Religious Texts Which Support Sati the Practice of Burning Women at the Funeral Pyre

Previously published in Examiner

Part 3 of the sati women burning at the funeral pyre series

Most Montrealers think that burning Indian women to death is an archaic practice that no longer exists in India. The horrible practice is still going on in some areas even though the practice is outlawed. Many women still loose their lives yearly due to this barbaric heinous act. On the other hand, Montreal activists and activists all over the world lobby to put pressure on the Indian government to protect the lives of these innocent women from burning alive.

All in all, Sati occurred in about 1% of the total Indian population affecting royal families and higher-level caste system women of the past. It is also believed that some women preferred to die from Sati then to live a horrible life as a widow.

The practice of Sati was banned in India in 1829 by the British government. Indian leaders such as Rajaram Mohan Roy and his Brahmo Samaj's organizations were also one of the first Indian organizations to denounce and support the eradication of Sati.

The question remains however, if Sati was outlawed so long ago, why is it still practiced in some parts of India? Some would argue that the practice of Sati is justified according to the ancient scriptures: Sanskrit and Hindu texts. Such as the following passage, Others say that though not directly mentioned or condoned, Sati is sanctioned in the earlier Indian Law Books: "Vishun Smriti Now the duties of a woman (are) ... After the death of her husband, to preserve her chastity, or to ascend the pile after him."

There is also justification in the later work of the Brihaspati Smriti (25-11). Both this and the Vishnu Smriti date from the first millennium. The Manu Smriti is often regarded as the culmination of classical Hindu law, and hence its position is important. It does not mention or sanction Sati though it does prescribe life-long asceticism for most widows."

For help with domestic violence and other Hindu women's issues in Montreal, there is:

SAW Community Center: one of Canada's oldest surviving South Asian women's groups, helps victims of domestic violence. 1035 Rachel, 3rd Floor, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2J 2J5. (514) 528-8812, fax (514) 528-0896. Email: sawcc@cam.org

Click here for additional sources for Indian Women in Montreal

Source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sati_%28practice%29http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5273336.stm