When the males were defeated or slain in battle, women and children committed mass suicide by throwing themselves on a pyre to shield the family from disgrace.
Jauhar was regarded as the female equivalent of combat
death.
Women would commit mass suicide when their husbands and dads
departed their fortifications if they were vastly outnumbered and faced certain
death in battle.
This phenomena was most closely connected with Rajasthan, a
desert state with strong martial traditions and a heavy emphasis on family
honor.
It's especially linked to the Rajasthani city of Chittorgarh, where jauhars happened in 1303, 1535, and 1568.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
