The Jauhur & Saka:

Two heroic acts that were carried out by Hindus of the Kingdom upon news of total loss in the battlefield.

The Hindoos are a brute, valiant people.

Quick thread. Jai Bhavani.

Jauhur- Mass Self Immolation, or a mass-act of suicide via burning oneself in fire.

Hindu women & children participated in this willingly, particularly in North Western India.

They would perform subcultural Hindu rituals, and with honour would they walk into a massive pyre.

Kaushik Roy in Hinduism and the Ethics of Warfare in S. Asia states that Jauhur was committed during only Hindu-Muslim wars and not Hindu-Hindu wars.

There was also a fear that invading Islamic armies would commit a gross act of Necrophilia & have sex with the bodies of women.

Not just did the brave Rajput Hindu nāris & bālaks self-immolate thrice in Chittaur, thrice in Jaisalmer & in Runthumboar- but around the time where Hindu Kings were victorious and crushed Islamic invaders in the 8th Century- the Hindu women of Sindh also Committed Jauhur.

The Hindus were a valiant and brave people that always persisted and exhausted all options before performing the great sacrifice and “त्याग”-ing their material bodies to अग्नि.

I salute these brave Mothers.

Another more unknown valiant act committed by the young boys and non-क्षत्रिय पुरुष-es of the Hindu Kingdoms (in particular Rajpoot ones) is सका (Sakā).

All young boys, men that did not attain martyrdom on the battlefield would do the following:

In the Early Morn, they would take the ashes of their women and stroke it across their forehead.

Wear their best shade of भगवा (Saffrun) & pick up any arms and bravely walk to their मृत्यु-s.

I salute these brave brothers.

Jauhur-Saka pratha has been glorified in Rajasthan’s folklore, poetry & has been also transformed into modern media- in the film Padmaavat based off of a Poem.

I invite anyone to correct me, add more details. I’m completely amateur in history. Just thought this thread is imp!