Shirrar — The Shapeshifters from the Mountains
Hailing from the wicked, superstitious minds from the people of Hazara, Pakistan, is the story of the Shirrar. A Shaper-shifting demon that dwells its mountains under the thickness of mother nature and the fear of the people.
The Shirrar — also known as the Chera Pekha- is a shape-shifting creature that has gained notoriety over the decades. Native to the mythology of the Hazara Region of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, this creature is notorious for hunting on the humans here. Like many other tales and fables of mythical creatures, this demon was also fostered by the people who feared it so much that they decided it best not to travel alone in the woods.
It was believed that it lurked in the thickness of the trees on desolate roads and pathways to hunt on lone victims who passed by through an insidious scheme. It was believed that the Shirrar had the power to access the knowledge of its victims fondest memories and worst fears beforehand. It was said that this creature waited for its victim, hiding among the foliage and would use its shape-shifting ability to morph into the victim’s fondest memories or something they adored the most to first attract its victims and bring it in proximity. As the victim’s eyes set on it and they would reach near the Shirrar, the Shirrar would ambush them. It would twist its body around the victim, locking them in a death grip and would morph into the victim’s worst of fears or the most horrendous nightmare that haunted the victim, donning the one form or shape the victim can’t bear. Becoming the one thing the victims most feared.
It was often believed that the Shirrar would kill the victim after it has gotten a hold of them, but it was also believed that it was up to the Shirrar if it only wants to traumatize the victim and feed on their fear before letting them go or to capture them.
The stories of the Shirrar are often heard from the people of Hazara or read in their books. However, there has never been a story where the Shirrar was captured by the Humans. Perhaps its ability to Shape-shift paid off well. Maybe this is also the reason that not many records of the physical features and how the Shirrar actually looks like in its true form are present. Yet the legend of a shape-shifting being, lurking in the woods to capture the people is enough to keep the people from exploration and as a result getting lost in the woods. Perhaps it was only a way of keeping the people from travelling far all alone, but who knows the reality and true origin of the tale.
Shape-shifter cousins of the Shirrar can also be found in mythical tales from other regions of Pakistan and other countries. Yet the Shirrar was the cultivation of the minds, tongues and gullible beliefs of the people from Hazara, Pakistan.
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