Odiyan

By K.Rajath

Epigraph

“In the coastal land of Kerala, where the palms meet the sea,

Lurks a legend feared for centuries — the Odiyan.”

Odiyan

In times old, beside the sea Arabian,

Sleeps silent, the land of coconut,

Lulled by the lullaby of the mighty sea —

But all changes when night falls, you see.

In the Land of Gods —

When darkness descends, and shadows crawl,

Treads the most evil of them all.

Unknown to new man, the lightless night,

In the darkest place of the darkest night,

In the corner where moonlight dies —

Odiyan, the shape-shifting assassin, lies in wait.

Well-versed in ‘Odividhya’ — black magic ancient,

Waiting for victims on rural track.

Pregnant ladies, beware the attack:

To make potent oil, he needs the unborn —

Foetus stolen, womb left torn.

Unsuspecting women, lured by chant,

Sucked the foetus — evil so brilliant.

Sent back to bed, no sign of dread.

Next day, she’s found cold and dead.

“Poor woman died a natural death!”

So whispers the village under breath.

With strength so gained, he takes on disguise —

Ox, black cat, or owl that flies.

Beware the beast with missing limb or eye;

Could break your spine with thorn nearby.

But most die by shock or fright.

Not an easy feat to be an Odiyan —

Painful ordeal under a master craftsman,

To be an assassin great, from a cursed man.

Intense training in combat art,

Born of caste low — cursed from the start.

Trained in shadow, bred in pain,

This is vengeance for all the lowly slain.

A final defence against torment,

Against the caste system’s cruel cement.

To stand against the tyrant lord —

Tremble they did, at the whisper of his name-

Odiyan! Odiyan! Odiyan

Author’s Note:

In the folklore of Kerala, a state in southern India, Odiyans were feared sorcerers said to

possess dark magic called Odividhya. Legends say they could shape-shift into animals, roam the night

unseen, and kill with terror alone. Often from oppressed castes, Odiyans were trained through

brutal rituals, turning pain into power. This poem explores the myth of the Odiyan — both monster

and martyr — in a land were fear walked at night.

By K.Rajath