Jauhar and Saka were originally the voluntary death of the royal womenfolk of Rajputs and Rajput men. In order to avoid capture and dishonour at the hands of enemy.The term is extended to describe the occasional practice of mass suicide carried out in medieval times by Rajput women, and men.Mass self immolation by women was called Jauhar and riding out and fighting till their last breath by men was called saka. The practice is often described in terms of the women and children alone, but should correctly be understood as including the death of the men on the battlefield. As generally described, Jauhar and saka involved: The royal Rajputs (anonymous, c. ... Mass suicide occurs when a number of people kill themselves together with one another or for the same reason and is usually connected to a real or perceived persecution. ... The royal Rajputs (anonymous, c. ...

1. A defending Rajput army being besieged inside a fortification by an invading enemy army;
2. The realization by the defenders that defeat was imminent or unavoidable and no options were left.
3. The realization by the defenders that enemy army wiil capture and dishonour womenfolk.
4. The immolation, en masse, of women and young children to avoid molestation by victorious invading army;
5. The riding out, into open battle and certain death, of the menfolk, there to die on the field of war.

The Jauhar in itself could not be performed without the "Saka" part of Jauhar and Saka.When defeat became certain in a war.It was considered proper to fight till last breath,but to avoid capture and dishonour of royal women Jauhar was committed. The royal Rajputs (anonymous, c. ...

There is extensive glorification of the practice in the local ballads and folk-histories of Rajasthan; however, the accuracy of these accounts has probably degraded due to over-romanticization. Accounts of the invaders finding a deserted city with no living residents are not historically accurate; the Brahmins, Charans, servants and slaves and other communities also lived with Rajputs.They lived to tell the story.The cases of Rajputs running from battle at the time of "Saka" have not been established.In fact Rajputs considered it disgraceful to run from battlefield. Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... A Brahmin (anglicised from the Sanskrit word IAST ; Devanagari ), also known as Vipra, Dvija, Dvijottama (best of the Dvijas), (god on Earth) is the highest caste in Indian caste system within Hindu society. ... Chāraņ (plural Charans; Hindi:) is a name of a caste living in Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India. ...

Jauhar and Saka were limited to the Hindu Kshatriya caste named Rajputs, who formed the upper and ruling classes and castes of Rajasthan and northern India. The Rajputs were the fighting warrior caste of this area. This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... Kshatriya (Hindi: , from Sanskrit: , ) is the title of the princely military order in the Vedic society. ... The royal Rajputs (anonymous, c. ... Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... The royal Rajputs (anonymous, c. ...

Despite occasional confusion, this practice is not at all related with "Sati".Sati was a custom performed by widowed women only.Jauhar and Saka were committed while both the partners were living and at the time of war only.They were committed together.On the final day women sacrificed before fire god and men bearing a Kesariya Bana(saffron coloured dress), attacked the enemy.It was estimated prior to this that the enemy was so powerful that death is almost certain.There were few options, and Rajput men chose to fight and die.Jauhar was only precaution against their women being molested and dishonoured at the hands of enemy. Jauhar and Saka were always performed together.

The best examples of Jauhar and Saka were at three occasions.

I: Ala-ud-din Khilji: Sultan of Delhi sieged Chittor fort in 1303 CE.Ultimately he agreed to have a glimpse of Rani Padmini in a mirror.The Rana agreed to this.After this was done, Rana accompanied him due to courtesy to gates of fort. The Rana was dishonestly arrested and kept as hostage for Padmini.With no options left, Padmini decided to commit Jauhar and the men decided to commit Saka.But before this Rajputs made last attempt to free the Rana from captivity of Ala-ud-din Khilji.Misleading information was sent to Alluddin that Padmini has decided to come to Ala-ud-din, but as her status demanded, she was to come with 700 women. Allauddin agreed to this. The Rajputs were thus able to infiltrate about 2000 men into Allauddin's army. Each Palaqi contained two Rajput soldiers and four men to lift it. Gora and Badal were leading this team. When they failed to free Rana Ratan Singh a signal was sent and Padmini together with other women committed Jauhar.Rajput men fought till their last breath. The Khilji or Khalji were a dynasty of Indian rulers. ... Chittorgarh (also Chittor, Chittaur, or Chittaurgarh) is an ancient city in Rajasthan state of western India. ... The Khilji or Khalji were a dynasty of Indian rulers. ...

II: After Rana Sanga's death in 1527 CE at the Battle of Khanua, his widow Karmawati was ruling Chittor as regent. Bahadur Shah of Gujarat besieged the fort. Karmawati sent Rakhi to Humayun the son of Babur for help as brother, Humayun is said to have accepted the gift but as was his nature Humayun could not make a decision in time or deleberately avoided to arrive in time.The Rani committed Jauhar with other women on March 8,1535 CE.Rajput men fought their last battle. This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Khanwa (Khanua), Battle of (March 17, 1527), a finally disastrous conflict for Mewar, which led to the death of one the kingdoms greatest heroes, Maharana SANGRAM SINGH I, popularly known as Rana Sanga. ... Chittorgarh (also Chittor, Chittaur, or Chittaurgarh) is an ancient city in Rajasthan state of western India. ... Bahadur Shah (ruled 1526-1535, 1536-1537) was a Sultan of Gujarat. ... A sample of rakhis, tied by sisters on the wrists of brothers in celebration of Raksha Bandhan Raksha Bandhan (the bond of protection in Hindi) or Rakhi (राखी in Devanāgarī) is a Hindu festival which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. ... Nasiruddin Humayun (March 6, 1508 – February 22, 1556), second Mughal Emperor, ruled in India from 1530–1540 and 1555–1556. ... Zāhir ud-Dīn Mohammad, commonly known as Bābur (February 14, 1483 – December 26, 1530) (Chaghatay/Persian: ‎ , Hindi: ज़हिर उद-दिन मुहम्मद; also spelled ), was a Muslim Emperor from Central Asia who founded the Mughal dynasty of India. ...

III: Emperor Akbar sieged the fort of Chittor in September 1567 CE. Changing the strategy,Rana Udai Singh II his sons and royal women left Chittor soon after this incident by a hidden way.The fort was left in charge of Jaimal Rathore and Patta Sisodiya.One morning Akbar found Jaimal inspecting repair works of the fort which was damaged by mines.He shot him with his gun.The bullet hit Jaimal in the leg and wounded him seriously.The same day Rajputs found defeat was certain,their women committed Jauhar in the night of February 22,1568 CE.Next morning Rajput men committed saka.[1] Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (Persian: جلال الدین محمد اکبر), (alternate spellings: Jellaladin, Celalettin) also known as Akbar the Great (Akbar-e-Azam) (October 15, 1542 – October 27, 1605) was the son of Nasiruddin Humayun whom he succeeded as ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1605. ... Chittorgarh (also Chittor, Chittaur, or Chittaurgarh) is an ancient city in Rajasthan state of western India. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This Article is about Hindu Rajput Rathores, thier religion, culture and hisory. ... The Sisodia (also known as Sisodya or Sisodhya) are a Rajput clan who ruled the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan. ...

There are many more instances, but not properly recorded.At the fort of Bayana King Vijaipal's wife committed Jauhar based on misleading information from "Timan Garh" (Timan Garh is famous for old sculpture). It is now in the Karauli district of Rajasthan) Bayana is a historical town in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan in India. ... Karauli (also Karoli or Kerowlee) is a town in Rajasthan state of India. ...

The best known cases of Jauhar are the three occurrences at the fort of Chittaur (Chittaurgarh, Chittorgarh), in Rajasthan, in 1303, in 1535, and 1568. Jaisalmer has witnessed two occurrences of Jauhar. Another occurrence was in Chanderi. Chittorgarh fort Chittorgarh (also Chittor, Chittaur, or Chittaurgarh) is an ancient city in Rajasthan state of western India. ... // Events 24 February: Battle of Roslin 20 April: Pope Boniface VIII founds the University of Rome La Sapienza Edward I of England reconquers Scotland (see also: William Wallace, Wars of Scottish Independence) The Khilji Dynasty conquers time travel Births Saint Birgitta, Swedish saint (died 1373) Gegeen Khan, Mongol emperor of... Events January 18 - Lima, Peru founded by Francisco Pizarro April - Jacques Cartier discovers the Iroquois city of Stadacona, Canada (now Quebec) and in May, the even greater Huron city of Hochelaga June 24 - The Anabaptist state of Münster (see Münster Rebellion) is conquered and disbanded. ... Events March 23 - Peace of Longjumeau ends the Second War of Religion in France. ... Jaisalmer (The Golden City) is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. ... Chanderi is a town of historical importance in Ashoknagar district of Madhya Pradesh state in India. ...

References

1.[2] Akbarnama part II chapter 65. The Akbarnāma (Persian: اکبر نامہ), which literally means History of Akbar, is a biographical account of Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, written in Persian. ...