Vetala
Also called Betaal, Baital, Vetal.
In Hindu mythology and Indian folklore, the Vetala is a vampiric spirit that reanimates and speaks through a corpse, most famously as the riddling captive of the Vetala Panchavimshati (Baital Pachisi) story-cycle.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Indian folklore
- Trait family
- The Great-Thewed
- Symbols
- Ghost
Near this figure
Symbols
Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.
- Ghost is image-domain A ghost is the returning dead made present to the living, apparition of unfinished business and unresolved grief, by turns vengeful, pitiable and tenderly protective.
why
Rather than a body of its own, the Vetala requires a dead host, taking possession of a cadaver and using it as a vehicle to move, speak, and act in the world, which sets it apart from simple ghosts or reanimated bodies acting on their own.
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Behaviour
- Speaks only in riddles and prophecy
why
On each attempt, the Vetala tells the king a story that ends in a riddle or moral dilemma; compelled to answer whenever he knows the solution (in many tellings on pain of his head bursting if he knew and kept silent), Vikramaditya cannot help but respond, and the Vetala escapes back to its tree, forcing the king to begin again.
- Grants boons when bound or bested
why
In some tellings a Vetala can be commanded once captured or bested, granting boons or answers to whoever holds power over it, though the terms and extent of this vary across sources.
Offensive powers
- Corpse possession
why
Rather than a body of its own, the Vetala requires a dead host, taking possession of a cadaver and using it as a vehicle to move, speak, and act in the world, which sets it apart from simple ghosts or reanimated bodies acting on their own.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Shadow carries
4 citations
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Vetala."
- John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, s.v. "Vetala."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Vetala."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Vetala."
- Trickster carries both readings
4 citations
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Vetala."
- John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, s.v. "Vetala."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Vetala."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Vetala."
- Wise Old Man carries
4 citations
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Vetala."
- John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, s.v. "Vetala."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Vetala."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Vetala."
- Death meets
4 citations
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Vetala."
- John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, s.v. "Vetala."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Vetala."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Vetala."
- Hero meets
4 citations
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Vetala."
- John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, s.v. "Vetala."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Vetala."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Vetala."