Reality of Sati Pratha
Remarriage After Husband’s Death
Limited Remarriage Provisions
Smritis such as Manusmriti and Vasista Dharma Sutra allow remarriage of widows only if the marriage hasn’t been consummated.
" Baudhyana Dharma Sutra 4.1.16" "If after (a damsel) has been given away, or even after (the nuptial sacrifice) have been offered, the husband dies, she who (thus) has left (her father's house) and has returned, may be again wedded according to the rule applicable to second weddings, provided the marriage had not been consummated."
" Vasistha Dharma Shastra 17.74" "If a damsel at the death of her husband had been merely wedded by (the recitation of) sacred texts, and if the marriage had not been consummated, she may be married again."
" Manusmriti 9.176" "If she be (still) a virgin, or one who returned (to her first husband) after leaving him, she is worthy to again perform with her second (or first deserted) husband the (nuptial) ceremony."
Broader Scriptural Permissions
Several scriptures allow widows to remarry even after the death of her husband and are silent about the consummation requirement:
Naradha Smriti 12.97
"Five Circumstances" "When her husband is lost or dead, when he has become a religious ascetic, when he is impotent, when he has been expelled from caste, in these cases a woman may be justified in another husband."
Parashara Smriti 4.28
"Five Calamities" "When her husband is missing or is dead or has renounced the world or is impotent or has been degraded by sin, - on the any of the said five calamities, she can remarry"
Garuda Purana 1.107.28
"Five Conditions" "In case of disappearance or death or renunciation or impotent or lost caste status of her husband, in these five cases a woman is allowed to take another husband."
Agni Purana 154.4-7
"Five Adversities and Preferred Arrangements" "Women are allowed to have another husband in the following five adversaries;- (the first husband) is lost, dead, has become an ascetic, impotent or fallen morally. If the husband is dead, she should be given to the brother of the deceased. In the absence of brother, she should be given to anyone as one wished"
Sati As a Choice, Not Compulsion
We read in scriptures that it was upon to woman if she wanted to commit Sati.
Vishnu Dharma Sutra 25.17
"Alternative Path to Heaven" "A good wife, who perseveres in a chaste life after the death of her lord, will go to heaven like (perpetual) students, even though she has no son."
Parasara Smriti 4.29
"Continent Life Option" "If a woman has led a continent life, after her lord departed this life, she wins a region of bliss after her death, like to the well-known male observers of a celibate life."
Agni Purana 222.20
"Heavenly Reward" "The lady practicing continence after the death of her husband, goes to heaven."
Vrihaspati Smriti 24.11
"Equal Merit Both Ways" "A wife is considered half the body (of her husband), equally sharing the result of his good or wicked deeds; whether she ascends the pile after him, or chooses to survive him leading a virtuous life, she promotes the welfare of her husband."
Historical Evidence - Akbar’s Reign
Historical documentation from Akbar’s reign (16th century) shows that Sati was recognized as a voluntary practice:
" The new year's day was celebrated with great pomp as on former occasions, and this was the beginning of the thirty-sixth year of the reign. Among the new laws promulged at this season was the prohibition to eat the flesh of cows, buffaloes, sheep, horses, and camels. Further that a Hindu widow willing to burn herself with the corpse of her husband be neither prohibited from so doing, nor compelled by force to undergo cremation. The circumcision was not to be undertaken before the age of twelve years, and then the boy was to be allowed the option of undergoing it or not. Any person's hand was to be amputated who eat food with any man, whose occupation is to kill animals, but if the person was of the [Emperor's ?] household, only his little finger was to be cut off.
"Key Point" Text from the 16th century also conveys a similar message - Sati was to be neither prohibited nor compelled by force.
Historical Rarity of the Practice
"Scholarly Evidence" Historical evidence supports the rarity of the practice of Sati, as mentioned by historian Meenakshi Jain in her book on the subject.
Summary
"Key Conclusions"
- Widow Remarriage: Multiple scriptures allowed widow remarriage under various circumstances
- Sati as Choice: Scriptural and historical evidence shows Sati was always presented as a choice, never compulsion
- Alternative Paths: Widows had equal spiritual merit whether they chose Sati or led a chaste life
- Historical Rarity: The practice was historically rare, not a widespread social norm
- Legal Recognition: Even medieval rulers like Akbar recognized it as a voluntary practice that should neither be forced nor prohibited
The narrative that Sati was a forced practice imposed on unwilling women is not supported by scriptural evidence or historical documentation. Ancient Hindu law provided multiple options for widows, including remarriage and leading a chaste life, both of which were considered equally meritorious paths.