Marathi language

Lore & Background

The earliest Marathi-only inscriptions date from the Shilahara rule, including a c. The 11th-century Jain polymath Acharya Hemchandra systematically described Maharashtri Prakrit in his Siddha-Hema-Śabdānuśāsana, a key source for modern scholars. Jain authors produced the oldest non-Varkari streams of medieval Marathi literature, with works like Gunakirti's Dharmamrita. The 13th-century saint Dnyaneshwar wrote Dnyaneshwari and Amrutanubhava. The 16th-century poet Eknath composed the Eknāthī Bhāgavat and Bharud songs. During the Sultanate period, Marathi was used in administration with heavy Persian influence, which continues in words like bāg and shahar.

Reader's Guide

Marathi's significance lies in its long literary tradition, classical status, and role as a major Indian language. It has some of the oldest literature among modern Indian languages, with early inscriptions from the 8th century and a rich medieval corpus from Jain and Varkari traditions. This period also saw the creation of the 'Rājavyavahārakośa' thesaurus. Marathi's legacy includes its three genders, inclusive/exclusive 'we' forms, and distinctive phonology contrasting apico-alveolar and alveopalatal affricates and alveolar with retroflex laterals. Designated a classical language in October 2024, Marathi continues to be spoken by millions and preserves a vast body of historical, religious, and administrative documents.

Did You Know?

• Marathi distinguishes inclusive and exclusive forms of 'we'.
• Marathi has three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter.
• Marathi was designated a classical language by the Government of India in October 2024.