A "dayan" in indian folklore is a supernatural female witch. typically, dayans are described as strikingly beautiful, with long, unkempt hair concealing their true nature. they have sharp claws or nails, and their eyes may turn red when angered. some versions depict them with unnatural features like hooves or forked tongues. crucially, dayans can shape-shift, often assuming the guise of a beautiful woman to deceive and harm victims. regional variations exist, but these legends emphasize caution when encountering alluring strangers, blending beauty, mystique, and danger in their tales.