Sati in early medieval northern India a study of literary and epigraphical traditions

Abstract

The present work has been divided into five distinctive chapters with conclusion. The first chapter deals with the sketchy reviews of some of the valuable publications. A historical background in terms of developments taking place in the institution before the present study starts has been added. The second chapter aims at understanding the origin and the growth of satand#299; system in early northern Indian societies. After examine all the possible sources, this custom were not owned by the martial classes but its custodies by them. The third chapter deals with the sati system as reflected in the literary tradition. Main objective of this chapter is giving a broad overview of the major sources, highlighting their general features, and the important issues which are related to our theme. The fourth chapter deals with the satand#299; system enshrined in inscriptional traditions whether they were engraved as royal court announcement or engraved as a memorial stone. The women in epigraphic traditions are closer to historical reality than the idealized women of literary traditions. The fifth chapter deals with socio-religious dimension of sati system as already discussed this tradition was strictly followed by the martial class and ultimately when this class occupied a strong place in the society, they popularized this custom as the token of a female bravery and devotion to her brave husband. The conclusion emerging from the detailed study of different aspects of custom. The contradictions and conformity between inscriptional and literary sources have certainly helped in understanding the sati system as a deliberate attempt in early medieval society. newline