Anhangá

Anhangá (Tupi: añánga, meaning spirit) is a spirit in Brazilian mythology that often protects animals (especially the females and young ones) and tends to appear as a white deer with red eyes. One legend involves an Indigenous person who tortured a young fawn so the screams would attract the mother. When she came near, he killed her just to realize that the Anhangá had used an illusion and he had just killed his own mother.

Another legend regarding Anhangá was the story of his marriage with Ticê:a witch who became as powerful as a god and feared by all, so that everyone who came to her company had the intention to kill her. To protect herself Ticê would often make those who stayed with her envyous and cruel to others. This type of cruel behavior ended by atracting Anhangá who appeared to her and attempted to drive her mad like it happens with all of those who stare at his eyes. Whoever, Ticê was powerful enough to remain sane so both of them were simply staring at each other and fell in love. From then on they got married and Ticê became co-ruler of the underworld, Anhangá's domain.

In the mythology of the Tupi (a tribe of indigenous Brazilians) of pre-Columbian America, Anhangá are the general spirits that wandered the earth after death, tormenting the living. They could take any shape, but the deer with fiery eyes is the most known.[1]

According to some myths, Anhangá protected animals against hunters. When the prey could escape, the Tupi would say that Anhangá had protected them and helped them escape. Often mistaken for Anhanguera due to the words being similar, however the Anhangá is not considered a devil, though it was feared.