The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c9.52

c9.52

As far as the extreme south of India is concerned, the Satī was more an exception than a rule down to *c.* 1000 A. D. The queen of only king Bhūta Pāṇḍeya of the Saṅgam age is known to have followed the custom (*Puram*, 246-7). Her historicity is, however, a matter of uncertainty. Among the members of the Pallava, the Chola and the Pāṇḍya ruling families, so well known to us from numerous inscriptions, we do not come across any cases of Satī down to *c.* 900 A.D. It is therefore clear that the custom was yet to obtain a footing in South India.