Prologue: The Legend of Kirtimukha

Prologue: The Legend of Kirtimukha
Andhra Museum – Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh
It was another slow evening for Ajay, a 25-year-old graduate with more dreams than opportunities.
Dressed in a faded security uniform and armed with nothing but a rusty baton and an aging smartphone, he walked the museum’s silent corridors like a ghost—seen by none, watching everything.
He wasn’t bitter. Not anymore.
Three years of job hunting had worn that away. Now, he simply watched over dusty relics, ancient coins, rusted swords, and statues long forgotten by time. He had been working here for two years.
But that night was different.
At exactly 6:40 PM, a delivery truck rumbled up to the museum gates. It was escorted by two government officials and a professor from the archaeology department.
Ajay signed the visitor log half-heartedly, then helped them guide a large stone object—wrapped in layers of thick protective cloth—into the central vault.
When the final cloth was peeled away, Ajay froze.
It wasn’t just a statue.It was a face.
Not human.Not divine.
It was fierce. Half-devoured. Roaring. A lion-like visage with bulging eyes and a gaping mouth frozen in a scream—or a warning.
The museum tag read:
> Artifact #K-1082: KIRTIMUKHA – Stone Guardian Head(Chalukyan Era, Estimated 1000 Years Old)Believed to be a temple guardian. Recently excavated from ruined temple foundations in North Telangana.


The museum in-charge stepped beside Ajay, his tone unusually serious.
“Ajay, this one is special. Do you know the story of Kirtimukha?”
Ajay shook his head.
The in-charge nodded thoughtfully and began:

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The Legend of Kirtimukha — The Glorious Face
In Hindu mythology, Kirtimukha (Sanskrit for “Face of Glory”) is a fierce, lion-like face often carved above temple gates.
Its origin lies in the ancient texts of the Skanda Purana and Shiva Purana.
The tale begins with the demon king Jalandhara, who gained immense power through severe penance. Blinded by arrogance, he desired Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, and dared to demand her through his emissary—Rahu.
Enraged, Shiva opened his third eye and unleashed a bolt of divine energy, from which was born a horrifying, skeletal, lion-like creature. Starving and feral, it was ordered to devour Rahu.
Terrified, Rahu pleaded for mercy. Shiva relented.
But the creature’s hunger remained unsatisfied.
Moved by its loyalty, Shiva gave it a final command—“Feed on yourself.”
Without hesitation, the beast began to devour its own flesh—starting with its tail and working upward, until only the face remained.
Pleased by this act of utter surrender, Shiva named the creature Kirtimukha, the Face of Glory, and declared:
> “You shall guard the gates of all sacred temples. You are the first to be seen, and the most honored.”



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The in-charge placed a hand on the display case and looked at Ajay.“So… take care of it, Ajay.”
Ajay nodded.“Yes, sir.”
By 7:15 PM, the museum emptied out. Lights dimmed. Doors locked.
Ajay lingered in the hall a moment longer, staring at the face through the thick glass.
Then he turned and walked away.
Behind him, the hall grew darker.And within the shadows—the eyes of KIRTIMUKHA began to glow.
A deep, ancient red.Alive.