ASKiIMAN™ REALM 92 / MARATHI & HINDI
--:-- · -- --- ----
अ
अ

The Twin Currents

Abhangs, Awadhi Epics, Braj Lyrics & Modern Khariboli

REALM 92A — MARATHI LITERATURE

MICRO-REALM 01

Yadava Roots

  • Marathi emerged as a distinct language around the 9th century.
  • The earliest major work is Vivekasindhu by Mukundraj (12th C), a text on Advaita Vedanta.
  • Flourished immensely under the patronage of the Yadava dynasty of Devagiri.
MICRO-REALM 02

Dnyaneshwari

  • Composed by the teenage saint Dnyaneshwar in 1290 CE.
  • A brilliant, highly poetic Marathi commentary on the Bhagavad Gita using the Ovi meter.
  • Democratized spiritual knowledge, moving it from elite Sanskrit to the language of the masses.
MICRO-REALM 03

The Abhang Tradition

  • The poetic soul of the Varkari movement, dedicated to Lord Vitthal of Pandharpur.
  • Namdev (13th C) spread the tradition, while Tukaram (17th C) brought it to its absolute zenith.
  • Tukaram's earthy, direct poetry challenged social hypocrisy and remains the heart of Marathi folk culture.
MICRO-REALM 04

Powadas & Bakhars

  • The martial and historical literature that arose during the Maratha Empire (17th-18th C).
  • Powadas: High-energy, heroic ballads praising warriors (e.g., Afzal Khan Vadh).
  • Bakhars: Prose chronicles recording Maratha history, battles, and the deeds of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
MICRO-REALM 05

Modern Renaissance

  • 19th/20th century saw a massive shift to social realism, prose, and plays (Nataks).
  • Keshavsut modernized poetry. Kusumagraj ignited linguistic pride (Vishakha).
  • Vijay Tendulkar revolutionized Indian theatre with gritty, socially critical plays like Ghashiram Kotwal .
MICRO-REALM 06

Dalit Literature

  • Emerged powerfully in the 1960s/70s, heavily influenced by B.R. Ambedkar and the Dalit Panther movement.
  • Poets like Namdeo Dhasal ( Golpitha ) shattered classical aesthetics, using raw, explosive street slang to expose the horrors of the caste system.
MICRO-REALM 07

Veergatha & Apabhramsha

  • Early Hindi (Adi Kal) evolved from Shauraseni Apabhramsha.
  • Dominated by Veergatha (heroic poetry) like Chand Bardai’s Prithviraj Raso .
  • Amir Khusrau (13th C) was the first to use Khari Boli (the root of modern Hindi/Urdu) for his famous riddles (Pahelis) and songs.
MICRO-REALM 08

Braj Bhasha

  • The sweet, lyrical dialect of the Mathura/Vrindavan region.
  • Became the absolute standard for Krishna Bhakti poetry (15th-17th C).
  • Surdas ( Sur Sagar ) is the undisputed master, alongside poets like Raskhan and Mirabai, creating exquisite verses of love and devotion.
MICRO-REALM 09

Awadhi Epics

  • The dialect of the Ayodhya/Awadh region.
  • Tulsidas authored the Ramcharitmanas (16th C), effectively defining North Indian Hinduism and making the Ramayana a household text.
  • Sufi poets like Malik Muhammad Jayasi also used Awadhi for romances like Padmavat .
MICRO-REALM 10

Ritikāl (Era of Style)

  • The 17th-19th century era of highly ornamental, courtly poetry patronized by royals.
  • Shifted focus from devotion (Bhakti) to eroticism (Sringara), aesthetics, and strict poetic rules (Riti).
  • Bihari ( Bihari Satsai ) and Keshavdas are the masters of this incredibly dense, decorative style.
MICRO-REALM 11

Modern Hindi Poetry

  • Bharatendu Harishchandra (19th C) standardized Khari Boli for prose, ushering in the modern era and nationalist thought.
  • Chhayavaad (Romanticism, 1920s): Poets like Jaishankar Prasad, Mahadevi Varma, Nirala, and Pant brought deep subjectivity, nature worship, and mysticism into modern Hindi poetry.
MICRO-REALM 12

Premchand & Realism

  • Munshi Premchand shifted literature from fantasy to stark social realism, capturing the tragic lives of Indian peasants in epics like Godan .
  • Pragativad (Progressivism): Marxist-influenced literature focusing on class struggle (Dinkar).
  • Nayi Kavita: Experimental, modernist poetry pioneered by Agyeya.

REALM 92B — HINDI LITERATURE