propitiation is necessary for safety).