[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c9.4187 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4187 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c9.4187 - **Language:** English ### [c9.4187](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4187) VETĀLA. 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. - [Previous: c9.4186](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4186) - [Next: c9.4188](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4188) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9) ## Cites (2) - [Kathāsaritsāgara](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.brhatkatha.kathasaritsagara) — Somadeva Bhaṭṭa, Sanskrit - [Yogavāsiṣṭha](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.upajivya.yogavasistha) — Vālmīki, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4187](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4187) · Pramāṇa