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King Vikramaditya and a vetala in *the Vetala Panchavimshati.*

A vetala (Sanskrit: वेताल, romanized: vetāla) is a class of beings in Hindu mythology. They are usually defined as a knowledgeable (fortune telling) paranormal entity said to be dwelling at charnel grounds. Reanimated corpses are used as vehicles by these spirits for movement. A vetala may possess and leave a dead body at will.^[1]

Description

In Hindu folklore, the vetala is an evil spirit who haunts cemeteries and takes demonic possession of corpses. They make their displeasure known by troubling humans. They can drive people mad, kill children, and cause miscarriages, but also guard villages.

They are hostile spirits of the dead trapped in the 'twilight zone' between life and afterlife. These creatures can be repelled by the chanting of mantras. One can free them from their ghostly existence by performing their funerary rites. Being unaffected by the laws of space and time, they have an uncanny knowledge about the past, present, and future and a deep insight into human nature. Therefore many sorcerers seek to capture them and turn them into slaves.^[2]

There is also a strong Vetala cult in the Konkan region, under the names of Betal, Vetal, Vetoba. Since Betal is said to be the husband of the goddess Shantadurga, there will be a temple dedicated in honour of Betal either within the temple complex of Shantadurga or somewhere in the sylvan surroundings. There is a Betal temple in Amona, Goa. Betal is a form of Bhairava and is the head of all spirits and ghouls and vampires and all kinds of pisachas.^{[citation needed]}

Literature

The Vetala Panchavimshati is a collection of twenty-five stories, featuring a vetala as one of the two central characters.^[3] It is a part of the Kathasaritsagara, a work that was compiled no later than the 11th century.^[4] It features a frame story of a sorcerer who asks King Vikramaditya to capture a corpse hanging on a tree that stands in the middle of a cremation ground.^[5] The corpse is possessed by a vetala, who proposes to tell the king a story along the journey. After the vetala finishes the story, he would ask the king a question, which he would have to answer. After Vikramaditya answers the question, the vetala would return to the tree, the corpse hanging upon it once more. This event occurs twenty-four times, after which the king is unable to answer the question posed by the vetala. Impressed with the king, the vetala informs him of the evil designs of the sorcerer, and grants him a gift that would allow him to acquire the powers of witchcraft and defeat the sorcerer.^[6]

In popular culture

Vikram Vetal, a 1986 Indian fantasy film directed by Shantilal Soni was based on the Baital Pachisi about King Vikramaditya and the Vetala.

Vikram Aur Betaal was a television programme based on the Baital Pachisi produced by Ramanand Sagar and directed by his son Prem Sagar that aired on DD National channel. It was remade as Kahaniya Vikram aur Betaal Ki in 2009 and aired on Colors TV. Vikram Betaal Ki Rahasya Gatha (2018), an Indian mythological serial based on Baital Pachisi aired on &TV. Indian animator Rajiv Chilaka directed Vikram Betal, a television film for Cartoon Network in 2004 which was produced by his Green Gold Animations.^[7] Vicky & Vetaal (2006–2007) and Vicky Aur Vetaal (2015–2016), which aired on Disney Channel India, also featured Vetala as the main character.

References

^ Dowson, John (2013-11-05). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature. Routledge. p. 355. ISBN 978-1-136-39029-6.
^ Rosen, Brenda (2009). The mythical creatures bible : the definitive guide to legendary beings. New York: Sterling. p. 193. ISBN 9781402765360.
^ Dowson, John (2013-11-05). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature. Routledge. p. 355. ISBN 978-1-136-39029-6.
^ Doniger, Wendy (March 2014). On Hinduism. OUP USA. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-19-936007-9.
^ Poo, Mu-chou (2009-06-24). Rethinking Ghosts in World Religions. BRILL. p. 18. ISBN 978-90-474-2484-0.
^ Winternitz, Moriz (1981). A History of Indian Literature. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 267. ISBN 978-81-208-0056-4.
^ Dua Aarti (26 August 2012). "Small wonder. Toon hero Chhota Bheem has emerged as the favourite homegrown television character of tiny tots". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2012.

Sources

Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola

[1] Dowson, John (2013-11-05). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature. Routledge. p. 355. ISBN 978-1-136-39029-6.

[2] Rosen, Brenda (2009). The mythical creatures bible : the definitive guide to legendary beings. New York: Sterling. p. 193. ISBN 9781402765360.

[3] Dowson, John (2013-11-05). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature. Routledge. p. 355. ISBN 978-1-136-39029-6.

[4] Doniger, Wendy (March 2014). On Hinduism. OUP USA. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-19-936007-9.

[5] Poo, Mu-chou (2009-06-24). Rethinking Ghosts in World Religions. BRILL. p. 18. ISBN 978-90-474-2484-0.

[6] Winternitz, Moriz (1981). A History of Indian Literature. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 267. ISBN 978-81-208-0056-4.

[telegraph-7] Dua Aarti (26 August 2012). "Small wonder. Toon hero Chhota Bheem has emerged as the favourite homegrown television character of tiny tots". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2012.

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+{{Short description|Animated corpse from Hindu mythology}}
-A '''vetala''' is a [[vampire]] from [[India]]n [[mythology]].  They are distinct from more traditional vampires in that they exist as wraithly beings who reside by day in the corpses of others.  These corpses may be used as vehicles for movement (as they no longer decay while so inhabited), but a vetala may also leave the body at night to feed.
+{{for|the deified form of a Hindu god|Betal}}
+[[File:Vetal.jpg|alt=|thumb|King Vikramaditya and a vetala in ''the Vetala Panchavimshati.'']]
+A '''vetala''' ({{langx|sa|वेताल|translit=vetāla}}) is a class of beings in [[Hindu mythology]]. They are usually defined as a knowledgeable ([[fortune telling]]) [[paranormal|paranormal entity]] said to be dwelling at [[charnel ground]]s. Reanimated corpses are used as vehicles by these spirits for movement. A vetala may possess and leave a dead body at will.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dowson |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=leH7AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA355 |title=A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature |date=2013-11-05 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-39029-6 |pages=355 |language=en}}</ref>
+==Description==
-In Indian folklore, the vetala is an evil spirit who haunts cemeteries and takes demonic possession of corpses. They make their displeasure known by troubling humans. Victims reanimated by a Vetàla would always have their hands and feet pointed backwards. They can drive people mad, kill children and cause miscarriages but they also guard their villages.
+In Hindu folklore, the vetala is an evil spirit who haunts cemeteries and takes [[demonic possession]] of corpses. They make their displeasure known by troubling humans. They can drive people mad, kill children, and cause miscarriages, but also guard villages.
-They are hostile spirits of the dead whose children did not perform funerary rites in their memory. As a result they are trapped in the twilight zone between life and after-life. These creatures can be appeased with gifts or frightened them away with spells. One can free them from their ghostly existence by performing their funerary rites. Being spirits, unfettered by the laws of space and time, they have an uncanny knowledge about the past, present and future and a deep insight into human nature. Hence, many sorcerers seek to capture them and turn them into slaves.
+They are hostile spirits of the dead trapped in the 'twilight zone' between life and [[afterlife]]. These creatures can be repelled by the chanting of [[mantras]]. One can free them from their ghostly existence by performing their funerary rites. Being unaffected by the laws of space and time, they have an uncanny knowledge about the past, present, and future and a deep insight into human nature. Therefore many sorcerers seek to capture them and turn them into slaves.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rosen |first1=Brenda |title=The mythical creatures bible : the definitive guide to legendary beings |date=2009 |publisher=Sterling |location=New York |isbn=9781402765360 |page=193}}</ref>
+There is also a strong Vetala cult in the [[Konkan]] region, under the names of [[Betal]], Vetal, Vetoba. Since Betal is said to be the husband of the goddess [[Shantadurga]], there will be a temple dedicated in honour of Betal either within the temple complex of Shantadurga or somewhere in the sylvan surroundings. There is a [[Shree Betal temple|Betal temple]] in Amona, Goa. Betal is a form of [[Bhairava]] and is the head of all spirits and ghouls and vampires and all kinds of [[pisachas]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}
-A sorcerer once asked King Vikramaditya to capture a vetala who lived in a tree that stood in the middle of a crematorium. The only way to do that was by keeping silent.
+==Literature==
-However, every time Vikramaditya caught the ghost, the ghost would enchant the king with a story that would end with a question. No matter how hard he tried, Vikramaditya would not be able to resist answering the question. This would enable the vetala to escape and return to his tree. The stories of the vetala have been compiled in the book "Vetala-pachisi".
+The [[Vetala Panchavimshati]] is a collection of twenty-five stories, featuring a vetala as one of the two central characters.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dowson |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=leH7AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA355 |title=A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature |date=2013-11-05 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-39029-6 |pages=355 |language=en}}</ref> It is a part of the [[Kathasaritsagara]], a work that was compiled no later than the 11th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Doniger |first=Wendy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iM_QAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA45 |title=On Hinduism |date=March 2014 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-936007-9 |pages=45 |language=en}}</ref> It features a frame story of a sorcerer who asks King [[Vikramaditya]] to capture a corpse hanging on a tree that stands in the middle of a cremation ground.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Poo |first=Mu-chou |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hw2wCQAAQBAJ&dq=vet%C4%81la+spirits&pg=PA17 |title=Rethinking Ghosts in World Religions |date=2009-06-24 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-474-2484-0 |pages=18 |language=en}}</ref> The corpse is possessed by a vetala, who proposes to tell the king a story along the journey. After the vetala finishes the story, he would ask the king a question, which he would have to answer. After Vikramaditya answers the question, the vetala would return to the tree, the corpse hanging upon it once more. This event occurs twenty-four times, after which the king is unable to answer the question posed by the vetala. Impressed with the king, the vetala informs him of the evil designs of the sorcerer, and grants him a gift that would allow him to acquire the powers of witchcraft and defeat the sorcerer.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Winternitz |first=Moriz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ql0BmInD1c4C&pg=PA367 |title=A History of Indian Literature |date=1981 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-0056-4 |pages=267 |language=en}}</ref>
+== In popular culture ==
-{{myth-stub}}
+{{see also|Baital Pachisi#Other media|Vikramaditya#Legacy}}
+''[[Vikram Vetal]]'', a 1986 Indian fantasy film directed by [[Shantilal Soni]] was based on the ''Baital Pachisi'' about King Vikramaditya and the Vetala.
+''[[Vikram Aur Betaal]]'' was a television programme based on the ''Baital Pachisi'' produced by [[Ramanand Sagar]] and directed by his son Prem Sagar that aired on [[DD National]] channel. It was remade as ''Kahaniya Vikram aur Betaal Ki'' in 2009 and aired on [[Colors TV]]. ''[[Vikram Betaal Ki Rahasya Gatha]]'' (2018), an Indian mythological serial based on ''Baital Pachisi'' aired on [[&TV]]. Indian animator [[Rajiv Chilaka]] directed ''Vikram Betal'', a television film for [[Cartoon Network (Indian TV channel)|Cartoon Network]] in 2004 which was produced by his [[Green Gold Animations]].<ref name=telegraph>{{cite news |author=Dua Aarti |title=Small wonder. Toon hero Chhota Bheem has emerged as the favourite homegrown television character of tiny tots |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |location=Calcutta, India |date=26 August 2012 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120826/jsp/graphiti/story_15896553.jsp#.UKZ52-RFWAh |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203133401/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120826/jsp/graphiti/story_15896553.jsp%23.UKZ52-RFWAh |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 3, 2013 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}</ref> ''[[Vicky & Vetaal]]'' (2006–2007) and ''[[Vicky Aur Vetaal]]'' (2015–2016), which aired on [[Disney Channel India]], also featured Vetala as the main character.
+== References ==
+{{Reflist}}
+== Sources ==
+* [[Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend]] ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}) by Anna Dallapiccola
+{{HinduMythology}}
+{{Baital Pachisi}}
+[[Category:Corporeal undead]]
+[[Category:Demons in Hinduism]]
+[[Category:Indian legendary creatures]]
+[[Category:Revenants]]
+[[Category:Vampires]]
+[[Category:Zombies]]
+[[Category:Panchatantra]]

v t e Hindu deities and texts
Gods	Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Agni Ashvins Chandra Dattatreya Ganesha Hanuman Indra Kama Kartikeya Krishna Kubera Rama Shasta Surya Varuna Vayu Vishvakarma Yama more
Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Aditi Bhumi Chhaya Durga Ganga Shachi Kali Mahadevi Mahavidya Matangi Matrikas Radha Rati Rohini Rukmini Sanjna Sati Shakti Shashthi Sita more
Other deities	Apsaras Asuras Daitya Danava Devata Dikpāla Gandharvas Gana Kuladevatas Gramadevatas Rakshasas Vahanas Yakshas / Yakshini
Texts (list)	Vedas Rig Sama Yajur Atharva Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita Yoga Sutras of Patanjali more
Hinduism Hindu mythology

v t e Vetala Panchavimshati
Characters	Vikramaditya Vetala
Television adaptations	Vikram Aur Betaal (1985) Vicky & Vetaal (2006) Vikram Betaal Ki Rahasya Gatha (2018–2019)
Film adaptations	Vikram Vedha (2017) Vikram Vedha (2022)
Related	List of Vetala Tales