The practice of Sati

These images of hands were found at several forts. Each carved hand represents a woman of royal birth who chose to commit sati (suicide by throwing oneself on the fire) rather than be captured by invaders to the kingdom during the Rajput era. There are many more hands carved than what the photo shows. They are placed at the entrance gate of the fort in a position of honor.

There are three different types of sati's or sacrifice. The first is called sati where the woman burns herself with her dead husband in the fire. The second is called Johar and here the woman burns herself prior to her warrior husband going out on a suicidal battle. The third is called (__) the woman takes up arms and enters the battlefield herself.