Baital Pachisi in Hindi

Baital Pachisi or Vikram Betal or twenty five tales of Baital is a great collection of tales and legends, from India. One of its oldest text is found in the 11th century by Somdeva, but thought to have been based on yet older materials. VIkram of the tale is supposed to be Vikramaditya (102 BCE to 15 CE) the legendry kind of Ujjain. It was originally written in Sanskrit.

It is the gem which culminated in the Arabian nights, and which inspired the Apuleius, and the Pentamerone. The Baital or sometimes written as vetal stories has been translated into many Indian vernaculars. Several English translations exist, based on Sanskrit recensions and on Hindi ("Baital Pachisi" is the Hindi title), Tamil, and Marathi versions.

The story is based on the great king named Vikram, kind of like the king Arthur of the east, who promised a Jogi or Magician that he will bring the Baital (Vamipre) who is hanging on the tree. The stories are very popular in India and have also been made to tv shows and cartoon series.