Maha Sona (Sri Lanka)

In Sinhalese folklore, Maha Sona is a malevolent demon that haunts graveyards. It preys on humans, especially those who pass through graveyards alone during the dark hours.

Maha Sona attacks humans by striking them in their backs. The force exerted by Maha Sona is so powerful that it inflicts severe internal injuries on victims, who die shortly after. The bodies of victims are rumored to bear a distinctive mark of a black handprint at the site of impact. If it does not engage in an outright assault, Maha Sona can also afflict victims with life-threatening diseases. The demon is also said to possess humans, requiring exorcism rituals to expel it.

Despite his vicious characteristics as a demon, Maha Sona was once a respected human warrior known as Ritigala Jayasena. Read more about Maha Sona in Ghosts, Spirits and Paranormal Entities from Asian Folklore and Mythology (Book 2).