Alternative spellings of this word include Vetal.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Vetāla (वेताल).—An evil spirit. In the branch of fiction Fairy stories have a prominent place. Fairy stories had a good place in India from very early times. In several stories Vetālas (ghosts) have been introduced as characters. Though Vetālas have got a place in most of the stories, the Vetāla, who had turned to the path of salvation in 'Jñānavāsiṣṭha' and the narrator of twentyfive (Pañcaviṃśati) Vetāla stories of Kathāsaritsāgara are the most prominent among them.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Vetāla (वेताल) refers to a group of deities, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.40 (“The Marriage Procession of Śiva”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] Going along, seated on the elephant Airāvata in the midst of his armies, Indra, the lord of god, shone well fully decorated in various ways. Many other sages enthusiastic about the marriage of Śiva shone well on their way. Śākinīs, Yātudhānas Vetālas, Brahmarākṣasas, Bhūtas, Pretas and Pramathas, Tumburu, Nārada, Hāhā, Hūhū, Gandharvas and Kinnaras went ahead playing on their musical instruments with great delight. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Vetāla (वेताल).—(also Betālas) a class of spirits, a gaṇa, largely followers of Śiva;¹ Vampires: dance and feast on flesh and blood on the field of battle;² images of, attending on Śiva.³

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa II. 10. 39; VII. 8. 38; X. 63. 10; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 41. 29; IV. 14. 10; 24. 55; Matsya-purāṇa 8. 5; 23. 39.
• 2) Ib. 149. 16.
• 3) Ib. 259. 24.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Vetāla (वेताल) refers to a group of deities commonly translated as “vampires” roaming at cremation grounds and possessing dead bodies. According to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 12, “...at last arrived at the burning-ground of Mahākāla in Ujjayinī, which was densely tenanted by vampires (vetāla) that smelt of carrion, and hovered hither and thither, black as night, rivalling the smoke-wreaths of the funeral pyres”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Vetāla, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

Arthashastra (politics and welfare)

Source: Shodhganga: Kakati Ganapatideva and his times (artha)

Vetāla (वेताल, “magician”) or Bhetāla is an official title designating one of the seventy-two officers (niyoga) of the Bāhattaraniyogādhipati circle, according to the Inscriptional glossary of Andhra Pradesh (Śāsana-śabdakośāmu). The bāhattaraniyoga-adhipati is the highest executive officer of this circle (including a Vetāla). For example: During the reign of Gaṇapatideva, the area extending between Pānagal to Mārjavāḍi was entrusted to Gaṇḍapeṇḍāru Gangayasāhiṇi as Bāhattaraniyogādhipati. Later on, this office was entrusted to Kāyastha Jannigadeva.

context information

Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्र, arthaśāstra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Vetāla (वेताल) is the name of an Ayurvedic recipe defined in the fourth volume of the Rasajalanidhi (chapter 2, dealing with jvara: fever). These remedies are classified as Iatrochemistry and form part of the ancient Indian science known as Rasaśāstra (medical alchemy). However, as an ayurveda treatment, it should be taken twith caution and in accordance with rules laid down in the texts.

Accordingly, when using such recipes (e.g., vetāla-rasa): “the minerals (uparasa), poisons (viṣa), and other drugs (except herbs), referred to as ingredients of medicines, are to be duly purified and incinerated, as the case may be, in accordance with the processes laid out in the texts.” (see introduction to Iatro chemical medicines)

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Nirukta (Sanskrit etymology)

Source: SOAS Research Online: The Jain Prakrit Origin of the Vetāla

Vetāla (वेताल).—The etymology of the demonic epithet vetāla is still deemed to be in doubt. The Sanskrit tradition offered ‘abiding in the dead’: aveta (casuistically identified with preta ‘dead’) + ālaya ‘domain’.

context information

Nirukta (निरुक्त) or “etymology” refers to the linguistic analysis of the Sanskrit language. This branch studies the interpretation of common and ancient words and explains them in their proper context. Nirukta is one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Vetāla (वेताल) refers to “demons”, according to the Bhairavīstotra in the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “Victory! Victory (to you) O goddess (bhagavatī)! [...] Salutations to you) who bestow the play of freedom and enjoyment by means of all the liturgies (krama) and rites (kriyā) performed in the blissful meetings of great ghosts, demons (vetālas), warlocks (bheruṇḍa), witches (lāmā) and planets (graha)! [...]”

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Vetāla (वेताल) refers to “(seeing) demons” (in dreams), according to the Svacchanda-tantra.—Accordingly, [verse 4.21-27, while describing inauspicious dreams]—“[The dreamer] sees a bear or monkey, demons (vetāla—...darśanam ... vetālakrūrasattvānāṃ), cruel beings, and dark men. [He sees those who] have erect hair, dirty ones, those who wear black garlands, clothes, and coverings. That man who, in his dream, embraces a red-eyed woman, he dies, there is no doubt, if he does not bring about peace. [...]”

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)

Vetālā (वेताला) is the name of a Goddess (Devī) presiding over Nagara: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18). Her weapon is the hala. Furthermore, Vetālā is accompanied by the Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) named Romajaṅgha and their abode is a vetra-tree.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Vetāla, at D. I, 6 (in the lists of forbidden crafts) refers to some magic art. The proper meaning of the word was already unknown when Bdhgh at DA. I, 84 explained it as “ghana-tāḷaṃ” (cymbal beating) with remark “mantena mata-sarīr’uṭṭhāpanan ti eke” (some take it to be raising the dead by magic charms). Rh. D. at Dial. I. 8 translates “chanting of bards” (cp. vetālika). It is of dialectical origin. (Page 647)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

vētāḷa (वेताळ).—m (vētāla S) The king of the piśāca. Pr. vē0 āhē tēthēṃ bhutāvaḷa āhē. 2 A high order of piśāca or an individual of it. vē0 pūrvasthaḷīṃ yēṇēṃ (The return of vētāḷa to his place. See vētāḷapañcaviśī) Expresses the reverting, into the current or course of his native disposition or established habits, of one constrained or induced to walk for a season otherwise.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

vētāḷa (वेताळ).—m The king of piśācca.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vetāla (वेताल).—

1) A kind of ghost, a goblin, vampire; particularly a ghost occupying a dead body; नाहमात्म- नाशाय वेतालोत्थापनं करिष्यामि (nāhamātma- nāśāya vetālotthāpanaṃ kariṣyāmi) 'I shall not raise a devil for my own destruction'; Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 5.23; Śiśupālavadha 2.6.

2) A doorkeeper.

Derivable forms: vetālaḥ (वेतालः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Vetāla (वेताल).—m.

(-laḥ) 1. A spirit, a goblin, especially one haunting cemeteries and animating dead bodies. 2. A door-keeper. E. va in the seventh case ve in air, and tāla habitation, fixation, from tal to fix, aff. ghañ .

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Vetāla (वेताल).—m. 1. i. e. ava-ita -ālaya, A sprite haunting cemeteries and animating dead bodies, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 5, 13; [Hitopadeśa] 65, 12. 2. (for vetra + āla, cf. vetradhara), A door-keeper.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Vetāla (वेताल).—[masculine] a kind of goblins or vampires.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Vetāla (वेताल) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—poet. [Sūktikarṇāmṛta by Śrīdharadāsa]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Vetāla (वेताल):—m. (of doubtful derivation) a kind of demon, ghost, spirit, goblin, vampire ([especially] one occupying a dead body), [Harivaṃśa; Kāvya literature; Kathāsaritsāgara] etc.

2) Name of one of Śiva’s attendants, [Kālikā-purāṇa]

3) of a teacher, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

4) of a poet, [Catalogue(s)]

5) a door-keeper (?), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) Vetālā (वेताला):—[from vetāla] f. a form of Durgā, [Vāsavadattā]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Vetāla (वेताल):—(laḥ) 1. m. A dead body animated by an evil spirit; a doorkeeper.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Vetāla (वेताल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Veāla.

[Sanskrit to German]

Vetala in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Vetāla (वेताल) [Also spelled vetal]:—(nm) a goblin, evil spirit, ghost.

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Vētāla (ವೇತಾಲ):—

1) [noun] an evil or mischievous spirit (believed by some that these are cursed beings of heaven).

2) [noun] a man who guards the entrance of a building; a door-keeper.

3) [noun] a teacher.

--- OR ---

Vētāḷa (ವೇತಾಳ):—[noun] = ವೇತಾಲ [vetala].

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with (+15): Vetala bhatta, Vetalabhatta, Vetalaci Khari, Vetalaci Pheri, Vetaladarshana, Vetalajanani, Vetalaka, Vetalakalpa, Vetalakarmajna, Vetalakarman, Vetalakavaca, Vetalakhyayika, Vetalakkanni, Vetalakshema, Vetalam, Vetalamalamantra, Vetalamantra, Vetalamardana, Vetalamardanatantra, Vetalanem.

Ends with: Agnivetala, Agyavetala, Bhutavetala, Cauvetala, Cavetala, Lomavetala, Nanavetala, Savetala, Shmashanavetala.

Full-text (+528): Vetalapancavimshati, Yamashikha, Bhetala, Mantradhiraja, Vaitala, Vetalasadhana, Bhutaketu, Vaitaliya, Mandaravati, Agnivetala, Savetala, Vetalapancavimshatika, Vetalaci Pheri, Vetalika, Vetalasiddhi, Vetalakarmajna, Vetalavimshati, Vetalastotra, Vetalotthapana, Vetalaci Khari.

Relevant text

Search found 43 books and stories containing Vetala, Vetāla, Vētāḷa, Vetālā, Vētāla; (plurals include: Vetalas, Vetālas, Vētāḷas, Vetālās, Vētālas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4 (by Vihari-Lala Mitra)

Chapter XXXIX - Description of the battlefield infested by nocturnal fiends < [Book III - Utpatti khanda (utpatti khanda)]

Chapter XLIX - Description of daivastras or supernatural weapons < [Book III - Utpatti khanda (utpatti khanda)]

Chapter LXX - Interrogatories of vitala < [Book VI - Nirvana prakarana part 1 (nirvana prakarana)]

+ 22 more chapters / show preview

Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)

Verse 8.13.85 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]

Verse 6.1.30 < [Chapter 1 - Jarāsandha’s Defeat]

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The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)

Chapter 8 - Sudarśana Becomes a Vampire < [Section 1 - Setu-māhātmya]

Chapter 9 - Redemption of Sudarśana and Sukarṇa < [Section 1 - Setu-māhātmya]

Chapter 36 - The Glory of Dhanuṣkoṭi: Durācāra Liberated < [Section 1 - Setu-māhātmya]

+ 24 more chapters / show preview

Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)

Vetāla 5: Somaprabhā and her Three Suitors < [Appendix 6.1 - The Twenty-five Tales of a Vetāla]

Chapter XCIX < [Book XII - Śaśāṅkavatī]

Notes on vampires < [Notes]

+ 84 more chapters / show preview

Jnaneshwari (Bhavartha Dipika) (by Ramchandra Keshav Bhagwat)

Verse 17.22 < [Chapter 17 - Shraddha-traya-vibhaga-yoga]

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Bhagavad-gita-mahatmya (by Shankaracharya)

Chapter 14 - King Vikrama-vetala

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Click here for all 43 books