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Betal, often transliterated Vetala in Sanskrit-derived texts, is a term found in Indian folklore referring to a class of undead spirits that inhabit corpses. In traditional tales such as the Baital Pachisi, a Vetala resides in a body and is captured or invited to speak by a human listener. The Vetala tells stories and poses riddles, with the central moral purpose of the narratives being to test wit, virtue, and judgment. The frame of the stories usually involves a king, such as Vikramaditya, who must solve the Vetala’s riddles to progress, reflecting themes of dharma and ethical decision making.

Etymology and variations: Vetala is the standard Sanskrit form, while Betal or Betala are regional or transliterated spellings that appear in translations and later works. The term is related to broader Indo-Aryan mythological concepts of spirits associated with the dead, and its exact interpretation varies by source and era.

Modern usage: Betal also appears as a surname or given name in parts of the Indian subcontinent, and is used in contemporary media and literature as a cultural reference to the folklore figure. In popular culture, the name Betal has been used in titles and characters that draw on the archetype of the Vetala for thematic motifs such as storytelling, riddles, and moral dilemmas.

Betaal in modern media: Betaal is the title of a 2020 Indian horror series released on Netflix that draws on the Vetala myth, blending folklore elements with contemporary storytelling and genre tropes. The series popularized the term outside traditional folklore circles and contributed to ongoing discussions of its cultural resonance.

See also: Vetala, Baital Pachisi, Vikram and Betal.