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The iconography of sati
This document summarizes an archaeological study of Sati memorial pillars in central India. It discusses: - The author's extensive field work surveying over 500 villages and documenting around 3000 Sati memorial pillars from 7 districts over 4 years. - Common depictions on the memorials including the husband and wife, sometimes showing the event that led to the husband's death. Inscriptions provided names and dates. - Evidence that the practice of Sati was prevalent in central India, as well as references to it in other cultures worldwide. - Different types of memorials including some marking the sites of mass immolations. Inscriptions and sculptures helped date the memorials and provided historical and social context.
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The iconography of sati
- 1. The Iconography ofsati • An Archaeological Study Of Sati Memorial pillars of Central India Presented by; Ameeta Singh Sarojini Naidu Government Girls College Bhopal MP India
- 2. The Iconography ofSati : An archaeological study of sati memorial pillars of central India • This article is based on my extensive field work as a part of my post doctoral research. I worked as an explorer to find out sati monuments and documented these memorial pillars as a source of history .I surveyed about 500 villages in last four years and wandered the region ,on a nomadic basis to collect the information. As a result I found about 3000 sati memorials in seven districts of central India. These memorials of sati show that the practice of sati was common in central India.
- 3. • Surveyed Districts • Bhopal , Neemach ,Sagar Area of Research • Vidisha , Mandsour • Raisen , Rajgurh Central India • Ujjain , Shivpuri • Dhar , Guna • Chattarpur, Ashoknagar
- 4. Chanderi Sundarsi Khimalsa Amjhera Eran
- 5. Widow sacrifice wasuniversal Scandinavia – The legend of Balder in which Nanna ascend his pyre. Indo-German custom In Greek legend Evadne burned with her husband. Egypt The King Amenhetap’s tomb some slaughtered body of females were found. In China The widow who committed suicide had honorary gateways erected in their honor by imperial Command.
- 7. Depiction of satiby European travelers
- 8. The Iconography ofSati These depictions on sati memorial were common in central India ,Gujarat and Rajasthan
- 9. Sacred relics ofsati • Sati stones are usually found on the outskirt of small towns and villages and the people of these areas, usually the family members of deceased couple, worship these memorials with flowers and kumkum (vermilion) it is strong belief among the people that sati Mata (mother) worship will bring fortune for their family.
- 10. • The sculptureson these sati stones usually depict the husband and wife and sometimes the event in which her husband lost his life. A few even graphically portray the event such as a fierce fight which led to death of the hero and the depiction of lady with wifely devotion. Some of these stones bear inscriptions explaining the event and also the name of sati and her husbands name and title of the family. Based on the alphabets of the inscriptions , we are able to date the period of the sati stone was installed .They in fact are very important records for understanding the social and cultural milieu of the period
- 11. The earliest inscriptionalrecord of sati in Central India Eran This inscription is carved on a pillar, records the death of Gopraja ,a noble of Gupta King Bhanugupta and his wife cremated herself on his funeral pyre. it is dated in the Gupta year 191 ( A.D.510-511) The earliest sati stone found in Balod a small village in central province. There are three inscriptions on it. The third inscription is in characters which James Prinsep ascribed to the 2nd century A.D. This inscription is therefore very important as being the earliest sati record yet found.
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- 13. sati stones with inscription and without inscription depicted the sun, moon, hand, flower and coconut. In second panel a lady embraces the feet of her loving husband Chanderi museum
- 14. The divine signsof sati • Hand with bangles in upright position • Sun ,Moon and Stars • Standing couple • Shivling or worship of Shivling • Mirror • Lemon • Coconut • Husband’s profession ex.
- 15. Bangla;The Sati ground Thisplace has many memorial pillars in group scattered between the village and the river. Inscribed and with sculptural panels depicting various scenes such as warriors engaged in battle, dying as heroes and enjoying in heaven the company of heavenly nymphs or worshiping a shivling. The inscription suggest a battle was fought here in 1281 A.D.and the king Gopaldev won and his followers who died in battle were commemorated here. About 139 sati stones also found here refer same battle in which wives of some of the dead heroes cremated themselves as satis.
- 16. Some interesting factsabout sati “Immolation is not always confined to widows; among few suttee which have occurred last year,1829 (One at Amjhera and the other at Khachrod) have been mothers who burnt to death of their only sons” Sir John Malcolm Memoirs of Central India
- 17. Earliest record ofmother sati • Sesai in Guna district a mother sati memorial is found with inscription recording self immolation of mother (name last) sorrowing for her two sons who were killed in battle datable to 6th century A.D.
- 18. Mother sati stonesat Amjhera
- 19. Mother Sati’s theearliest mother sati memorial was found in Sesai (Gupta age)
- 20. Johar Cenotaph atchanderi It is a marking site of mass immolation of Rajput ladies during the battle fought between Babar The Mughal Emperor and Medinirai in 1527 A.D.
- 21. • For instanceI found many sati memorial pillars at chanderi a medieval fort city, depicted that these memorial were set up during the reign of the great Sultan Giyasuddin of Mandu who ruled over Malwa and Chanderi (in central India) • The larger sati memorial pillars also gave a sculptural representation of the manner of death of the satis husband. In that way we can learn whether he was a horse solider or foot soldier and what kind of weapons in use at that time.
- 22. Sculptural representation ofsati The panel also depicted husband and wife doing worship of shivling (symbolic representation of Lord shiva) this indicates that the sati is united with her husband in the heaven. Some sati memorial pillars depict only a woman’s hand with bangles placed between emblem of sun and moon and a short inscription with the date of burning of the sati with her husband. But some of the longer records gave the name of the village and the reigning king, they also gave valuable aid both to history and geography
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- 24. Sati stones showingShivling worship and inscription bears name of sati and his husband
- 25. Hand with banglesdepicts the blessing of sati
- 26. Table 1 satistones of central India District Village No. of sati Period stones Rajargh Sundersi 40 10th to 17th Jirapur 20 17th 18th century Vidisha Ahmadpur 15 17th 18th century Dhar Amjhera 37 14th ,17th , 18th century Ashoknagar Chanderi 34 13th to 18th century Khimalsa Sagar 51 1453 to1823
- 27. Sculptural representation ofsati • The memorial pillars usually divided in three vertical panels The lower panel portrays ,the scene of battle. The husband of sati shown prominently either on foot, on horse or on elephant back . In case of king or Generals an umbrella is shown over his head. The top panel represents the heaven Sun and Moon . The representation of sati which is common in India from north to south is the right hand of sati bent upward to the elbow sometimes holding lemon between the thumb and forefinger.
- 28. Sculptural representation ofsati • The holding of a lemon is a symbolic representation of offering themselves to their husbands. Lemon is also used for sacrificing ritual in Hindu religion. The husband usually shown on her right by holding the right hand of sati or placing his left hand over shoulder of sati. If the hero is having more than two wives committing sati then all of them were shown.
- 29. Sati’s of khimlasa TheSager district contains large numbers of sati stones. Khimalsa an old town , contains the largest numbers of sati stones ;51 of these are inscribed. Almost all are dated but in about a dozen pillars figures are illegible. The dates range between 1453-1823 A.D. Some of them mention the names of the Mohammedan Emperor Shahjahan, Nourangshah (Aurangzeb)and also the names of Sarkar the district to which khimalsa belonged. The sati’s of khimalsa belonged to various castes such Kori (weaver) Nai (Barber) Silat (mason) ,etc. In some of them the caste name is written, in others the caste marks are carved, such as a hammer and anvil for a blacksmith, razor for a barber, and so on.
- 30. Medieval references ofsati in central India • Ibnabatuta While passing through the city of Amjhera he witnessed three women committing sati whose husband were killed in fighting at Sumera of Sindh. I have registered 37 sati stones in one funeral ground here.
- 31. Sati cenotaphs atAmjhera
- 32. Royal Cenotaphs atAmjhera • At the funeral of rulers attendants also used to burnt with wife or wives. This stone depicts a attendant, carrying fan (chanvar) burnt alive with the ruler.
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- 35. Sati stone withinscription
- 36. Depiction sun andmoon symbolize the glory of sati as long as they exit
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- 43. Sati ritual depicteda lady sitting amidst the fire holding her husband’s body
- 44. Sati earthen warememorial sketch by Fanny Parks 1820
- 46. FOUR FACED SATIMEMORIAL • Earliest example of Sati memorial cubical shaped with depiction on each face. • Mainly of 11th and 12 th century period. • Profession and daily routine can also be found.
- 47. “During my longsojourn in India I have observed that nearly all the sati monuments are placed on the western bank either of a stream or of a reservoir, with the face towards east.” Cunningham
- 48. Sati stones usuallyfound near water sources. I found about 20 sati stones and cenotaphs near this reservoir at Chanderi
- 49. Sati in convertedMuslims • There are some examples of Muslim sati also Cunningham mentioned some Muslim sati tomb in central India. This indicates that these converted Muslim followed the Hindu faith.
- 52. The handprints ofsati which left out by the satis later engraved on Fort walls
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- 57. Deceased Wife 2 Wife 1
- 59. Example of Anugaman( to follow), women committing sati with husband’s turban or shoes.
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- 63. Dated 1885 A.Dday Monday name of sati “Dayali” husband’s name ( illegible)
- 64. Sati worship inrural India • When a woman committed sati a memorial erected in her memory, and worship made to her as a goddess. Partly this is worship of general homage and respect, partly it is for specific benefits, of which female fertility is important.
- 65. Worship of satistone
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