Tradition / Region: Bengali mythology, Indian Mythology
Alternative names: —
Category: Cat
The Myth
The Chordeva is a vampiric witch feared throughout the folklore of Bengal. It possesses supernatural powers and commonly takes the form of a cat to hunt its victims.
Rather than attacking the healthy, the Chordeva stalks the elderly, the sick, and the dying. It hastens their deaths by stealing their food or poisoning what little nourishment they have left. The creature can also kill instantly by simply licking its victim. Because of this belief, cats were traditionally kept away from those near death.
Although it resembles an ordinary cat, the Chordeva is said to produce a distinctive mewing cry that reveals its true nature. It is also repelled by water and can transform into a monstrous werecat when threatened. In this form, it is said to be completely invulnerable to harm.
The Chordeva can assume a human appearance as well. While disguised as a person, it may be destroyed like a traditional vampire, by driving a wooden stake through its heart or exposing it to prolonged sunlight. If slain while in cat form, it immediately reverts to its human shape, bearing the same wounds that killed it, allowing people to identify the hidden vampire and destroy it permanently.
Sources
Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2010, p. 45.