The Practice of Sati in Early Medieval India (C.AD 700-1400) - An Epigraphical Survey

Abstract

The present paper is an attempt to trace out the sati inscriptions in different regions of India from c.AD 700 to1400. The survey of the inscriptions reveals that the practice of sati had become widespread in India with the coming of Muslims. This custom has been evidently found mentioned in the literacy sources since the later Vedic times but the absence of epigraphic data in this context before the 6^th century AD puts a question mark on the authenticity of literary data. The dates of the literary compositions are also questionable and therefore full reliance may not be placed on them. The increasing cases of sati are undoubtedly linked with the Rajput tradition of chivalry and warfare, which resulted in heroic deaths of innumerable warriors. The wives of these heroes in order to prove their pious and loyal character burnt themselves either together with the funeral pyre of their husbands or followed them in to death on a separate pyre. These two trends in the practice of sati are being represented by the terms sahagamana (going together with husband) and anugamana (following in to death after the cremation of husband's body).