She was killed, along with her three daughters, in the Khejarli massacre, after protesting the felling of trees by Maharaja Abhay Singh of Marwar.

[3][4][5] In 1730, the then Maharaja of Jodhpur, Abhay Singh, ordered the felling of Khejri trees to burn lime for the construction of his new palace.

According to legend, Devi put her arms around the trunk of a tree to prevent it from being felled; in response, the king's men decapitated her.

[6] In the subsequent Khejarli massacre, Devi's three daughters, Asu, Ratni and Bhagu, and 363 other Bishnois were killed while protecting the trees.

[8] The Government of India instituted the Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award for individuals or communities from rural areas that have shown extraordinary courage and dedication in protecting wildlife.