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Sati Umade
Umade (d. Vikram Samvat 1859 / 1802 CE) was a woman of the Rajpurohit community, remembered in regional traditions of Rajasthan for performing sati at Desalsar following the death of her husband Shimbhuramji. She is venerated in folklore as an exemplar of pativrata dharma (devotion to her husband) and is associated with miraculous tales and blessings to her husband’s lineage.
Umade was the daughter of Sarup Singhji of Rajguru Basani (ancestral village). She was married to Shimbhuramji, son of the distinguished Rajpurohit military commander Thakur Rughnathji, remembered as a great general in regional history.
According to tradition, Shimbhuramji was martyred in battle. His headless body is said to have reached Desalsar, where Umade was residing. On the auspicious day of Nirjala Ekadashi, Umade perform sati after him.
Local folklore recounts that when Umade, standing on the first floor of Desalsar Fort, saw her husband’s body arrive without the head, she cried out in anguish:
“How dare you bring him without his head!”
The story narrates that upon hearing her voice, the horse carrying Shimbhuramji’s body died instantly.
Determined to perform sati, Umade faced resistance from her family members, who tried to prevent her by locking her inside a room of the fort. However, according to the tale, her unwavering sat (purity of devotion) caused the locks to break open miraculously. Realizing her resolve, her family relented and apologized.
Before ascending the pyre, her dewar (husband’s younger brother) requested a boon, declaring her to be like a mother to the family. Umade is believed to have blessed them, saying:
“Your army shall never be defeated in the battlefield. A single man of yours will be able to face and defeat hundreds alone.”
She then performed sati with her husband’s body.
Evidence of Umade’s sati survives in the form of a cenotaph inscription at Desalsar. The inscription, dated Samvat 1859 Jyeshtha Sudi 11, Saturday (1802 CE), records her act of self-immolation:
॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥
अभिसितार्थ सिद्ध थरपूंजितोय सुरासुर सवी विघ्न बिदेतस्मै गणाधिपत्येन नमः
सम्वत १८५९ जेठ सुदी ११ शनिवार
श्री प्रोहीत शम्भु रामजी देवलोक हुवा
प्रोहितजी श्री हरनाथ जी रा पोता,
रघुनाथ जी रा बेटा
लारे सती उमादे राजगुराणी जी होई,
पोती हेमराज जी री,
बेटी सारूप सिंह जी री
पीहर गांव बासनी
“Salutations to Lord Ganesha.
On Samvat 1859, Jyeshtha Sudi 11, Saturday,
Rajpurohit Shimbhuramji attained heaven.
Grandson of Purohit Harnathji,
son of Rughnathji.
His wife, Sati Umade Rajguraniji,
granddaughter of Hemrajji,
daughter of Sarup Singhji,
of paternal village Basani.”
This inscription provides the genealogical details of both Shimbhuramji and Umade, confirming her act of sati at Desalsar.
The story of Umade is preserved both in oral traditions and in the cenotaph inscription at Desalsar. She is remembered in the Rajpurohit community as Sati Mata and as a symbol of loyalty, sacrifice, and courage. Her blessing to her husband’s lineage is still recalled in family genealogies and regional folklore.
