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'''Sati'''
'''Sati''' is a word referred to ancient Hindu practise, prevalent during the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, when the widow/s of a deceased Hindu would throw themselves, voluntarily or forcibly, on to their husband's funeral pyre. Along with force, social pressure and drugs were also used to assure the continuance of the practice as a Hindu widow's life in old India. A widow who survived had to do all the worst tasks in the household. Cloths of color and participation in festivities were not allowed. Remarriage was banned and the widows 'karma', evil done by her in a past life, was used as the excuse of her husband dying. This excuse was used by the rest of the family.


This term refer to an old Hindu practise prevalent during the time of Guru Nanak when the widows of husband would throw themselves into the funeral pyre of their dead husband as a sacrifice.
The practise was outlawed by the British in 1829. As late as the 20th century a resurgence caused the Indian government to outlaw the practise in 1956. In 1981  another revival of the practice saw a preventive ordinance passed in 1987 called the ''Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act''. The practice of Sati is justified by the ancient Hindu belief that women had worth only in relation to men. This belief was one of the beliefs which caused the young Nanak, on the day he was to receive his Hindu sacred string the Janeu, to reject the string. The family Purohit had explained why his mother, his sister and all women in India did not also receive 'sacred strings'.
The Sikhs Gurus preached against this practise and as a result this practise has been almost completely being eradicated from India.


The term is also extended to refer to the widow herself and is often written using the old English spelling of suttee. Although the practise was supposed to be voluntary, it has been known often be enforced on the widow by various social pressures, emotional and also by the use of drugs.
Long before the British came to India, Guru Nanak seeing the absurdity of men receiving a second string for their wife in the Hindu marriage ceremony, became one of the first in history to teach and argue for the equality of women with his famous words.  
 
 
== Sikh Gurus Preach against this practise ==
 
The [[Sikh]] religion explicitly prohibited the practice, by about 1500 AD. The Sikh faith was founded by [[Guru Nanak]] who was born in 1469 AD. The [[Ten Sikh Gurus]] introduced many new and radical practises, some of which we take for granted today. One of these was the equality of women. (see article [[Women in Sikhism]]) The third Sikh Guru, [[Guru Amar Das]] targeted the evil and degrading practise of [[Sati]] which was prevalent at the time. Following hymns ([[Shabad]]s) from the Sikh Scripture, [[Guru Granth Sahib]] outlines some of the teachings in this respect:


{{Quoter|From woman, man is born; <br>
{{Quoter|From woman, man is born; <br>
Line 17: Line 11:
So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. <br>
So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. <br>
From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. |Guru Nanak, Raag Aasaa Mehal 1, Page 473}}
From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. |Guru Nanak, Raag Aasaa Mehal 1, Page 473}}
The term has also come to be used to refer to the widow herself and is often written in the old English spelling - suttee.
ABOLITION OF SATI: 
The status of women in Hindu society at that time was very low. When the
husband died, the wife either voluntarily burnt herself on the pyre of her husband or
was thrown into the fire without her consent. In popular term the woman who did
perform this act was called Sati (truthful). Guru Amar Das carried out a vigorous
campaign against the practice of Sati. He gave special attention to the improvement of the status of women and thus prohibited this practice. G.B. Scott acclaims the Guru
as the first reformer who condemned the prevailing Hindu practice of Sati. The Guru
advocated the following: 
"Satis are not those who are burnt with husbands, 
O Nanak, true Satis are whom pangs of separation can finish. 
Those are considered Satis who live contented, embellish themselves
with good conduct;
And cherish the Lord ever and call on Him."
(Var Suhi ki- Slok Mohalla 3, p-787)
The Guru lifted the status of women as equal to men. He prohibited the practice
of Sati and preached in favor of widow marriage. 
== Sikh Gurus continued to Preach against this practise ==
The [[Sikh]] religion explicitly prohibited the practice, by about 1500 AD. The Sikh faith was founded by [[Guru Nanak]] who was born in 1469 AD. The [[Ten Sikh Gurus]] introduced many new and radical practises, some of which we take for granted today. One of these was the equality of women. (see article [[Women in Sikhism]]) The third Sikh Guru, [[Guru Amar Das]] targeted the evil and degrading practise of [[Sati]] which was prevalent at the time. Yhe following hymns ([[Shabad]]s) from the Sikh Scripture, [[Guru Granth Sahib]] outline further teachings in this respect:


{{Quoter|By burning oneself, the Beloved Lord is not obtained. <br>  
{{Quoter|By burning oneself, the Beloved Lord is not obtained. <br>  
Line 23: Line 39:
She does not obtain the Company of her Beloved Lord, and she wanders through countless incarnations. ((2))
She does not obtain the Company of her Beloved Lord, and she wanders through countless incarnations. ((2))
|[[SGGS]] Page 185}}
|[[SGGS]] Page 185}}




Line 36: Line 51:




==See also==


== Quotes ==
* [[Guru Nanak and the Sacred Thread]]
 
* [[The Hindu Sacred Thread, Janeu]]
from [http://www.indianchild.com/sati_in_india.htm www.indianchild.com]
* [[Guru Nanak]]
 
* [[Sati]]
Sati is the practice through which widows are voluntarily or forcibly burned alive on their husband's funeral pyre. It was banned in 1829, but had to be banned again in 1956 after a resurgence. There was another revival of the practice in 1981 with another prevention ordinance passed in 1987 (Morgan 1984). The idea justifying sati is that women have worth only in relation to men. This illustrates women's lack of status as individuals in India
* [[Sikhism and Ritualism]]
 
* [[Raksha Bandhan]]
* [[Guardian of human rights]]
* [[Why did Guru Nanak reject the Janoy]]
* [[Evaluating Dayanand's Views on Guru Nanak & the Sikhs]]
* [[Var Haqiqat Rai]]


==External Links==
==External Links==

Latest revision as of 14:55, 28 August 2018

Sati is a word referred to ancient Hindu practise, prevalent during the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, when the widow/s of a deceased Hindu would throw themselves, voluntarily or forcibly, on to their husband's funeral pyre. Along with force, social pressure and drugs were also used to assure the continuance of the practice as a Hindu widow's life in old India. A widow who survived had to do all the worst tasks in the household. Cloths of color and participation in festivities were not allowed. Remarriage was banned and the widows 'karma', evil done by her in a past life, was used as the excuse of her husband dying. This excuse was used by the rest of the family.

The practise was outlawed by the British in 1829. As late as the 20th century a resurgence caused the Indian government to outlaw the practise in 1956. In 1981 another revival of the practice saw a preventive ordinance passed in 1987 called the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act. The practice of Sati is justified by the ancient Hindu belief that women had worth only in relation to men. This belief was one of the beliefs which caused the young Nanak, on the day he was to receive his Hindu sacred string the Janeu, to reject the string. The family Purohit had explained why his mother, his sister and all women in India did not also receive 'sacred strings'.

Long before the British came to India, Guru Nanak seeing the absurdity of men receiving a second string for their wife in the Hindu marriage ceremony, became one of the first in history to teach and argue for the equality of women with his famous words.

From woman, man is born;

within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married.
Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come.
When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound.
So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.
From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.

Guru Nanak, Raag Aasaa Mehal 1, Page 473

The term has also come to be used to refer to the widow herself and is often written in the old English spelling - suttee.

ABOLITION OF SATI: The status of women in Hindu society at that time was very low. When the husband died, the wife either voluntarily burnt herself on the pyre of her husband or was thrown into the fire without her consent. In popular term the woman who did perform this act was called Sati (truthful). Guru Amar Das carried out a vigorous campaign against the practice of Sati. He gave special attention to the improvement of the status of women and thus prohibited this practice. G.B. Scott acclaims the Guru as the first reformer who condemned the prevailing Hindu practice of Sati. The Guru advocated the following: "Satis are not those who are burnt with husbands, O Nanak, true Satis are whom pangs of separation can finish. Those are considered Satis who live contented, embellish themselves with good conduct; And cherish the Lord ever and call on Him." (Var Suhi ki- Slok Mohalla 3, p-787) The Guru lifted the status of women as equal to men. He prohibited the practice of Sati and preached in favor of widow marriage.

Sikh Gurus continued to Preach against this practise

The Sikh religion explicitly prohibited the practice, by about 1500 AD. The Sikh faith was founded by Guru Nanak who was born in 1469 AD. The Ten Sikh Gurus introduced many new and radical practises, some of which we take for granted today. One of these was the equality of women. (see article Women in Sikhism) The third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das targeted the evil and degrading practise of Sati which was prevalent at the time. Yhe following hymns (Shabads) from the Sikh Scripture, Guru Granth Sahib outline further teachings in this respect:


By burning oneself, the Beloved Lord is not obtained.

Only by the actions of destiny does she rise up and burn herself, as a 'satee'. ((1)(Pause))
Imitating what she sees, with her stubborn mind-set, she goes into the fire.
She does not obtain the Company of her Beloved Lord, and she wanders through countless incarnations. ((2))

SGGS Page 185


Do not call them 'satee', who burn themselves along with their husbands' corpses.

O Nanak, they alone are known as 'satee', who die from the shock of separation (from the Lord). ((1))
They are also known as 'satee', who abide in modesty and contentment.
They serve their Lord, and rise in the early hours to contemplate Him. ((2))
The widows burn themselves in the fire, along with their husbands' corpses.
If they truly knew their husbands, then they suffer terrible bodily pain.
O Nanak, if they did not truly know their husbands, why should they burn themselves in the fire?
Whether their husbands are alive or dead, those wives remain far away from them. ((3))

SGGS Page 787


See also

External Links

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