Role Of Sati In Ancient Indian Society

972 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Gender roles of ancient india

In ancient Indian society, people thought women are honorable when they did the traditional ritual, Sati. The word is come from the goddess Sati and first appeared during the Gupta Empire. It is a ritual that a woman has a practice of burningbecause her husband passed away or expected to dead in the war, following him even the grave. Sati is a symbol of virtue, constant and image of good wife in India. Also it means widow in Sanskrit.This religion is not allow remarriage so women had only two choices when her husband was dead, performing the ritual into a goddess or being widow.On the other hand, from the Colonialism, the British colonialists translated it into Suttee that is a self-immolation of widows in simplicity. They described the Indiancustom and people who supported the ritual as a kind of evil, such as murder, suicide. So they tried to stamp out the ritual and pointed out the characteristic of the Indian women who majority are lack of knowledge and power to control themselves in society. Some of feminists stated that it is an unfair force of Indian women and the …show more content…

Women chose to Sati voluntarily because they want to bring competence to their clan. Also it is one of way to show the death of heroism is instructive. But, there are some different from Sati, the Brahmin women should join with husband and should die on his pyre. On the other hand, Julia Leslie emphasizes that understanding and judging. Understanding how Sati importance is in women and men’s mind. Furthermore, judging how patriarchal society and women persecute themselves.She divides the definition of Sati in two ways, victim and victor. She figured out the conclusion is that “A strategy for dignity in a demeaning world”. Normally, Sati is an only chance for women to confer a posthumous title and increase the level of status in Hindu society. The issue is due to values and gender ranking in Indian

Show More
Related

  • Mangaldihi Case Study

    1461 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is through this process that demonstrated the power relations within gender, cast and class. The ideologies and believes of the people in Mangaldihi came from the religion it self in which, through the nature of creation Brahman was considerate to be the high cast as they are the followers of Lord Brahma, who created the four varnas. This ideology of creation has not only dictated the norms of cast division, which separates the pure and impure, but also has played its roles on gender roles. Women were always seen to be lower than men, since they were considerate to be a part of the male bodies. This is shown in the notion of men encompassing the women body. Encompassment is also seen in the construction of family norms as children’s are considerate to be part of the their parents bodies. Therefore they must respect and take care of their parents when old, as they are considerate to be in a higher position. Looking at the everyday practices it could also be said that there is hegemony, as the ruling class manipulated and dictated the cultural, values, ideals, beliefs and perceptions. Within this power relation, women were subject to be part of a subaltern culture. Since they had no voice in a society and were often excluded from political structures. Although, as the women age there status changes to be almost equally to men, they were never totally considerate to be

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Joseph Macwan's Methi, A Dalit '

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    A few upper caste youths, hiding behind parapet of the building in an opposite auction place, stoned the pot. “C-r-a-ash” a sound Teeha heard. The youths struck Methi’s pot and her whole body became drenched completely. It is her caste that is her flaw. By the time, Teeha moved towards Methi as soon as the pot shattered. Methi’s companions stood at some distance from them. Mathi was wet from head to feet. She stood rooted to the ground. The upper caste youths’ eyes roved over Methi’s breast and navel visible through her wet clothes, because the woman was an untouchable’s community in that village. So the upper caste youths wanted to humiliate her in public place. Look at this caste that became a weak and means of under-estimation. Teeha, a Dalit and an outsider, has openly hit a Patel youth that is a burning issue. But a low-caste girl was assaulted which is considered as sign of upper caste

    Read More

  • Ancient India and China

    956 Words  | 2 Pages

    The ancient Chinese invented many things we use today, including paper, silk, matches, wheelbarrows, gunpowder, the waterwheel, lacquer, fireworks, paper money, compass, the seismograph, folding umbrella, ink, calligraphy, printing, abacus, wallpaper, the crossbow, ice cream and much more!

    Read More

  • A Modern Twist on Classical Renunciation

    1411 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hinduism is a vast and very complex religion to comprehend and consists of various different branches of philosophies. Although it is considered that Hinduism does not necessarily have one text that provides the guidelines for the contemporary Hindu devotee, like the Bible does for Christians, but there are a few scriptures that help identify the ultimate goal for the followers of Hinduism. The Upanishads try to exemplify the message of obtaining the righteous path as much as possible with rooting its context to the most ancient Hindu text, the Vedas. Tying both of these scriptures together the main purpose of a practicing Hindu is laid out; which is being able to obtain moksha, or liberation, from samsara, which is the endless cycle of birth and rebirth (Knott 1998: 23). The Upanishads state that the way to achieve this liberation is through renunciation, which in turn leads to living a spiritual life. During the time period in which the Upanishads were allegedly written, the requirements of renunciation described in the Upanishads were both acceptable and reputable in ancient Indian society. However, as time evolved and there was an increased social change in society, there were many challenges in following the Upanishads’ ideologies. In Meena Khadelwal’s book Women in Ochre Robes, we can see that women are being introduced into the whole concept of renunciation and because of the clashes with some of the principal theories of renunciation, which are based off the ancient text of the Upanishads and Vedas, women have tweaked certain aspects derived from the classical methods to help fit their gender role but at the same time legitimizing all the altered practices.

    Read More

  • The White Women's Burden Analysis

    446 Words  | 1 Pages

    While this work reflects much more on the European women who found themselves in British India with the vigor to bring political and social change to women in what is now modern day India, pakestan and shri lanka, Jayawardena widens our scope of the women who we identify as western feminist as a development in 19th and 20th century South Asia. I appreciated the detailed accounts of that these readings brought to Josephine Butler, as well as early Christian missionaries, and utilitarian activist such as Mary Carpenter and Annette Ackroyds. Through these specific examples, a the concept of a "global sisterhood" is commonly supported, but distinguishably executed. This is still true today when looking at contemporary missionary and feminist quest to improve the lives of women, globally. However, this concept of a "global sisterhood" to suggest the formation of an international feminist platform, finds its roots in imperialism and western ideologies that cannot be escaped. These readings, in conversation provide light on the history of global feminism and the empire as of way helping us understand the historical issues that keep the formation of solidarity between women around the world in a singular movement hard to

    Read More

  • Essay On Mesopotamian Indian Culture

    469 Words  | 1 Pages

    Different ancient cultures and societies had either great, somewhat considerate, or horrible treatment of women.

    Read More

  • Born Into Brothels Summary

    464 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the Hindu tradition, women are to be respected and should not be mistreated since they are considered a gift from gods under a pledge. Women are also considered aspects of Nature or the embodiment of Universal Mother in her aspect of pure energy. The tradition prohibits harassment and negligence towards women and states that it is the man’s duty to protect and take care of his wife until the end. Women in the Hindu tradition play a secondary role since Hinduism is a predominantly male dominated religion. It is their duty to help their husband perform obligatory duties and enable him to continue his family tradition. It is also the wife’s duty to give birth to children and to take care of

    Read More

  • Decoding Narayan's Third World Feminist Perspectives

    1327 Words  | 3 Pages

    Narayan’s article raises many questions about third world issues are perceived by western bodies. In her article, Dislocating Cultures: Identities, Traditions, and Third World Feminism, she looks at the “‘effects’ that national contexts have on the construction of feminist issues and the ways in which understandings of issues are then affected by border crossings across national boundaries” and how culture is invoked in explaining the forms of violence that stem from these issues (p.213). She explains this phenomenon by focusing on dowry murder in India. Dowry murder has caused a large outcry and shock, even on the path of the author. But there is a certain shock that stems from western individuals, which tends to ‘exoticize’ and reinforce the notion of the other regarding Indian culture. She refers to Elisabeth Bumiller’s novel, May You be the Mother of a Hundred Sons: A Journey among the Women of India, and she narrows her focus down to chapter three “Flames: A Bride Burning and a Sati.” The author provides a context for understanding her story, in which she mentions a brief account of the mythological Goddess Sita, who threw

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Dadi's Family

    1900 Words  | 4 Pages

    A traditional extended family living in Northern India can become acquainted through the viewing of Dadi’s family. Dadi, meaning grandmother in Hindu, lets us explore her family up close and personal as we follow the trials and tribulations the family encounters through a daily basis. The family deals with the span of three generations and their conflicting interpretations of the ideal family life. Dadi lets us look at the family as a whole, but the film opens our eyes particularly on the women and the problems they face. The film inspects the women’s battle to secure their status in their family through dealing with a patriarchal mentality. The women also are seen attempting to exert their power, and through it all we are familiarized to

    Read More

  • Women Sacrifices in The Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen and The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne

    1223 Words  | 3 Pages

    Women start sacrificing from the time they are born, from being taught how to dress up and taught all the house chorus instead of being educated. The father passes his daughter’s hand to their husband and tie her to another bond. In a marriage a strong foundation is required to build a stable relationship. Many times marriage is defined as the male being the dominant provider, while the female takes upon the rol...

    Read More

  • South Asian Women

    2220 Words  | 5 Pages

    South Asian women engage in patriarchal values and normative structure established more than two thousands years ago, continue to be oppressed by a dominant group of men. These women suffer further oppression through the strict adherence to cultural garb. Still today, media and educational system portray South Asian women as self-sacrificing, faithful to the family, and submissive to men.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Epic Of Sunjata

    1359 Words  | 3 Pages

    Indian society was patriarchal, centered on villages and extended families dominated by males (Connections, Pg. 4). The villages, in which most people lived, were admini...

    Read More

  • Sati: the "Good Women" in Hinduism

    1198 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sati is defined as “a Hindu practice whereby a widow immolates herself on the pyre of her husband” (Dictonary.com). Sati also means righteous, women throughout the Hindu myths were willing to do anything for the man that they loved. This symbolized the perfect Indian wife to any man. Imagine being a married couple in the Hindu religion, as the wife you have to prove yourself to your husband. According to About.com it goes into brief detail of the idea of marriage in the Hindu religion; “after marriage the Hindu women lead the men by keeping the lustful propensities under control. While married, thought of any other man does not enter the mind of a Hindu lady until she loses her faith in her husband due to his consistent misbehavior and 'don't care' attitude” (Rajhans). Basically in this commitment women must keep the male under control and keep the loving relationship alive and well. Suddenly, during your marriage your husband suddenly dies and you are now left as a widow. How would you feel? Would you mope around and have sorrow for the months to come? Or would you go to the extent of suicide to be with your husband once again. Some say sati is a voluntary act chosen by the newly widowed woman to end her life by being burnt to death at her husband’s pyre. But there are moments in history that Sati was forced upon these women, some ever were dragged to their burning death (Daniel). “The custom of burning the widow on her dead husband's pyre probably did not evolve from religious background but from social background” (Daniels). This paper will explore the horrible act of Sati and how it was practiced throughout history.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Feminism And Peace, And Persepolis

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    Satrapi, does not think that those are a solution for gender enequallity. the rest of the world, compared to middle Easter woman 's role, was defined by class. there were who needed to work, who did not. during WWI, thanks to the quantity of man who were sent to war, mutilated, or killed. therefore, to cover those spots in society woman were getting more into "male roles." those who need money were force to work. Before that, women were considering mostly baby makers, and the house was their place. At that time, women were starting working and assimilating bigger roles in society. Huda Sha 'rawi, in chapter ten "Feminism And The Peace," makes a call for peace reaching western woman. He does it by proposing liberalistic ideas such as a government that is elected by woman as well as man sharing the responsibility of not crying the rights without participation to the process of it. Miyako Shinohara calls the world woman and man to stop the tension of a possible nuclear war. She tells the story of how radiation, from Hiroshima, treats her and the consequences of it. She to find support, she went into Buddhism. Religion in Iran and others countries, plays the role of antagonist. However in the ideals of liberalism call for religious tolerance. It is important to mention that Shinohara and Satrapi find religious as a salvation from the

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women In The Ramayana And The Ramayana

    1595 Words  | 4 Pages

    Comparatively men are not subject to gender constraints. Rama asserts that, “I am a king and my first and final dharma is toward my people”(Valmiki,649). In contrast Sita endures extreme events of calamity dependent upon Rama. Rama mentions, “Do not think of a moment Sita that I came for your sake” (Valimiki, 494). Therefore women are portrayed as secondary to honor and status of men. The role of women is predetermined to exemplify a paradigm wife, with contrastingly miniscule reciprocal behavior from the role men. Women are viewed as property of men vulnerable to suffering and hardship at the demands of the male characters. The men are liberated from gender constraints whereas women are sexually oppressed with a role dependent upon their relationship and subordinate nature to their

    Read More

More about Role Of Sati In Ancient Indian Society

Open Document