Sati is an evil practice, of immolation of a widow on her husband’s funeral pyre. In ancient times, this act was not condemned but hailed as an act of purity. The widow is referred as “Satimata” after her death. Historical evidence shows that this was highly prevalent in 1987 in the village called Deorala among Rajputs who were the immigrants from Central Asia to India. Any married girl is educated only to die at her husband’s death.
 
    Following the ritual there is a celebration called “Chunari” following which the followers of this practice who consider satimata and the site of cremation as sanctimonious make their offering there.

    Temples were built for satimatas upon her demise and were called as Sati-Mata temples or Sati- stones or devli and were considered as an object of reverence and worship. Medhatiti, another orthodox sect of Hindu considered it as an act of suicide or brutal murder and opposed to this practice. Although it was condemned because it was against Shastras it came into practice due to its portrayal in one of the great epics of India, the Mahabharata.

    Another important cause for its origin was the self immolation of Dakshayani, a Hindu goddess, in protest to her father’s refusal to invite her husband Lord Shiva, a Hindu God, for a divine sacrifice. Satimata is believed to directly go to heaven and hence emancipating all her forefathers locked up in hell.

    Predominance of this ritual was seen in Rajputana and Bengal though it was also practiced in Gujarat, Rajasthan, some parts of Punjab, Karnataka and eastern coast of South India. This ritual is unique in Bengal and is believed to have originated from there. It is said that they have assumed it according to a legal tradition known as “Dayabhaga” which states that the Hindu widows have all rights and choices to inherit her husband’s property.

    A Hindu group manipulated some twisted ways to stop the widow from inheriting the whole property by designing this evil ritual called SATI.