The Book of Akbar (Shaykh Ilāhdād Faiḍī Sirhindī) 1.8

1.8

A most remarkable event occurred at Chauragarh. When Raja Birsah, the Rani’s son, was shut up there, a certain number of men were appointed, in the event of a defeat, for the purpose of performing the Jauhar, an ancient custom of the Rajas of Hind. On occasions like this, they shut their women up in the house, and after heaping up straw, wood, cotton, and ghee around it, they set fire to the pile and burn them. This they look upon as a means of saving their honour. When the fort was nearly reduced, they did this, and all the beautiful women were reduced to ashes. After the capture of the place, when the flames had ceased on the second day, they examined the place, and discovered two females underneath a large block of wood. One of them was the Rani’s sister, the other the Raja’s wife, with whom he had not yet cohabited. They were taken out unhurt, and sent to the royal harem.