World of Philosophy

SR No.: 007005
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 1002
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 30 MB

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relations (besides widow of the dead) such as mothers, sisters,, servants and nurses. The Rājatarangini and the Kathāsaritsāgara (1100 A.D.) are full of such instances.
We have also numerous epigraphic records referring to the practice of sati in ancient and mediaeval times. The earliest one is 191 of the Gupta era (510 A.D,) in the Gupta inscription.88 Nepal inscriptions of śaka 979 of the time of Rajendra Coladeva89 and several other inscriptions clearly point out that this practice was in general use, at least among the ruling class, in India, under the Guptas, the Vardhamanas and their successors.
Some stone monuments, called Mahāsatikal, erected in memory of satis, indicate that this kind of self-sacrifice was highly honoured by the society and some sati- memorial stones were worshipped as goddesses. In modern Indian history, we find few instances of this practice in the history of Rajputs, Marathas and Peshwas.92
It became highly respected and held in high esteem by the Hindus in the mediaeval age, But it was a purely voluntary affair and whenever it took shape of purely a social custom and widows were compelled to practice sati, strong protests were made, declaring it as non-religious and not in accordance with the śāstras throughout the ancient and mediaeval periods. 93 But unfortunately, in later times, this practice took different shape and became purely cruel social custom and British rulers have stopped it.
Jauhar is another kind of self-immolation prevalent in the mediaeval period among the brave Rajputs of Rajasthan. It is a story of a glorious chapter of heroism and splendid sacrifice of Rajputs, Jauhar was in a sense, a spontaneous out-burst of violent reaction against the barbarous atrocities perpetrated by the brute conquerors who felt no scruples in molesting even womenfolk.94 It is a heroic type of sacrifice, resorted to, to avoid intolerable shame and dishonour to culture and community at the hands of victorious enemies.
In India its origin can be traced as far back as the 4th century B.C. At the time of Alexander's invasion of India, many defeated kings along with their wives and subjects, resorted to this method of selfimmolation to avoid dishonour at the hands of foreigners. It is said that in one city alone, some twenty thousand males, females and children embraced flames to escape captivity and dishonour.95 In the early centuries of the Christian era, when the Sakas and the Hunas invaded India, created terror and played havoc with lives of the people, the royal families resorted to this method to save the honour of their womenfolk. 9 In classical literature, it is found that, Dāksāyani ( daughter of Daksa ), or Sati
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