Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c7.688

c7.688

Everywhere however the suicide of the widow appears only to be an optional duty, observation of which brings great merit according to the Mit., beside which however the other alternative of a chaste and retired life (brahmacaryapakṣa) has equal merits; neither can it be explained otherwise how in the same work the right of inheritance of a chaste widow without any son may be recognised. If the widow however decides to follow her husband in death as Satī it is essential that she should be burnt with his body, to the accompaniment of prescribed prayers (sahamaraṇa); yet if the husband dies and is cremated abroad she may throw herself alone into the fire pressing to her breast a pair of his shoes (anumaraṇa). It is regarded as a great sin if the widow repents her decision and a Citibhraṣṭa leaves the pile.