Vetalas

Vetalas are legendary undead beings found in Indian folklore. They are typically described as spirits that inhabit dead bodies, often those suspended from trees in cemeteries or other decaying corpses. The name Vetala (also spelled Vetāla, Vetal, Betal) comes from Sanskrit and is closely associated with these revenant beings who can converse and display great intelligence.

In myths, a Vetala is usually cunning and knowledgeable, sometimes possessing magical abilities such as shapeshifting or influencing the living. Rather than a simple monster, the Vetala is often portrayed as a mischievous or morally ambiguous figure who uses speech and wit to test humans, especially through stories and riddles.

The most famous Vetala stories appear in the tale cycle known as Vikram and Betal (also called Baital Pachisi). In this collection, a Vetala inhabits a corpse or sits on the back of a king’s emissary as the hero, King Vikramaditya, travels. The Vetala tells a chain of narratives and presents riddles or moral dilemmas that the king must resolve. The tales explore themes of truth, duty, justice, and virtue, with the Vetala’s questions serving as tests of wisdom and ethical judgment.

Cultural context and influence: Vetalas appear across South Asia in various regional legends and folk traditions and have influenced literature, theater, and cinema. While sometimes depicted in modern media as vampires or revenants, traditional Vetala lore emphasizes their role as moral exemplars or provocateurs within told stories.

See also: Indian folklore, Vikram and Betal, Baital Pachisi.