Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c18.s3.t5.1

v2.c18.s3.t5.1

The above instances of *sahagamana* help us to solve certain aspects of the question of sati. In most instances, if one may venture to say so, at least in the mediaeval history of southern India, the death of the husband in a fight, a siege, a cow-raid, a riot or for a cause which, according to the notions of the times, called forth their courage and endurance, their wives committed sati. More interesting than the occasion when they performed sati is the question of the classes amongst whom this custom was most popular. According to the inscriptions it was the Gauḍas, and in some instances, the Nāyakas, who were given to this rite. The Gauḍas included persons of rank as the name of *Gauḍa-arasa* and *Gauḍa-arasi* clearly indicate. Our assumption that sati was restricted to one or two classes is to some extent corroborated by the evidence of foreign travellers. But here again, as we shall relate in connection with orthodoxy in Vijayanagara, there seems to be some confusion among foreign witnesses as regards the name of the people who committed sati and similar rites. We shall revert to this subject later on.