The Forgotten Temple's Curse

[listen to above video given while reading to enhance your experience]

Deep within the heart of a dense jungle lies an immensely powerful temple, shrouded in mystery and fear. It is a place where people once sacrificed animals to seek the blessings of a goddess believed to possess unparalleled power. The legend says the goddess awakens at night to accept these offerings. The ritual was precise: villagers would leave their sacrifices at the temple before sunset and return home, never daring to linger after dark. By morning, not a trace of the offerings remained—only bloodstains, as though the temple had witnessed a night of blood rain.

Curiosity about this enigmatic temple grew over time, but those who ventured there at night either disappeared without a trace or returned, driven to madness. The sinister reputation of the place only deepened the mystery.This chilling tale captivated a group of young YouTubers, led by a renowned explorer known for uncovering hidden truths about such legends. Determined to unravel the secrets of the temple, they began their investigation by seeking out a local historian.The historian, Arthanda, was an intriguing figure—his face bore the marks of age, and his demeanor carried the weight of countless stories. Despite his eerie appearance, his presence radiated a strange, comforting energy. He invited the group to meet him in the forest near the temple that evening, promising to answer their questions.As the sun dipped below the horizon, Harsha, one of the YouTubers, broke the silence:"Sir, what do you know about this place? And how do you know it?"Arthanda, his voice deep and laced with a sinister chuckle, replied,"Children, I know this place just as you will come to know it tonight. My own mad curiosity once led me here."Harsha pressed further. "Is it true? Does the goddess really awaken at night?"Arthanda glanced at the darkening sky, his gaze shifting to the forest that stretched infinitely around them. His voice dropped as he murmured,"It's not just the goddess—this entire forest comes alive at night."A shiver ran through the group. The stillness of the jungle felt unnatural. Even the rocks beneath their feet seemed to pulse with life. They exchanged uneasy glances, but none of them showed fear—not yet.Harsha ventured another question. "Do you mean the forest animals? Are they behind all this?"Arthanda chuckled softly again, his voice dripping with cryptic menace."Have you noticed? Not a single insect hums here. No chirping, no buzzing. Just silence."It was then that the group realized the profound quiet around them. There were no signs of life—no insects, no birds. All they could sense was the forest itself, as if it were breathing.Harsha, his voice now tinged with unease, asked,"Why is this place so strange? What's the story behind it? What is the truth?"Arthanda spoke slowly, carefully, as if weighing each word."This place became known to people during the period between the 5th and 6th centuries. It was first discovered by the Kalabhra Dynasty's army while they were returning through this forest after a mission. As night fell, they stumbled upon a temple-like structure and decided to rest there for the night. However, a small group of soldiers, along with one of the king's ministers, continued their journey. They needed to reach the kingdom urgently to deliver an important message."The minister successfully reached the kingdom the next afternoon and fulfilled his mission. But two days later, the king summoned him to the royal court, or Sabha. The king looked visibly tense, his face grim as he demanded,'Where is my army? Why haven't they returned to the kingdom? Where have they gone?'Before the bewildered minister could respond, a man burst into the court, screaming,'Swami! We have lost the entire army!' His panicked cries sent a chill through the court, leaving everyone, including the king, in stunned silence.Without wasting a moment, the king organized a search party and led them into the forest. When they arrived at the site, they were met with a horrifying sight. The entire area was soaked in blood, the ground reeking of decay. Pools of dense, stagnant blood had formed potholes, and the soldiers' swords floated eerily on the surface. The scene was as though a gruesome massacre had unfolded days before, but there was no trace of any bodies.This was the kingdom's greatest disaster. After this incident, many other calamities began to occur in the kingdom. The king, desperate to understand the cause of these misfortunes, consulted several rishis, who delved into ancient scriptures and uncovered a horrifying history.Thousands of years ago, there had been a thriving civilization around this forest. The people had built the temple and worshiped Mother Earth as a goddess. One day, they performed a yagna (ritual sacrifice) to gain the power to protect their society. However, due to the negligence of one rishi, the yagna was incomplete, resulting in a catastrophic explosion. From the womb of the earth, within the temple, three rakshasas (monstrous beings) were born.One of these rakshasas caused hallucinations, distorting the minds of those who came near. Another one fed on flesh leaving blood behind, devouring anything in its path. The third was a creature of eternal slumber, but its breath vibrated the very earth, causing tremors and earthquakes. The mass killings that followed devastated the civilization, leaving it in ruins.In desperation, the people invited rishis from all across the land to help them. They sought the aid of Surya Deva, the Sun God, who cursed the rakshasas to hide in the sunlight, never to leave the temple's grounds. The temple was sealed, and the rakshasas were trapped, their influence confined to the forest.The king, now fully understanding the source of the disaster, asked the rishis for a solution. The sages, having consulted the ancient texts, suggested a ritual: animal sacrifices were to be offered to appease the rakshasas and keep them bound to the temple, preventing them from emerging into the kingdom. The sacrifices were meant to keep the rakshasas calm, ensuring that they did not break free and wreak havoc again.From that time forward, the tradition of animal offerings continued. People believed that by offering these sacrifices, they were not only appeasing the rakshasas but also receiving the blessings of Mother Earth. The temple became a place of fear, but also a source of strange reverence. Over the centuries, this dark history faded into legend, but the rituals remained, carried on by those who sought the goddess's power, or at least, a semblance of safety from the horrors hidden within the forest.Arthanda paused, letting the eerie silence settle heavily upon the group. His story had already sent chills down their spines, but Harsha, now completely intrigued, urged him to continue."So, the Rakshasas are still there?" Harsha asked hesitantly.Arthanda nodded gravely. "Yes, their spirits still reside in the temple, bound but not destroyed. The villagers' offerings are not merely rituals—they are acts of survival. The Rakshasas crave blood and flesh, and without these offerings, they grow restless. If they awaken fully, their wrath will not be confined to this forest. It will consume everything."The group exchanged uneasy glances. Even the daring spirit of the YouTubers was now tinged with fear. Yet, the desire to uncover the truth remained stronger."We have to see it for ourselves," one of them declared, though their voice betrayed a hint of hesitation. The group of YouTubers stood at the edge of the clearing, staring at the ancient temple bathed in the eerie light of the moon. Even from this distance, the temple exuded a presence—a palpable weight that pressed against their chests. The carvings on its walls, illuminated by patches of moonlight filtering through the dense canopy, seemed to writhe and twist, as though alive. The air was heavy with an oppressive silence, broken only by the faint rustling of unseen movement in the undergrowth."Are we really doing this?" whispered Harsha, gripping his camera tightly.Arthanda stood a few steps ahead, his silhouette stark against the temple's shadow. He turned, his eyes glinting ominously."Do not cross the threshold," he warned. "Once you step closer, the forest will know. It does not like intruders."Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath them trembled, subtle at first, then more pronounced. The vibrations resonated deep in their bones, accompanied by a low, guttural hum—barely audible yet deeply unsettling. Arthanda's expression darkened."They're waking up," he muttered.Suddenly, a faint glow emerged from the cracks in the earth around the temple. The light was otherworldly, shifting between hues of green and blue, casting an unearthly luminescence across the clearing. The temple and its surroundings now looked like a scene ripped from a dream—or a nightmare. The glow revealed writhing, translucent forms emerging from the ground. The worms, their frilled tentacles swaying, shimmered like living specters in the darkness.