In India the undead were considered to be malefic spirits that possessed the corpses.
References to such creatures are found even in the ancient Sanskrit. It was believed that, just like bats, these vampires would hang [upside down] in the tree from inside and around the cemeteries.
The Hindu believed in reincarnation and claimed that if you lived sinfully or committed suicide, you will be reduced to one of these spirits, as a punishment for your sins. Redemption was lost.
Entities such as Bhut and Pret are the souls of those that died too soon. They hunt at night reanimating fresh corpses and attacking the living.
In northern India we stumble upon BrahmarākŞhasa, a vampiric creature that had the head surrounded by intestines through witch it would suck the blood of the victims.
Few cultures have vampire children, but Masan was known to be a vampire with an extreme lust for vengeance and cruelty impossible to imagine. He likes to “play” with the victims – often children like it but also young mothers that would invite it in their home. Some text suggest that it would take the place of the child he would kill to feel on the grief of the mother.
A young female vampire that lived in cemeteries, Masani was always dressed in black and lured her victims using the mist she controlled. She would sometimes postpone some funerals until the night set so that she could attend them.
The most famous Hindu deity associated with vampires is the goddess ~Kali~.
Statues show her as having 4 arms, fangs and a necklace of skulls. Her temples are always around cemeteries and crematories.
She and the goddess Durga fought against the demon Raktabija that could reproduce itself from every drop of blood it spilled. Jali drank all his blood so no blood was spilled and the battle was won.
India trembled in fear towards Vetala and Gandharven.
No one knows how the old beliefs in vampires were born but they bare a lot of resemblances with the European ones.
Vetala for example could take the body of both living and dead, giving the impression that the corpses were back to life. She would especially enjoy murdering children, druving people mad and instilling fear in them. She would also desecrate the remains of the dead.
The only way to eradicate such a being was to chant the holy mantras.
๑۞๑ Related: ๑۞๑
† Vampires in Ancient Cultures
† Vampire Accounts
