Sati Partha Dark Legacy – In the Hindu tradition and in Hindu Custom of Sati Partha, the widow of the deceased person voluntarily self-immolates by sitting atop his cremation pyre. So, the Question arise that “Why was Sati Partha Abolished”?
While Sati was a free practice in antiquity, some widows may have been forced to do it during the Middle Ages. While many “Hindu haters” utilize this to preach against Hinduism, they conveniently ignore the fact that many other cultures, including Greek, German, Slavic, Scandinavian, Egyptian, and Chinese, also practice this behavior, which was undoubtedly cruel and savage.
At first, Sati Partha was mostly practiced by royal Kshatriya families, but it eventually extended to other castes.
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In the vast tapestry of Hindu customs, there exists an uncommon and seldom discussed practice known as Sati Partha. Rooted in ancient Hindu traditions, Sati Partha holds a significant historical and cultural significance. This archaic Hindu custom, though largely eradicated, continues to echo through the annals of history, reminding us of a time when societal norms and religious fervor converged in a way that is difficult to comprehend in the modern world.
Sati Partha: Dark Legacy and Societal Transformation
#What is the meaning of the word “Sati”?
Goddess Uma, Lord Shiva’s first wife, is also known by the name Sati. As Truth in Sanskrit, “Satya” is the root of the word “Sati.” Since the term Sati is feminine and the opposite of the male word Satya, it signifies “the woman who is truthful” in this sense.
Europeans referred to the tradition as sati. The ritual was originally known by the title “shamarana,” which means “die together.”
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#How Did Sati Get It Done?
The customs differed depending on the area. The widow would adorn her body with exquisite jewelry to resemble a recently wed woman. After that, she would say goodbye to her loved ones and friends and give her jewels to each of them. It was discovered that the widow occasionally lay down close to the dead body or sat on the funeral pyre with her deceased husband’s head resting on her lap. The woman occasionally stepped into or leaped into the blazing pyre. There are claims that the widow would burn the pyre herself, but other accounts claim that others would do it.
Certain communities interred widows alive beside their deceased spouses. The sole recorded eyewitness report of an Indian Sati with a burial comes from the Flemish painter Frans Balthazar Selvyn in the 18th century. According to Selvyn, soldiers from the East India Company guarded the tradition, which involved the woman shaving her head. Though he finds the ceremony cruel, he expresses affection for the Hindu woman.
#Different types of Sati Partha?
Anumarana:
A self-immolation at a loved one’s funeral is known as Anumarana or Anugamana, an ancient Indian rite that can be carried out by anyone, male or female, who has a strong sense of personal allegiance to the deceased. When widowed ladies found out about their husbands’ deaths on the battlefield or in another location and that he had already been cremated, they would typically practice it. The widow then makes the decision to take her own life and burn herself alive using her husband’s ashes, padukas, or other keepsakes. The Kamasutra mentions the practice of Anumarana. The occasional practice of Anumarana by widows of Kshatriyas is mentioned in the Mahabharata.
According to accounts, the practice predates the Gupta Empire and is common throughout northern India. In accordance with custom, non-Brahmin women were free to choose to self-immolate via either sahamarana or anumarana; Brahmin women were only allowed to die via sahamarana and were not granted the choice of anumarana. Given that Anumarana’s widow did not commit self-immolation in her husband’s funeral pyre, it cannot be compared to later interpretations of the Sati tradition. It was known as Sahamarana or Sahagamana when a widow destroyed herself by immolating her dead spouse.
Jauhar:
When facing inevitable loss in a war, the Hindu (Rajput) tradition of Jauhar, also occasionally spelled Jowhar or Jauhar, involved women in India mass-self-immolating or else being executed by their husbands, fathers, or brothers in order to escape being captured, sold into slavery, and then raped by an invading Islamic army. Jauhar was a custom exclusive to the Rajput community. In Jauhar, many Rajput women would jump into the blazing pyres when they were certain that their husbands had lost a battle. In the Sati Partha, most women burned themselves. The primary reason for doing this was to protect their virginity from Islamic invaders who would rape the ladies they abducted. In several cases, some soldiers also desecrated the deceased bodies of Hindu women. These women therefore opted to burn themselves to death.
#Which Females Were Prohibited from Executing Sati?
In some circumstances, women were prohibited from engaging in Sati, either voluntarily or involuntarily. They are listed below:
- Pregnant Women
- Those women who has the responsibility of young children
- If a lady is not chaste.
#The Historical Context
Sati Partha was deeply rooted in the social fabric of ancient Hindu society. It was often seen as a way for women to demonstrate their commitment to their husbands even after death. However, this practice was not uniformly accepted across all regions of India. It was more prevalent in certain communities and kingdoms, reflecting the diverse and complex nature of Hinduism.
#Incidents of Sati Partha
Travelers who visited India include Al Biruni (973–1048 CE), Ibn Battuta (d. 1304 CE), and numerous others who have written of seeing Sati performed in public.
Ajit Singh of Marwar, a Rajput monarch, burned himself and his sixty-three wives on his funeral pyre in 1724. 84 of Raja Budh Singh’s wives became Satis after his death.
Eighty-five days after the death of King Shivaji, one of his wives performed Sati. Putalabai was her name.
Shivaji Maharaj’s mother Jijabai intended to become Sati after Shaha ji Raje passed away, but Shivaji Maharaj stopped her.
#Sati Partha’s Decline
Over the ages, Sati Partha came under examination as society standards changed and knowledge of human rights grew. The 19th-century eradication of slavery in India was largely the result of British colonial authority. Women’s rights and dignity were violated, and social reformers and progressive leaders of the day denounced this practice. An important turning point in the history of Hindu customs was the We can thus observe that numerous Muslim kings attempted, but were unable, to put an end to the custom. Not only did the Muslim rulers put an end to it in their lands, but certain European kings did as well. It was outlawed in Goa in 1515 by Portuguese Governor Alburquerque. It was outlawed in Puddicheri and Hugli-Chuchura by Dutch and French authorities as well. Enactment of laws to end this practice.
#Who abolish the Sati Partha?
Rulers of Islam Who Tried to Eliminate the Sati Tradition:
- The first Muslim king to attempt to thwart Sati was Muhammad ibn Tughlak. He mandated that before burning the widow, a license must be obtained.
- Although Humayun outright forbade the practice, he later withdrew his decree out of concern about God’s vengeance.
- Akbar tried to put an end to the forced Sati cases, but he was unable to stop those who chose to self-burn. To dissuade the widows from engaging in Sati, he even made gifts and land offers to them (John Stratton Hawley, “Sati: The Blessing and the Curse: The Burning of Wives in India”).
- Jahangir forbade the custom, but he did not uphold it rigorously.
- The practice was outlawed by Aurangzeb as well, although it persisted.
We can thus observe that numerous Muslim kings attempted, but were unable, to put an end to the custom. Not only did the Muslim rulers put an end to it in their lands, but certain European kings did as well. It was outlawed in Goa in 1515 by Portuguese Governor Alburquerque. It was outlawed in Puddicheri and Hugli-Chuchura by Dutch and French authorities as well.
British Abomination of Sati Partha:
In 1798, the British placed their first official ban on the Sati system, but it was limited to Calcutta. The practice persisted even after it was prohibited. On December 4, 1829, then Governor-General Lord William Bentick banned the Sati Partha in all British India because of strong resistance from Christian missionaries and social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
The Attempts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy to Remove the Sati Partha:
The man known as the Father of the Indian Renaissance is Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He founded Brahmo Sabha and was a notable reformer.
He saw his sister-in-law burn alive on her husband’s funeral pyre in 1811. It is thought that this experience deeply shook him, leading him to focus all of his efforts on ending the practice of Sati. He might have been the first Indian to object to this tradition. Raja Ram Mohan Roy said that this went directly against women’s human rights to exist in society.
Upon examining the Hindu scriptures, he discovered that there is no reference of women becoming Sati after their husbands pass away. He thereby questioned the long-standing, wicked Sati tradition. He made every effort to put an end to and outlaw this Sati tradition. He made a lot of efforts to Di enlighten people about the Sati system. He faced opposition from many traditional Hindus, but he ignored them. Along with a few Christian missionaries, he made repeated requests to the government to formally outlaw the practice. His efforts ultimately led to its abolition by the British Government.
As the Mughal Empire’s envoy to the United Kingdom in 1830, Raja Ram Mohan Roy went there to make sure that Lord William Bentinck’s Bengal Sati Regulation, which outlawed the practice of Sati in 1829, was upheld.
The Roop Kanwar Case: The Last Recorded Sati Incident in India
Roop Kanwar, a Rajput woman from Deorala Village in Rajasthan, burned herself and her deceased husband on his funeral pyre on September 4, 1987. Thousands of people saw this happened and did not attempt to stop her from doing so. Although it appears unlikely, she was accused of being coerced or encouraged by the people. All of the defendants were likewise cleared by the court.
When Roop Kanwar, then eighteen, married Maal Singh Shekhawat, he passed away unexpectedly from an unidentified ailment. She made the decision to perform Sati after his passing. The people in the area and her relatives honored her decision. She dressed as a newlywed bride, sat on her husband’s funeral pyre, and held his head in her lap on the day she committed Sati. She then offered herself over to the flames after reciting the Gayatri Mantra.
She was called Sati-Mata, or Mother Sati, by the people. Following her passing, a little temple was built in her honor.
The tragedy caused national outrage, leading the Rajasthani government to enact the Sati (Prevention) Act. Afterwards, the Indian government approved.
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Stone of Sati
Sati stones are memorials erected by the widow’s family to honor her bravery in performing Sati. These can be found across India, not just in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Kashmir.
A few of these stones had the widow’s palm impressions on them. On a few, there are engraved statues. A woman is depicted in most of the stones holding her palm in the Varadahasta position.
Conclusion
The rare and little-discussed Hindu tradition of Sati Partha provides a window into the rich fabric of Hinduism’s cultural and historical development. It is a striking reminder of the difficulties countries encounter in balancing religious views with human rights, even though it was formerly seen as a symbol of devotion. To create a more progressive and egalitarian society where old traditions, no matter how deeply ingrained, are scrutinized, and changed in the sake of a just and compassionate world, Sati Partha’s fall represents the triumph of enlightenment, education, and awareness.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Sati Partha?
Sati Partha, also known as Sati, was an ancient Hindu funeral custom where a widow would self-immolate on her husband’s funeral pyre. This practice was prevalent in certain parts of India in the past.
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When did Sati Partha originate?
The origins of Sati Partha are uncertain, but it can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts. The practice gained prominence during the medieval period in India.
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Why did women practice Sati?
Sati was rooted in cultural and religious beliefs. Women were often pressured or coerced into practicing Sati due to societal norms, religious doctrines, and the fear of social ostracism. Some women also chose to commit Sati willingly due to their devotion to their husbands.
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When was Sati Partha abolished in India?
Sati Partha was officially banned in India by the British colonial administration through legislation called the Sati Regulation Act in 1829. This law made the act of forcing or coercing a woman to commit Sati illegal and punishable by the colonial government.
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Is Sati Partha still practiced today?
Sati Partha is illegal in India and has been banned for centuries. However, isolated incidents have occurred in the past where individuals attempted to revive this practice, but they were met with strong opposition and legal action.
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What was the societal impact of Sati Partha?
Sati Partha reinforced the subordinate status of women in society and perpetuated gender inequalities. It also led to the loss of many lives and had a profound psychological impact on the communities where it was practiced.
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Are there any cultural or literary references to Sati Partha?
Yes, Sati Partha has been depicted in various literary works, including ancient texts and later literary compositions. It has also been a subject of discussion and critique in Indian literature and art.
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How is Sati Partha viewed in modern India?
In modern India, Sati Partha is widely condemned as a barbaric practice. It is viewed as a dark chapter in Indian history and a stark reminder of the need to challenge harmful traditions and promote gender equality.
9. Are there any movies or documentaries about Sati Partha?
Yes, there are movies and documentaries that depict the practice of Sati Partha and its historical context. These films often explore the social and cultural aspects of the practice and its impact on society.
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What efforts have been made to raise awareness about Sati Partha and prevent its resurgence?
Various governmental and non-governmental organizations in India work tirelessly to raise awareness about women’s rights and gender equality. They also focus on educating communities about the illegality and moral reprehensibility of practices like Sati. Legal measures and strict enforcement of laws against such practices play a crucial role in prevention efforts.