Maharashtri
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'''Maharashtri''' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]: महाराष्ट्री प्राकृत), is a language of ancient and medieval [[India]], descended from [[Sanskrit]], and spoken in what is now [[Maharashtra]] and other parts of India. It is the ancestor of [[Marathi]], [[Divehi]] and [[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]] as well. It is one of the many languages (often called dialects) of a complex called [[Prakrit]], and the chief [[Dramatic Prakrit]]. Its literary use was made famous by the playwright [[Kalidasa]].
Maharashtri was the most popular amongst all [[Prakrit]] languages. It was spoken from [[Malwa]] and [[Rajputana]] (north) to [[Krishna]] and the [[Tungabhadra]] river region (south). Sanskrit lost its status as a 'communication language' somewhere around 500 B.C., when Prakrit came into use. The ruler [[Hāla]] (r. 20-24 CE) mentioned in the Puranas as a member of the [[Satavahana]] dynasty, used Maharashtri, then popular, to write ''Saptashati''(सप्तशती) or Gāthā Saptashatī, ''Setubandh'' (सेतुबंध) and ''Karpurmanjari'' (कर्पुरमंजरी)<ref>Dr.Kolarkar, ''Marathyancha Itihaas''</ref>. Maharashtri was in use for 1000 years (500 BC to 500 AD). Historians agree that Maharashtri and other Prakrit languages prevailed in modern [[Maharashtra]].<ref>V.Rajwade, ''Maharashtrache prachin rajyakarte''</ref>
Maharashtri was widely spoken in western India and even down south in the parts which speak [[Kannada]].<ref>C. V. Vaidya, ''History of Medieval Hindu India, Being a History of India from 600 to 1200 AD,'' in 3 vols.: Vol. I, p. 317. ISBN 8170204380</ref>
[[Marathi]] is descended from the Prakrit dialect Maharashtri (literally, the "Language of the Empire"), which was the official language of the Satavahana Empire in the early centuries of the Common Era. Under the patronage of the Satavahana Empire, Maharashtri became the most widespread Prakrit of its time, and also dominated the literary culture amongst the three "Dramatic" Prakrits of the time, Maharashtri, Sauraseni and Magadhi. A version of Maharashtri, called the Jaina Maharashtri, also was employed to write sections of Jain scripture. The Satavahana Emperor [[Hāla|Hala's]] Sattasai, an anthology of over 700 love poems, has been established as the most famous work of literature in Maharashtri. Maharashtri evolved during the 15th and 16th centuries into Marathi.<ref>[http://bhashaindia.com/Patrons/LanguageTech/Marathi.aspx Bhashaindia-Marathi]</ref>
==References==
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{{Indo-Iranian languages}}
[[Category:Languages of India]]
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