Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Traverses on less trodden path...
started gaining popularity and the Visnusinti 78 (c. 100 A.D.), contains reference to it. References are also found in the works of Bhāsa,?? Kalidāsa, 8o Sūdraka, 81 Bāņa 88 and in Agni purana 8.3 and Angirasasmsti. 84 After 700 A.D., this practice was defended by some law-givers delcaring that innumerable merits flow from the performance of sati,85 This pra. ctice became very popular among the Ksatriya Ciste from 4th century A.D. onwards and after 1000 A.D., became common to Brahmaņas, Kşatriyas and Vaisyas. 86
In the 19th century AD, this practice of sati was extended to rela. tions (besides widow of the dead) such as mothers, sisters, servants and nurses. The Rajatarangini and the Kathāsaritsägara (1100 A.D.) are full of such instances, 8 ?
We have also numerous epigraphic records referring to the practice of sari 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 saka 979 of the time of Rajendra Coladeva 89 and several other inscriptions so clearly point out that this practice was in general use, at least among the ruling class, in ludia, under the Guptas, the Vardhamanas and their successors.
Some stone monuments, called Mahāsatikal,91 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. lo modern Indian history, we find few instances of this practice in the history of Rajputs, Marathas and Peshwas.98
78. Ibid., p. 140. 79. Dataghatotkaca, pub : Chowkhamba Vidyabhavan, Varanasi, 1960; Urub harga,
pub : C. V. Bhavan, Varanasi, 1962. 80. Kumārasambhavam, IV, ed, S. R. Sehgal, Pub : Munshi Ram Manoharlal, Delhi,
1959, pp. 35-36. 81. Mycchakațikam, X. 82. Kādambari, Pūrvabhāgah, Para 177, 83. History of Suicide in India, p. 140. 84. Angirasasmyti, Medhātithi on Manu, V. 157. 85. History of Suicide in India, pp. 140-141. 86. Ibid., pp. 140-159. 87. Rājatarangini, VI, 107, 195; VII, 103, 478; VIII: V. 88. Indian Antiquary, ix, 164; Fleet, Corpus Inscriptions Indicarum. Vol. III, p. 91. 89. Indian Antiquary, IX, p. 163 ff. (Nepa! Inscriptions); Epigraphita Indica, VI, p. 213. 90. History of Suicide in India, pp. 96-103. 91. Indian Antiquary, XXXV, pp. 129-30. 92. 'History of Suicide in India', pp. 141, 157, 160, 170, 171.