Sati (practice)

Sati or suttee is a historical Hindu practice, in which a widow sacrifices herself by sitting atop her deceased husband's funeral pyre.

Etymology

The term 'sati' is derived from the original name of the goddess Sati, who self-immolated because she was unable to bear her father Daksha's humiliation of her (living) husband Shiva. The term 'suttee' is commonly used in English; it is derived from the Sanskrit word 'satī', which means 'good woman' or 'chaste wife'.

Historical practice

The practice of sati was prevalent among certain sects of the society in ancient India, and it was considered a great honor for women to die on the funeral pyres of their husbands. The practice was particularly followed by the upper caste Rajput clans of Rajasthan and Punjab.

Legislation

The first official ban on the practice of sati was imposed by General Lord Charles Cornwallis in 1798. The Bengal Sati Regulation of 1829, enacted in British India under Governor General Lord William Bentinck, declared the practice of burning or burying alive of Hindu widows to be punishable by the criminal courts.

Modern times

In modern times, the practice of sati is extremely rare and illegal in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The last known case was in 1987, and the woman's death was condemned and the local people were prosecuted.

See also

• Widow burning
• Women in Hinduism
• Hindu funeral