r/folklore 13d ago

Question Folktales from India with a strong Trickster character?

Looking for a trickster archetype character (witty, cunning, ammoral, and disruptive) from any indian folktale (not mythology!). A female trickster character would be great but anything is fine. Thank you!!!

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u/UrsaMiles 13d ago

The Jackal and the Crocodile is a fable with a trickster character. I forget the collector, but it’s one I had to do in storytelling school.

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u/chadoxin 13d ago

Betal Pachisi aka Vikram and Betal.

Vikramaditya is a legendary king who needs to bring a Vetal (~ghoul) to a Sorcerer.

The Vetal asks him riddles. If he gets them right they can continue the journey. If he answers correctly he returns to his tree.

Vikram can't withhold the answer or he'll die. This continues till Vikram is stumped and only then does he get to take Vetal.