SOUTH INDIA MARASHTRIANS

Marathi is our mother tongue and Maharashtra is the land of our forefathers, but our generation hardly has any moorings in Maharashtra. It is remarkable then that in spite of the fact that nearly three centuries have passed since our forefathers left their village and travelled with Shahji, we still have not forgotten the language and many of our daily practices and festivals still have a flavor of our land of origin.

Much time has passed and generations have changed and it has become increasingly difficult to keep track of our roots. But perhaps, there are certain families who have kept systematic notes about their forefathers. It may be a good idea if information on geneology and some of the special customs like Pujas performed to family deities. Proverbs, and lullabies which link us to places like Pandharpur. HISTORY Maharashtra occupies a substantial portion of the Deccan peninsula. It is roughly triangular in shape with a base of about 700 Kms. along the sea coast from Deccan to Goa and is about 800 Kms. Wide from East to West extending over 307 ,000 Sq.Kms. The Name Maharashtra first appeared in a 7th C. inscription and in the account of a contemporary Chinese traveller Hieun-Tsang. Marathi language is said to have developed in the eighth century from the early Maharashtri. The early period before 1300 A.D. saw a number of Kingdoms under Satavahanas 2nd C. AD and Yadavas (12th Century), Muslim dynasties ruled from 1300 to 1600 after which the entire land was fragmented into small kingdoms. This was the time when the Vakatakas (13th C.) AD: Kalachuris, Rashtrakutas and Chalukyas (8th Century) when Shivaji was born Subsequently. He unified the kingdoms and resuscitated the declining Hindu Culture. The eighteenth century saw a large part of India under the Marathas. Maloji, the grandfather of Shivaji lived between 1550 and 1607 and his son Shahaji Bhonsle between 1594 and 1664. Shahaji had two wives. Shivaji was his son through Jija Bai. Venkoji was his son through Tuka Bai Shivaji ruled between 1630-1680. Venkoji lived till 1685. Most of Early people appear to have migrated to the south during 1638-1680 i.e. between Shahaji's expedition to the South and end of reign. The districts Bellary, North Arcot and Thanjavur had over 10,000 population each and Salem district had a population of about 8000. Madras City had about 4250 persons. Having accompanied Shahaji, original home- land was around Bijapur from where Shahaji must have reunited his retinue. This encompasses parts of present day Maharashtra and Karnataka with Sholapur in the. North, Gulbarga in the East, Krishna River in the South and Miraj, Satara in the West. The rivers Krishna, Bhima, Nira and Dansina watered this area. Important settlements in this area are Tuljapur, Sholapur, Pandharpur, Akalkot, Gulbarga, Jamkhandi, Miraj, Satara, Baramati and Phaitan. Other smaller settlements include Alandi, Yadgir Sherapur, Talikota {the famous war site} Bagewadi, Badami (of Chalukyas), Tasgaon Athni, Vita, Mahsvada, Aund Sangola and Magal Vedha all in the real heartland of old Maharashtra. Language & Literature The history of Marathi literature may be studied under three periods namely the Early Period (from up to 1350 A.D.) Middle first period (1350-1800) and after 1800 A.D. The literature of the two periods would have influenced Early generations. The period after 1800, which may be called the new period has very little effect, since most of them were completely cut off from the happenings in Maharashtra. During the reign of Ramachandra, The Yadava King of Deogiri (1189-1370) Ruled by the Ramayana The Great epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Panchatantra were rendered into old Marathi. Other works of the period were Ratnamala (astrology), Viveka Sindha (Philosophy) and poetic works like Nalopakhyana and Rukmini Swamyamwara. A number of works flowed from the followers of Chakradhara, a Brahmin from Gujarat during the period. The more important ones were Lila Charitra, Siddhanta Sutra, Vacchaharana, Sisupala Vadha, Uddhava Gita, Gyana Probodha, Sahyadri Varnana, Ridhipura Varnana and Dhavalas by a Marathi Poetess. The work of uniting various elements of Hinduism was carried out by the saint poet Dhyanadeo or Gyandeo (1271-93) whose monumental Work Bhavarta Dipika or Gyaneshvari is a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. This was composed in 1290 when he was just 19 years old. Namdev, also his contemporary and other saint poets of the period were Muktabai, Janabai, Savantha (a gardener) Gora and Raka (Potters) and Choka and Banka (Mahars). Thus we see that the saints had their roots in common people. In the middle period, Eknath Swamy (1548-1699) Tukaram (1588-1649) were the chief contributors. The former was responsible for Eknathi Bhagavatha and Bhavartha Ramayana, Tukaram's abhangs in simple Marathi (5000 in number) are full of intense devotion to God. Other poets of the period (1608-1700) were Dasopanth, Mukteswara, Samartha Ramdas, Vamana Pandita and Raghunatha Pandita. Sridhara and Moropant flourished during the later peshwa period. The povada (heroic poetry) and Lavani (on earthly love) sung by Wandering Minstrels also belong to the same period. Dhayanadeo (Born : 1275, Entered Samadhi 1297). Born in a Kulkarni family in Apegon near Paithan, his short life of 22 years can be divided into two parts. The first ends with his departure for Paithan and includes the persecution by orthodox Brahmins. His two brothers Nivritti and Sopan and sister Muktabai also accompanied on his travels. The second part of his life was spent in writing of his now famous 'Dhyaneshwari' a commentary in simple Marathi of the Bhagvad Gita. His other works include 'Anubhavamrita' propounding the doctrine of 'Luminous appearance' Changedeo Pasasthi in the form of a letter written to Yogi Changdeo and about 1000 Abhangs or Devotional songs. He was born in Narsi Bamni in Parbhani district to Gunabai and Damashet a tailor by profession and settled down at Pandharpur. He Composed many abhangs and revived the institution of Kiratana. He composed in Hindi also and many of his works find a place in the Holy surpluses of the Sikhs. Tukaram (Born 1608) He was born in a family well placed living in Pandharpur. A great famine ravaged country in his time and he lost everything. He realised the Vanity of earthly pursuits and turned to meditation and propagating his realisation through and bhangs. These were recorded by his disciples Gangaram Maval and Santaji Teli. The Sarawathi Mahallibrary at Thanjavur, a Storehouse of information on many aspects of ancient and and culture but hardly anyone had time to delve into these. It would be a great help if some of the younger generation take up this as their thesis and travel from the heart of Maharashtra to the heart of Tamil Nadu, from the land of the rivers Bhima and Krishna to the land of Cauveri and how we have integrated ourselves in our new place Let us show our brethren that wherever we are born we can carry on our traditions and still be a part of our great country.

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