why hindu woman must burn herself to death if her husband dies ?

Answer 1

Thats a misconception. Sutee practice was limited to some areas and even their it was not a must.

There was never a "must" factor. Sometimes , some women committed suicide after their husbands death but most of these cases are from middle ages , after Islamic rule. Some women especially of Rajput caste committed suicide after their husband's death in war, to escape Muslim Harems , in case of defeat.

Comments of International above are saracastic but partially true,
In some cases . A widow stood to inherit all her husband's property and wealth which could be removed from the extended family if she remarried outside of it. If there was no wealth then she became a burden on her husband's extended family. If they burned her along with her dead husband the problem was solved. So sometimes family members of her husband encouraged her.

But then it is not that much different than murder for insurance in western world.

Some others followed seeing that those women were getting great respect in general as they thought they will also be revered.

The practice os long outlawed altogether.

Rest of the exaggerated tales are missionery propogonda.

Answer 2

This was a practice along with thuggie that those cultural imperialist the British discouraged although it was a very practical one. A widow stood to inherit all her husband's property and wealth which could be removed from the extended family if she remarried outside of it. If there was no wealth then she became a burden on her husband's extended family. If they burned her along with her dead husband the problem was solved.To help gain the widow's cooperation in this she has been told from birth that it was not only her duty to go to the fire but that once it was lit she would have the gift of predicting the future. Of coarse this consisted mostly of "aaaahhhh!"

I hope at the next multi-cultural fair I attend I can see a display of this practice so that I may become more tolerant of cultureal differences.

Answer 3

This practice is long been discontinued. Initially, the love for the husband was so great and intense that it was inconsolable to imagine the life for the lady after the death of her husband and in one such case the wife jumped into the funeral pyre. After this, many of such women who could not imagine their life after their husband's death followed this practice voluntarily. Slowly, this practice became mandatory and when the British occupied India, they did everything to stop this barbaric act. Another reason was due to the fact that in Hindus, there was no provision for divorce and they were married for life - one husband one wife.

Answer 4

Suttee has been illegal for a long time.
Apparently it goes back to the tradition of a warrior tribe where women threw themselves on they're husbands pyre to avoid being raped.
Occaisionally it happens in the most remote places.
The latest being: On 18th May 2006, Vidyawati, a 35-year-old woman allegedly committed sati by jumping into the blazing funeral pyre of her husband in Rari-Bujurg Village, Fatehpur district in the State of Uttar Pradesh.

Answer 5

What else are you gonna do if your a hindu woman and your husband dies?

Answer 6

I don't think that happens except in certain casts under certain circumstances... I also think the practice may have been abolished... Moreover, I'm certain this event is pretty much "optional" or volitional.

Answer 7

They don't have to. The brothers of her husband or her own brothers will take her into their homes until she is married again.

Answer 8

I never figured that out, but it was great in the movies.
If she was Polish, it would be to collect on the insurance.

Answer 9

I seriously doubt that's true, at least in the modern day.

Answer 10

im hindu and never have i heard of that !!