Fire Creature

Summary

Podcast Summary: Spooked – "Fire Creature"

Episode Overview Fire Creature is an enthralling episode of Spooked, a podcast by KQED and Snap Studios, hosted by Glynn Washington. This episode delves into a chilling true-life supernatural encounter that blurs the line between reality and the unknown. Through firsthand narration, listener Chaitanu Razdan shares his grandfather’s eerie experience in the Himalayan foothills, unraveling a tale filled with mysterious lights and unexplained phenomena.

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Introduction: Setting the Stage The episode opens with host Glynn Washington setting a suspenseful tone. Although the introductory segment includes promotional content, it effectively primes listeners for a story that intertwines fear, mystery, and the supernatural.

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Chaitanu Razdan’s Story: An Unforgettable Encounter

Timestamp 03:32 – 32:39

Chaitanu Razdan introduces the central narrative by recounting his grandfather's unsettling experience in the remote forests of Jammu, India. The story begins in the early 1950s, during a particularly harsh fall season.

The Journey Begins Chaitanu’s grandfather, a seasoned inspector for the Foreign Supplies Department, embarks on a mission to inspect food grain quality in a distant village. Prepared with essentials—“a spare set of clothes, a shoe horn, a knife that he would use for protection if needed and some food”—he boards a bus in Srinagar intending a straightforward journey.

Unexpected Hindrance Midway, the bus breaks down at 8 PM, plunging him into darkness with no available horse carriage. Faced with limited options, he decides to trek through the forest, hoping to reach his destination within two hours.

First Sighting: The Mysterious Light As he ventures deeper, Chaitanu describes his grandfather noticing an unusual light flickering in the distance:

“It looked like it was a bulb or a fire floating in the air six feet above the ground.” (10:15)

The light appears briefly and vanishes, raising suspicions.

Escalating Supernatural Activity Minutes later, another light materializes, and soon after, four additional lights emerge behind him:

“They are following him from different directions.” (11:41)

Recognizing something is amiss, his grandfather confronts the possibility of supernatural forces at play rather than a mere human threat.

Confrontation with the Fire Creature Pushing forward fearlessly, he encounters what appears to be a majestic deer—a 14-point buck—but soon realizes:

“This, this ain't a deer. This is some kind of deer-shaped monster.” (15:11)

The creature's unsettling behavior—“Hot red blood drips from his muzzle onto the white snow” and feeding on a rabbit—heightens the sense of dread.

Desperate Flight and Divine Intervention Panicked, his grandfather attempts to flee but is thwarted by the creature’s relentless pursuit. Remembering his childhood teachings, he begins chanting the Hanuman Chalisa, invoking the protection of Lord Hanuman:

“If you are ever in danger, you should chant Hanuman Chalisa and Lord Hanuman will come and save you.” (Chaitanu Razdan)

Miraculously, the lights disappear, and he escapes to the village, shaken but alive.

Aftermath and Local Lore Upon reaching the village, the village head explains the phenomenon as a rachok—a supernatural entity known in local folklore:

“A rachok is a human-like creature on two legs. It has a light on his head. It has a fire on his head.” (28:24)

This explanation underscores the cultural context of the story, blending traditional beliefs with the grandfather’s harrowing experience. The village head’s warning about the dangers of following such lights adds a layer of caution to the tale.

Personal Impact and Legacy Chaitanu Razdan reflects on how this story profoundly affected him:

“I am 40 now and I still remember all the details of this story. It left an everlasting impression on me.” (32:39)

He emphasizes the lasting impact of his grandfather’s experience, symbolized by the iron ring he wears—a talisman of protection derived from his family’s heritage.

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Conclusion: Reflections on the Supernatural

In the closing segment, Glynn Washington philosophizes about consciousness and the natural world, pondering whether places like forests possess their own forms of awareness:

“Can it (the forest) have its own consciousness? Can it love? Can it hate? Fear?” (37:58)

This contemplative monologue ties back to the episode’s theme, suggesting that the mysteries of nature and the supernatural are intertwined aspects of our world, deserving of both respect and caution.

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Production Credits The episode’s immersive storytelling is enhanced by:

• Original Score by Clay Xavier
• Sound Design by Aditya Matu
• Production by Eric Yanez

These elements collectively create a haunting atmosphere that transports listeners into the heart of the grandfather’s supernatural ordeal.

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Key Takeaways

• Cultural Folklore: The story highlights the rich tapestry of local myths, like the rachok, that explain unexplained phenomena.
• Survival and Faith: It underscores the importance of faith and cultural practices in overcoming fear and adversity.
• Lasting Impressions: Personal encounters with the supernatural leave indelible marks, shaping beliefs and behaviors long after the event.

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Notable Quotes

1. Chaitanu Razdan on Initial Light Sighting:

   “It looked like it was a bulb or a fire floating in the air six feet above the ground.” (10:15)

2. Grandfather’s Realization:

   “This, this ain't a deer. This is some kind of deer-shaped monster.” (15:11)

3. Explanation of Rachok:

   “A rachok is a human-like creature on two legs. It has a light on his head. It has a fire on his head.” (28:24)

4. Chaitanu on Personal Impact:

   “I am 40 now and I still remember all the details of this story. It left an everlasting impression on me.” (32:39)

5. Glynn Washington’s Philosophical Reflection:

   “Can it have its own consciousness? Can it love? Can it hate? Fear?” (37:58)

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Final Thoughts Fire Creature offers a captivating glimpse into the unknown, blending personal narrative with cultural lore to explore the boundaries of human experience and the supernatural. Chaitanu Razdan’s retelling of his grandfather’s encounter invites listeners to ponder the mysteries that lie beyond our understanding, fostering a deeper appreciation for the stories that shape our perception of the unseen world.

For those intrigued by the supernatural and the power of storytelling, this episode of Spooked is a must-listen, delivering chills and reflections in equal measure.

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Connect with Spooked Stay updated with Spooked by following them on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Share your own spooky stories or discover more tales by reaching out to [e-mail]. Don’t forget to tune in every Friday for new episodes available across all podcast platforms.

Transcript

[Glenn Washington]

They've lost their homes to the fire to burn. I bring them warm blankets with care and concern. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask. Then I'll walk past the corner and pull out a match. You've crossed over to Spooked. Stay tuned. Big news in Spook land because this fall we're going on tour Spook Live. I can't wait. It's going to be awesome. And here's where you come in. Looking for amazing, mystical, magical storytellers who can rock their true story of touching the supernatural on stage in front of thousands of people. Do you know somebody who needs to be on the Spooked Live stage? Are you somebody who needs to be on the Spooked Live stage? Let me know. Spookednapjudgment.org Tell me about your relationship to the shadow, to the mystery unfolded over time. The twists, the turns, the shocks. Spooked Snap judgment. Cuz there is nothing better than a spook story from a spooked listener. [e-mail] and don't turn out the lights.

[Unknown Advertiser]

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[Glenn Washington]

Okay, so from the thermometer hanging outside the window. It's the kind of freeze that only happens after the blizzard. Coldest day of winter. Fourth grade. Ish. And I know, I feel that if I stay inside this trailer with my pops, something very bad is gonna happen. So I put on long johns on top of my long johns, socks on, socks on socks. My coat with the hood. And I step out into the blinding whiteness. Cold. Like the face of the moon. Cold. Everything. Snow. No trails into the woods. No paths. I walk slowly because you can't mess up here. No wrong steps. Winter doesn't care. Still, every move I make deeper into the woods, the more the fear falls away, the more the tear inside the house fades. No destination. Just movement. Cold crackles and snaps. Limb fulls of snow. I walk, making a game of how quietly I can move. If I'm slow, I can breathe. Silent as shadow. Deeper into the lost. Then I hear it. Something. Someone else in this tundra. I turn toward the almost sound. It can't out stealth me. Out step me. Slowly I push forward. Fearless. Then I see it. Closer than I would have imagined. A deer. 14 point buck. Magnificent antlers. If you are very, very lucky, you see this kind only once in your lifetime. He glares directly at me. Hot red blood drips from his muzzle onto the white snow. And I'm thinking it's hurt, probably shot. And I'm angry. It is not deer season. No one can legally shoot anything, not on our property. And not leave it wounded and suffering. And I. I don't understand what I'm seeing at its feet. A rabbit. Steam rising from its freshly ripped open belly. The deer glowers at me, protective of its prize. Then it bends its head down, bites, pulls, tugs a stretch of bloody viscera into its mouth and daring me to take a step forward toward the red stained snow. Feeds on the carcass. No, no, no, no, no. I take a step back then too. Because deers, they don't eat flesh. Deers are ruminants. Four chambered stomachs made for plants. Only for plants. Every Michigander knows this. So this, this ain't a deer. This is some kind of deer shaped monster. I don't even realize that I'm running until a low hanging branch knocks me down. I scramble back to my feet, frantic, sprinting, crashing, pushing away from that creature, that abomination. No more careful steps. Now running wild. I hear it. I hear something crashing through the woods beside me. Behind me. Running, running. Knocked back down, climbed back up. And finally, finally I see our trailer in the clearing. Sprinting toward It I see it. The dread leaking from the trailer like blood on snow. The fear that pushed me out of the warmth into the cold radiating like sick. I stop in front of my door. The hungry cold gathers sweat freezes on my lips, my forehead, my ears. I listen for footfalls following me. I listen for warning inside the house. I listen. I listen. And finally I turn terrified back into the woods. Spook starts There are many, many ways to walk the forest. Now let's meet Chaitanu Razdan. Just seven years old, living with his grandparents in the beautiful city of Jammu, India, the foothills of the Himalayas. Now, his grandfather would always tell him stories. But there was one story that he had kept to himself until right now.

[Chaitanu Razdan]

One day I was in the front yard of my house playing with a ball while the sun was setting. We had this house that was surrounded by farms and fields and I could hear the birds chirping and going back to their nests. I loved living there. My grandmother was inside the kitchen preparing supper for the whole family. And my grandfather was sitting on the veranda. That's where we used to sit in the evening and have a cup of tea and watch sunset. I went to grab the ball. I bent down and as I got up I saw a light blinking in the horizon. It looked like it was a bulb or a fire floating in the air six feet above the ground. It's in the middle of the field, very far away from our house. The light was there for just few seconds and then all of a sudden it disappeared. It was gonna.

[Glenn Washington]

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[Unknown Advertiser]

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Love using their credit cards, the most secure and hassle free way to pay. But D.C. politicians want to change that with the Durbin Marshall credit card bill. This bill lets corporate mega stores pick how your credit card is processed, allowing them to use untested payment networks that jeopardize your data, security and rewards. Corporate megastores will make more money and you pay the price. Tell Congress to guard your card because Americans lose when politicians choose. Learn [e-mail].

[Chaitanu Razdan]

My first thought was there's never a light on that side of the house. There was no electric pole. There was no road on that side where you could see a bike or a car or a bus or anything. I turned to my grandfather. I used to call him Papa G. I said, papa G. Did you notice that I just saw some light on the other side of the field? Did you also see that the expression on his face? It suddenly changed? He looked startled and surprised. He said, if you ever see a light in the forest at a far off distance, never approach it or go towards it. Just make sure you follow your path. The immediate question was like, but why? It's just a light, right? He said, okay, sit in this chair right next to me. And he started narrating his story in the early 1950s. My grandfather used to work for Foreign Supplies Department as an inspector. His primary role was basically going around to different parts of Kashmir to check the quality of the food grains before they could be distributed within the province. One fine day in the fall season, my grandfather had to go for an inspection to a very far off village in the middle of the mountains. So he prepared for the trip. He put everything that he usually used to carry in his bag. A spare set of clothes, a shoe horn, a knife that he would use for protection if needed and some food that he could eat on his journey. He caught the bus in the city of Srinagar at around 10:30 11. His plan was to get off the bus around 5, 5:30 and then another one hour of journey on a horse carriage and be at his end destination before it started getting really dark. After a few hours into the trip, the bus broke down. So he ended up reaching his first stop at 8pm and it was already dark. My grandfather stepped out of the bus expecting a horse carriage to be there. There was nobody there. He was in a very small town. Everything was closed. But then he thought, he has been to that village so many times. Maybe he can just start walking towards the place. Might take him just two hours. So he started walking away from that town towards the forest. He could barely see the path in front of him. He could hear crows, wild dogs barking at a distance. He was not afraid. He was used to going to places like these. All of a sudden he notices a small light flickering at a distance. It looked like a ball of fire, dark orange in color. It was few feet above the ground, like hanging in the air. He thought, why is a flame there? I've taken this journey so many times. There's supposed to be nothing in that direction. He thought maybe it's a shepherd. Usually they take their animals for grazing in the mountains. But then the light disappeared. He thought oh, maybe he is imagining it. So he kept walking. Around 30 to 40 paces ahead, he notices something from the corner of his eye. He turned his head to the left and he noticed there's another light there. This light is at far off distance on the other side of the mountain, hanging in the air. He was surprised. Is this the same light that he saw earlier? Was that light moving and following him? Or it's a new light. And then he turns around and he sees four lights right behind him at a distance. They were very close to each other, as if it was four lanterns together. And they are getting slightly brighter, which means the distance is getting shorter. My grandfather Was wondering, is somebody following me? Are there any thieves or dacoits that are following his lead? He is scared. He turned around and he started picking a pace towards his destination. My grandfather looks ahead and he notices the first lights. They were all changing directions. Some were moving left, some were moving to the right, few feet above the ground. It's as if the lights are circling around him. They are following him from different directions. He starts thinking this is supernatural. My grandfather was a devout Hindu. He had heard stories from his grandparents about spirits. Some of those mystical beings, they take possession of your soul, they take possession of your body. Some of those try to kill. And it is said the forest is full of those kind of creatures. He thought, I better get out of this place as soon as possible. He started running. The trail moved to the right along the mountain. And as soon as he turned right, what he saw was out of this world. In the horizon in front of him, there were 50, 60 lights glowing, floating above the ground, moving from one side to another, crisscrossing, jumping 50ft in irregular patterns. Some of them were coming closer, some of them were moving further away. Some lights would go off and they would start glowing in a different direction altogether. It was like a dance of those lights. My grandfather started rubbing his eyes. It was something that he had never seen or imagined. His hands were shaking, his legs were shaking, and he starts running at his full speed. Then he noticed that the lights were kind of following him. They were also moving in the same direction. He was scared so much that he thought this is the end of his life. He realized that the village was still far ahead. He couldn't run that far. And he suddenly remembered that his parents and grandparents had told him when he was a kid, if you are ever in danger, you should chant Hanuman Chalisa and Lord Hanuman will come and save you. He is the monkey God, the saviour of all. The lights are immediately behind him. So he hurriedly sat down, opened his bag. He took out his knife and also the metal shoe horn that he would always carry with him. It's a common belief in some parts of India that having a metal object with you saves you from anything supernatural. He put that shoe horn on the ground. He stick that knife into the ground. He crossed his legs, closed his eyes and started chanting Hanuman Chalisa loud and clear. He's just sitting there praying. He doesn't dare to open the eyes. He just keeps chanting and he's just praying, praying, pray. Finally he gathers the courage to open his eyes. He could not see any lights. He looked behind him, he turned left, he turned right, but there were no lights to be seen anywhere. He thanked God he grabbed the knife and the shoehorn in his hand and he started running towards the village.

[Glenn Washington]

Big news in Spookland because this fall we're going on tour Spook Live. I can't wait. It's going to be awesome. And here's where you come in. Looking for amazing, mystical, magical storytellers who can rock their true story of touching the supernatural on stage in front of thousands of people. Do you know somebody who needs to be on the Spooked Live stage? Are you somebody who needs to be on the Spooked Live stage? Let me know spookednapjudgment.org tell me about your relationship to the show Shadow to the mystery unfolded over time. The twists, the turns, the shocks. [e-mail] cuz there is nothing better than a spooked story from a spooked listener. [e-mail] and don't turn out the lights.

[Unknown Advertiser]

Last year, Americans ate 32 billion chicken wings. Who knows just how many helpless sides of celery were heartlessly thrown away. But this year, celery neglect can stop with you and irresistible Jif peanut butter because you can make a snack to make a difference. You can buy a jar of Jif to save the celery. So please don't let celery be decoration for wings. Tap the banner to save the celery.

Did you know 39% of teen drivers admit to texting while driving. Even scarier, those who text are more likely to speed and run red lights. Shockingly, 94% know it's dangerous, but do it anyway. As a parent, you can't always be in the car, but you can stay connected to their safety with Greenlight Infinity's driving reports. Monitor their driving habits. See if they're using their phone, speeding and more. These reports provide real data for meaningful conversations about safety. Plus, with weekly updates, you can track their progress over time. Help keep your teens safe. Sign up for Greenlight [e-mail] podcast Americans.

Love using their credit cards, the most secure and hassle free way to pay. But D.C. politicians want to change that with the Durbin Marshall credit card bill. This bill lets corporate mega stores pick how your credit card is processed, allowing them to use untested payment networks that jeopardize your data, security and rewards. Corporate megastores will make more money and you pay the price. Tell Congress to guard your card because Americans lose When politicians choose. Learn [e-mail] he ended up reaching the.

[Chaitanu Razdan]

Village at 11 o'clock. My grandfather straight went to the village head's house. The village head was a very good friend of my grandfather. The village head came and he opened the door. He said to my grandfather, what happened to you? Why are you so late? Are you okay? Why don't you come in? So my grandfather comes in and he sits on the ground on the carpet, also known as kaleen. He told my grandfather, okay, so what happened in the journey? After my grandfather explained it to the village head, he had very concerning look in his eyes. He said, you know what? You should consider yourself very lucky that you made it to my place tonight. Not everybody's been so lucky. My grandfather asked him why. He's like, what you saw there? It's called a rachok. Some people also call it Brahma rachok. They say that ra chok is a human like creature on two legs. And it has a light on his head. It has a fire on his head. It's so bright that you cannot see his face. He shows himself to people who are traveling at night. It creates an illusion, makes you take the wrong road. People usually tend to follow the light, thinking there's a human dwelling there or a village. My grandfather is like, yeah, I have heard about rachok. When I was a kid, I thought, it's a, you know, story you tell your kids. And then when you grow up, you kind of forget about those stories. So is it real? And the village head replied, yes, it is real. There have been people we never found again. In the past, we had to send search parties to find people. Some of them were lucky we found them. But some people, we have no clue about what happened to them. You are lucky that you did not leave the trail and start following those lights. Otherwise, who knows, tomorrow morning we might be looking for you in the forest. My grandfather was shocked. He said nothing, but he also felt a sense of gratitude towards the Lord. Probably it was some of his good karma that helped save his day. After that, he made it a point that he did not travel anywhere by himself at night. My grandfather finished his story. He went quiet. Then I was silent. I had goosebumps. And I was also scared a little bit because I had just seen a light. My grandmother had actually come out and she was also listening to this story. Probably maybe 20th time or 50th time. My grandma says, okay, let's go, let's have dinner now. I am 40 now and I still Remember all the details of this story. It left an everlasting impression on me. I do believe there are still Ra Chok somewhere in those mountains. I still have an iron ring that was given to me by my parents. I've never taken that ring off my finger.

[Unknown Advertiser]

It.

[Chaitanu Razdan]

It's been a part of my body for the last 30 years. Just keeps me safe. Let's put it that way.

[Glenn Washington]

Thank you Raznan for sharing. Your grandfather's story was Spooked. The original score for that story was by Clay Xavier. It was scouted by Aditya Matu and produced by Eric yanez. Now then 1868 London. In front of several witnesses, a man by the name of Daniel Douglas Holm flew out of a third story window and flew back in through another window. Naturally, folks were both amazed and dubious. Daniel later allowed himself to be tested by multiple skeptics including eminent scientists. After a thorough examination, one of these esteemed souls finally concluded and I quote, I have seen him rise completely from the ground on several occasions. Daniel never charged for his performances. Even after his death. No concrete evidence to dispute his miracles ever arose. So I guess what I am asking Stokesters is can you fly? Can you? Seems unlikely, but if you can, I really need to know about it. No funny business. [e-mail] Let us know why. Because there is nothing better than a spooked story from a spooked listener. Spookednapjudgment.org and if you want to see Spooked come to life a whole new way, follow Spooked on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok. It is on Spread the Word. Spooked is brought to you by the team that still returns home before the street lights come on. Except of course for Mark Ristich. Mark shot out his streetlights a long time ago. There's Davy Kim, Zoe Ferrigno, Ann Ford, Eric Yanez, Tao Da Cott, Marissa Dodge, Miles Lassie, Doug Stewart, Paulina Creaky, Elizabeth Z. Pardu, Aditya Matu, Lulu Jemima the Spook theme song is by Pat Mesiti Miller. My name is Glenn Washington and it feels like our consciousness is expanding to consider ideas that we may have dismissed as absurd or fringe even a little while ago. Mainstream thinkers speak about Gaia, the collective unified consciousness of the planet, which I think is progress. But it's hard to get my mind around the planet. What about this place? What about this forest, this valley? Can it have its own consciousness? Can it love? Can it hate? Fear? See, the ancients didn't just build temples to their gods. They built temples. The gods already danced. Those standing stones aren't placed at random. Those sacred groves don't flower by chance. Our reverence is a dialogue with that which is already here, a communication that demands we approach with offerings, with respect in return. Some places give blessings, others spit curses. They are no more the same than we are, each speaking its own tongue. When you think, you feel that whisper of rain on your skin. When the buzz of the swarm presses against your daydream, listen. You may be standing exactly where the ancients would have built a temple. You may be standing on a temple where the mystery still dwells, still watches, still waits. Do you imagine that you cannot hear the scream of a place and it's being murdered as we kill our own gods? This is not just madness. This is darkness. And it's why we plead. That's why we beg. Never ever, never ever, Never, never ever turn out the light.

[Unknown Advertiser]

Last year, Americans ate 32 billion chicken wings. Who knows just how many helpless sides of celery were heartlessly thrown away? But this year, celery neglect can stop with you and irresistible Jif peanut butter because you can make a snack to make a difference. You can buy a jar of Jif to save the celery. So please don't let celery be decoration for wings. Tap the banner to save the celery.

Did you know that parents rank financial literacy as the number one most difficult life skill to teach? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app for families. With greenlight, you can set up chores, automate allowance and keep an eye on your kids spending with real time notifications. Kids learn to earn, save and spend wisely. And parents can rest easy knowing their kids are learning about money with guardrails in place. Sign up for Greenlight [e-mail] podcast.

Americans love using their credit cards, the most secure and hassle free way to pay. But D.C. politicians want to change that with the Durbin Marshall credit card bill. This bill lets corporate megastores pick how your credit card is processed, allowing them to use untested payment networks that jeopardize your data, security and rewards. Corporate megastores will make more money and you pay the price. Tell Congress to guard your card because Americans lose when politicians choose. Learn [e-mail].