Sati and Vedas

Sati and Vedas

 

The other repondents have done a good job - I shall just add my two bob’s worth.

In her book “Genocide of Women in Hinduism”, by Sita Agarwal, she mischievously quotes R.V. 10:18:7 to support her allegation that Sati started with the Vedas and was affirmed and endorsed in the Smritis and Puranas.

I agree with her that the Smritis and Puranas did indeed popularise this evil custom but there is fundamental principle in Hinduism regarding Scriptural exegesis.

The Vedas alone are authority (pramāṇam) and if there is a conflict between them and the latter Smriti and Puranic literature, then the Vedic injunction alone is to be accepted and all else is rejected.

So an honest and objective understanding of the Vedic position is crucial to this debate.

So what does Rig Veda 10:18 actually say? –

imā nārīravidhavāḥ supatnīrāñjanena sarpiṣā saṁ viśantu | anaśravo'namīvāḥ suratnā ā rohantu janayo yonimagre || R.V. 10.18.07

7. Let these unwidowed dames with noble husbands adorn themselves with fragrant balm and unguent. Decked with fair jewels, tearless, free from sorrow, first let the dames go up to where he (the deceased) lies.

So here it is mentioning unwidowed women with their husbands still alive who are related to the deceased — all of them are instructed to go up to the funeral pyre. The widow then lies down beside her husband and then the brother-in-law says;–

udīrśva naryābhi jīvalokam gatāsum etam upaśeṣa hi | hasta grabhāsya didhiṣaos tavedam patyur janitvam abhisambabhūtha || R.V. 10:18:8

Rise! Come unto the world of life O woman! Come, he is lifeless by whose side you lie. As far as your married life to the one who seized your hand and wooed you as a lover is concerned - you have lived it out completely.

So no mention of SATI.

These verses are still recited to this day during Hindu funeral ceremonies.

I for one, will never deny or gloss over what is in the Shastra but context and exegesis is required. This is why Hinduism insists on the necessity of a guru to explain the complexity of contradictory voices one hears in Shastra which is written by hundreds of different authors - there is no unanimous voice among Indians period! Just find any 3 Indians and they will have 5 different opinions!

Here is another opinion from the Maha-nirvana Tantra which is allegedly spoken by Lord Shiva himself in a conversation with Parvati:–

bhartrā saha kuleśāni na dahet kulakāminīṁ || tava svarūpā ramaṇī jagatyācchanna vigraha | mohād bharttuścittārohāt bhaven naraka gāminī ||

O Kuleshani, a wife should never be burnt with her dead husband. Every woman is your image – you reside, concealed in the forms of all women in this world. That woman who, in delusion ascends her husband’s funeral pyre shall surely go to hell. (M.N.T. 10:79-80.)

Interestingly enough the oldest and most important of the law-givers and the most controversial, that everyone loves to hate MANU doesn’t mention the custom at all. And this one statement concurs with the Rig Veda.

9:146. He who takes care of his deceased brother's estate and of his widow, shall, after raising up a son for his brother (by niyoga), give that property even to that (son).

So all that Smriti and Pauranic stuff about Sati can be dumped in the bin.

Many sects within Hinduism itself campaigned against Sati. One of the most prominent were the Srivaishnavas of South India. And among them the Tengalai faction widows were permitted not to adopt any signs of widowhood such as wearing white and shaving their heads and divesting themselves of jewellery in accordance with the Lakshmi Tantra (Chapter 27) teaching:–

na smaret kāminīnindāṃkarmaṇāmanasāgirā| yatrāhaṃtatra tattvāni tatrāhaṃtatra devatāḥ|| 62 ||

A yogin (dharma practitioner) should never abuse a woman, either in deed, speech or thought. Wherever I am the realities are, wherever I am the gods too are.

yatrāhaṃ tatra puṇyāni yatrāhaṃ tatra keśavaḥ| vanitāyāhaṃ tasmān nārī sarva jaganmayī || 63 ||

Wherever I exist, merits too exist, wherever I exist Krsna too exists. I am the womanhood pervading the entire universe and inherent in all women .

 

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Is widow Remarriage allowed in Sanatana Dharma? Many people claim Hinduism is regressive and patriarchal, and that it do not allow widow Remarriage. That's wrong, let's see how-

या पूर्वं पतिं वित्त्वाऽथान्यं विन्दतेऽपरम् । पञ्चौदनं च तावजं ददातो न वि योषतः - Atharva Veda( 9,5,27) A woman who marries another man after death of husband should do Panchaudana Yajna ..... This mantra clearly talks about remarriage of widow

समानलोको भवति पुनर्भुवापरः पतिः । योऽजं पञ्चौदनं दक्षिणाज्योतिषं ददाति - Atharva Veda(9.5.28) This mantra says women and new husband are of same level as previous husband.

 

 कुह स्विद्दोषा कुह वस्तोरश्विना कुहाभिपित्वं करतः कुहोषतुः । को वां शयुत्रा विधवेव देवरं मर्यं न योषा कृणुते सधस्थ आ।। (Rigveda 10,40,2) It talks about a widow choosing a second man.

 

I have to clarify one thing here, word used in mantra is "Devar" it DO NOT mean brother of husband here, Nirukta (3/15) clearly says Devar means "Second Husband" in Vedas (in Vedic sanskrit) attaching pic from Nirukta

 

 

 

Rigveda 10,85,40-41 Talks about 1st Husband being Soma dev, 2nd being Gandharva, 3rd being Agni dev and 4th being Manushya. So even in devtas Remarriage exist.

 

नष्टे मृते प्रव्रजिते क्लीबे च पतिते पतौ । पञ्चस्वापत्सु नारीणां पतिरन्यो विधीयते।। Parashara Smriti (4.30) It says there are 5 cases when a woman can remarry. Husband is dead, became Sanyasi, became impotent, fell from Dharma or ran away.

Manusmriti 9.76 says - प्रोषितो धर्मकार्यार्थं प्रतीक्ष्योऽष्टौ नरः समाः ।विद्यार्थं षड्यशोऽर्थं वा कामार्थं त्रींस्तु वत्सरान् A women should wait for different time period (as mentioned for different purposes). After that they can choose another man.

 In Mahabharat Van Parva- आस्थास्यति पुनर्भैमी दमयन्ती स्वयंवरम् तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो राजपुत्राश्च सर्वशः तथा च गणितः कालः श्वोभूते स भविष्यति यदि संभाविनीयं ते गच्छ शीघ्रमरिंदम सूर्योदये द्वतीयं सा भर्तारं वरयिष्यति न हि स ज्ञायते वीरो नलो जीवन्मृतोपि वा

As Nala had disappeared his wife Dayamanti was ready to choose a new husband(whatever the reason may be), but it shows that remarriage was acceptable at that time.

All these Evidences from Shastras clearly shows that Widow Remarriage is a part of Sanatana Dharma. Dharma don't teach oppression, dharma is for liberation.

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