Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c18.s3.t3.15

v2.c18.s3.t3.15

Sometimes, the woman who committed sati explained the motive of her action. An undated inscription, which probably belongs to the reign of Vīra Rājēndra Chōḷa Dēva, registers a decision made by a woman before committing sati. She says that if she lived after her husband, she would become the slave of his co-wives. Whoever said she ought not to die, would incur the sin of prostituting his wife. If she did not die, those who did not bind her and throw her into the fire and kill her would incur the sin of prostituting their wives.⁵