Evidence of sati being encouraged and promoted as a religious rite in Hindu texts

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Many Hindus will often claim that the practice of Sati has nothing to do with Hinduism and that all mentions of the practice are either Mughal, or European Colonial lies. In this thread I will be showing Hindu texts which encourage the practice sati

Sati is the historical practice in which a widow sacrificed herself by sitting atop her deceased husband's funeral pyre. It can be described as a ritual suicide. The practice was severely limited by the Mughals and later completely banned by the British.

Emperor Aurangzeb issued an order in 1663 which stated "in all lands under Mughal control, never again should the officials allow a woman to be burnt". This order outlawed the practice but it still continued as some officials were often bribed. Later European travelers recorded

that practice of Sati was very rare in areas under the Jurisdiction of the Mughals, however, the practice was widespread in rural areas. In 1829 the Bengal Sati Regulation enacted by Lord William Bentinck outlawed the practice and made it a punishable crime.

Hindu texts which encourage Sati:

1. “Let these women, whose husbands are worthy and are living, enter the house with ghee (applied) as corrylium (to their eyes). Let these wives first step into the pyre, tearless without any affliction and well adorned.” - Rig Veda 10.18.7

2. “This woman, choosing her husband’s world, lies down (nipad) by you that are departed, O mortal, continuing to keep [her] ancient duty (dharma); to her assign you here progeny and property.” - Atharva Veda Kanda 18, Sukta 3

3. In the ancient epic known as the Mahabharata. Sati is mentioned extensively through examples and stories.

The first mention of sati in the Mahabharata is in the story of the pigeon and the hunter. Sati is described in the Mahabharata as a “ritual suicide” following the

passing of a wife’s husband and it is a way for her to “follow him to heaven”. Bhisma, one of the Pandu brothers, tells the story where the pigeon’s wife decides that no moral woman could still live if her husband was dead and so she decides to throw herself into her husband’s

funeral fire. The result of her actions is that she is sent to svarga-loka (celestial world) alongside her husband in a “celestial chariot”.

As we can see the act of sati was perceived to be rewarded in the afterlife it has led to thoughts that there were social pressures exerted upon widows.

While the practice is not widespread anymore with only a handful incidents since 1987, we can see that the practice is

sanctioned in Hinduism. This gives us an insight on what sort of religion this is for women and how it views women. This is also to all of those who lie and claim that sati was not a religious practice

Dear Muslim women who are reading this, say ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ because you have truly been honoured by Islam

also follow my alt: @basedislamist2 because it is a possibility that I will get mass reported because of this thread