The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c17.s2.23

c17.s2.23

A greater calamity that overtook the widow in this period was the revival of the Satī custom. In the beginning it was confined to the warrior class. It however began to spread wider in society in course of time, as the action of the Satī came to be regarded as a great religious sacrifice, which deserved to be imitated. A school of rationalists opposed the custom vehemently, pointing out its utter futility and stupidity. Its efforts partly checked the spread of the custom for a while.