Guest guest Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 >From wikipedia: Jauhar (sometimes written jowhar) was originally the voluntary death on a funeral pyre of the queen or the royal women of defeated Rajput cities or forts in order to avoid capture. The term is extended to describe the occasional practice of mass suicide carried out in mediaeval times by Rajput women, or entire Rajput communities when the defeat and capture of a besieged city was certain. The practice is usually described in terms of the women alone, but taken together with the death of the men on the battlefield. As generally described, the fighting men went out to certain death on the battlefield, while their wives died on funeral pyres. In some cases, all those who were capable of fighting went out to die on the battlefield, and all those who were not fighters, including children, the old and the sick went to the funeral pyres. There is extensive glorification of the practice in common histories. The extent to which any members of the Rajputs avoided death, such as by hiding among the remaining population of the city, is not usually described. Jauhar was limited to the Kshatriya Rajputs, the upper and ruling classes and castes of the society of Rajputana (modern Rajasthan), and neighbouring areas. These included most of the fighting and warrior classes. The remainder of the people, who were generally Brahmins and the lower castes, did not participate in the practice, and hoped to survive the capture of the city. In some cases, such as with Chittaurgarh in 1568 the captors put the entire remaining population to death. Accounts of the captors finding a deserted city with no living residents are not true. Despite occasional confusion, this practice is not directly related to the widow-burning practice of Sati. It is however related to high emphasis set on honour, including female honour in Rajput society. Both practices have been most common historically in the territory of modern Rajasthan. Voluntarily going into a fire and thus removing the need to dispose of one's own body, represents a taking of final responsibility for oneself, or is a final act of independence from society, or from the enemy. The best known cases of jauhar are the three occurrences at the fort of Chittaur (Chittaurgarh, Chittorgarh), in Rajasthan, in 1303, in 1535, and 1568. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 "Both practices have been most common historically in the territory of modern Rajasthan." At least this 'pedia is more accurate than most western sources!! Normally the white colonists and later exponents used to make it look as if Sati is a common practice in whole of India. The west while stealing such knowledge of India as vaccination (by lord lester) Pythegoras theorem(pythegoras) astronomical calculations(Copernicus and Keplar) to name a few; always took great care to conceal the source of knowledge and at the same time deride the culture with generalisations. The mysths about sati is one such. How would it look if we discribed the whole of american society as psychopathic because of the regular mass murders? How will it look if we said the whole of american society as paedophiles because of the almost daily assaults on children. I do not think that would be fair or correct. Same way I would love if the west refrains from such generalisations. mahahradanatha <mahahradanatha wrote: >From wikipedia: Jauhar (sometimes written jowhar) was originally the voluntary death on a funeral pyre of the queen or the royal women of defeated Rajput cities or forts in order to avoid capture. The term is extended to describe the occasional practice of mass suicide carried out in mediaeval times by Rajput women, or entire Rajput communities when the defeat and capture of a besieged city was certain. The practice is usually described in terms of the women alone, but taken together with the death of the men on the battlefield. As generally described, the fighting men went out to certain death on the battlefield, while their wives died on funeral pyres. In some cases, all those who were capable of fighting went out to die on the battlefield, and all those who were not fighters, including children, the old and the sick went to the funeral pyres. There is extensive glorification of the practice in common histories. The extent to which any members of the Rajputs avoided death, such as by hiding among the remaining population of the city, is not usually described. Jauhar was limited to the Kshatriya Rajputs, the upper and ruling classes and castes of the society of Rajputana (modern Rajasthan), and neighbouring areas. These included most of the fighting and warrior classes. The remainder of the people, who were generally Brahmins and the lower castes, did not participate in the practice, and hoped to survive the capture of the city. In some cases, such as with Chittaurgarh in 1568 the captors put the entire remaining population to death. Accounts of the captors finding a deserted city with no living residents are not true. Despite occasional confusion, this practice is not directly related to the widow-burning practice of Sati. It is however related to high emphasis set on honour, including female honour in Rajput society. Both practices have been most common historically in the territory of modern Rajasthan. Voluntarily going into a fire and thus removing the need to dispose of one's own body, represents a taking of final responsibility for oneself, or is a final act of independence from society, or from the enemy. The best known cases of jauhar are the three occurrences at the fort of Chittaur (Chittaurgarh, Chittorgarh), in Rajasthan, in 1303, in 1535, and 1568. / Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 I agree with what you say and i would like to apologize that i wrote "brahmin widows" thereby wrongly accussing the brahmins of something some kshatriyas did. I am especially ashamend of this slip since nowadays it is often found that brahmins are accused of many things they are actually not guilty of. The sentence: "The Muslim invasions started in 700 CE, and before that India was a very peaceful, rich and happy country" is misleading. There is no paradise on earth. Every culture and society has its faults and evil customs. In the Islamic countries widows are often remarried because it is considered honourable to care for widows and their sons and daughters if the husband died. Thats why one cannot argue that the reason for the treatment of widows in India is because of the muslim influence i.e. invasions. One should also keep in mind that things that once had a value loose its value sometimes in the course of history and if still practiced become an evil custom. There may also have been some value sometime even in suicide -if you know that the enemies will treat you worse than the flames, but the moment this becomes a custom, not your own decision,you may question the value. (Especially since sometimes the suicide turnend out to be unnecessary because the warriors won, nonetheless it was viewed as a honourable thing to do) All ways of knowledge are your aspects, O Devi; so are all women in the world Chandi Women are divine, women are life, women are jewels. One should always be either amongst hosts of women or with one's own woman Kankalamalini Tantra. I manifest myself as woman which is my own Self and the very essence of creation. Kulachudamani Tantra One should be opposed to the mistreatment of women and assume responsibility if necessary. > "Both practices have been most common historically in the territory of modern Rajasthan." > > At least this 'pedia is more accurate than most western sources!! Normally the white colonists and later exponents used to make it look as if Sati is a common practice in whole of India. The west while stealing such knowledge of India as vaccination (by lord lester) Pythegoras theorem(pythegoras) astronomical calculations(Copernicus and Keplar) to name a few; always took great care to conceal the source of knowledge and at the same time deride the culture with generalisations. The mysths about sati is one such. > > How would it look if we discribed the whole of american society as psychopathic because of the regular mass murders? How will it look if we said the whole of american society as paedophiles because of the almost daily assaults on children. I do not think that would be fair or correct. Same way I would love if the west refrains from such generalisations. > > > > > > mahahradanatha <mahahradanatha> wrote: > From wikipedia: > > Jauhar (sometimes written jowhar) was originally the voluntary death > on a funeral pyre of the queen or the royal women of defeated Rajput > cities or forts in order to avoid capture. The term is extended to > describe the occasional practice of mass suicide carried out in > mediaeval times by Rajput women, or entire Rajput communities when > the defeat and capture of a besieged city was certain. > > The practice is usually described in terms of the women alone, but > taken together with the death of the men on the battlefield. As > generally described, the fighting men went out to certain death on > the battlefield, while their wives died on funeral pyres. In some > cases, all those who were capable of fighting went out to die on the > battlefield, and all those who were not fighters, including children, > the old and the sick went to the funeral pyres. There is extensive > glorification of the practice in common histories. The extent to > which any members of the Rajputs avoided death, such as by hiding > among the remaining population of the city, is not usually described. > > Jauhar was limited to the Kshatriya Rajputs, the upper and ruling > classes and castes of the society of Rajputana (modern Rajasthan), > and neighbouring areas. These included most of the fighting and > warrior classes. The remainder of the people, who were generally > Brahmins and the lower castes, did not participate in the practice, > and hoped to survive the capture of the city. In some cases, such as > with Chittaurgarh in 1568 the captors put the entire remaining > population to death. Accounts of the captors finding a deserted city > with no living residents are not true. > > Despite occasional confusion, this practice is not directly related > to the widow-burning practice of Sati. > > It is however related to high emphasis set on honour, including > female honour in Rajput society. Both practices have been most common > historically in the territory of modern Rajasthan. > > Voluntarily going into a fire and thus removing the need to dispose > of one's own body, represents a taking of final responsibility for > oneself, or is a final act of independence from society, or from the > enemy. > > The best known cases of jauhar are the three occurrences at the fort > of Chittaur (Chittaurgarh, Chittorgarh), in Rajasthan, in 1303, in > 1535, and 1568. > > > > > Links > > > / > > > > > Terms of Service. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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