MarielKrr8600268 at 06:03, 16 March 2026

2026-03-16T06:03:22Z

122.161.66.149: /* Geographical distribution */

2021-07-06T12:14:25Z

Geographical distribution

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{{Short description|Western Hindi language of India}}
{{Distinguish|text = with the other Indian literary languages of [[Brajabuli]] and [[Brajavali dialect|Brajavali]], or with the [[Brijbasi]] ethnic group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2009}}
{{Infobox language
| name = Braj Bhasha
| nativename = ब्रजभाषा ''Braj Bhāshā''
| altname = Brij Bhasha
| states = [[India]]
| region = [[Braj]]
| speakers = {{sigfig|1,556,314|2}}
| date = 2011 census
| ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language_MTs.html|title=Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2018-07-07}}</ref>
| speakers2 = Census results conflate some speakers with Hindi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement1.aspx|title=Census of India: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues –2001|work=censusindia.gov.in|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref>
| familycolor = Indo-European
| fam2 = [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]]
| fam3 = [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]]
| fam4 = [[Central Indo-Aryan languages|Central Indo-Aryan]]
| fam5 = [[Western Hindi languages|Western Hindi]]
| script = [[Devanagari]]
| iso2 = bra
| iso3 = bra
| glotto = braj1242
| glottorefname = Braj
}}
The '''Braj''' language, '''''Braj Bhāshā''''', also known as '''Braji''' or '''Brij Bhasha or Braj Boli''', is a [[Western Hindi languages|Western Hindi language]]. Along with [[Awadhi]] (a variety of Eastern Hindi), it was one of the two predominant literary languages of North-Central India before the switch to literary [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] in the 19th century.

Braj is spoken by people in the vaguely defined region of [[Braj]] (Braj Bhoomi) in northern India, which was a political state in the era of the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' wars. According to ancient [[Hindu]] texts such as the [[Bhagavata Purana]], the [[Surasena|Kingdom of Surasena]] is described as spreading through Braj (also known as Brij, Vrija or Vraja), where the incarnation of [[Vishnu]], [[Krishna]] was born and spent his childhood days, according to tradition. This region lies in the [[Agra district|Agra]]-[[Mathura district|Mathura]]-[[Hathras district|Hathras]]-[[Firozabad district|Firozabad]]-[[Aligarh district|Aligarh]] area & [[Etawah district|Etawah]]-[[Mainpuri district|Mainpuri]]-[[Dibiyapur|Auraiya]] area, and stretches as far as the environs of [[Delhi]]. In modern India, this area lies mostly in central western [[Uttar Pradesh]], the eastern extremities of [[Rajasthan]] i.e. [[Bharatpur, Rajasthan|Bharatpur]] & [[Dholpur]] and the southern extremities of [[Haryana]]. Northern regions of Madhya Pradesh like Morena are also included.<ref name="google.co.uk">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sl_dDVctycgC&q=Braj+Bhasa+morena&pg=PA291|title=International Encyclopedia of Linguistics|isbn=9780195139778|access-date=16 July 2015|last1=Frawley|first1=William|date=May 2003}}</ref> Today Braj Bhoomi can be seen as a cultural-geographical entity rather than a proper state. Braj Bhasha is the [[vernacular]] of the region, and is very close to [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]], spoken in the neighbouring [[Awadh]] region.

Much of the Hindi literature was developed in Braj in the medieval period, and a substantial amount of [[Bhakti]] or devotional poetry is in this language. Some devotional poems for Krishna are also composed in Braj. Braj is also the main language of [[Hindustani classical music]] compositions.

The [[Hindustani language|Hindavi]] poet [[Amir Khusrau]] (1253 – 1325) wrote some of his poetry in Braj Bhasha, as did the Sikh scribe [[Bhai Gurdas]] (1551-1636). Braj folk songs and poems include [[Chhaap Tilak Sab Chheeni]] by Amir Khusrau, and the devotional song [[Main Naahin Maakhan Khaayo]] by [[Surdas]].

== Geographical distribution ==

Braj Bhasha is mainly a rural tongue currently, predominant in the nebulous [[Braj]] region centred on [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]] & [[Agra]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Bharatpur, Rajasthan|Bharatpur]] & [[Dholpur]] in [[Rajasthan]]. It is the predominant language in the central stretch of the Ganges-Yamuna [[Doab]] in the following districts:
* [[Hathras district|Hathras]]
* [[Mathura district|Mathura]]
* [[Agra district|Agra]]
* [[Aligarh district|Aligarh]]
* [[Firozabad district|Firozabad]]
* [[Auraiya District|Auraiya]]
* [[Etah district|Etah]]
* [[Shahjahanpur district|Shahjahanpur]]
* [[Mainpuri]]
* [[Etawah district|Etawah]]
* [[Farrukhabad]]
* [[Kasganj]]
* [[Badaun]]
* [[Palwal]]

Besides Uttar Pradesh, Braj is spoken in the bordering areas of [[Rajasthan]], mainly in the following districts:

* [[Bharatpur district|Bharatpur]]
* [[Dhaulpur district|Dhaulpur]]

as well as parts of [[Karauli district|Karauli]], from where onwards it merges into [[Rajasthani languages]].

It is also spoken in the western areas of [[Uttar Pradesh]], mainly in [[Mathura district]] and southern areas of [[Faridabad district]]
In Madhya Pradesh it is spoken in the districts of [[Bhind]], [[Morena]], [[Gwalior]], and [[Shivpuri]].<ref name="google.co.uk"/>
It is spoken in several villages of [[Mathura]], specially in [[Vrindavan]], [[Madhuvan]], [[Kaman, Uttar Pradesh|Kaman]], [[Kosi Kalan]], [[Chhata]], [[Baldeo]], and all other villages belongs to Braj Area with [[Bajna, India|Bajna]], [[Surir]], [[Bhidauni]],

== Literature ==
{{Main| Braj literature}}
Most Braj literature is of a mystical nature, related to the spiritual union of people with God, because almost all of the Braj Bhasha poets were considered God-realised saints and their words are thus considered as directly emanating from a divine source. Much of the traditional Northern Indian literature shares this trait. All traditional Punjabi literature is similarly written by saints and is of a metaphysical and philosophical nature.

Another peculiar feature of Northern Indian literature is that the literature is mostly written from a female point of view, even by male poets. This is because the saints were in a state of transcendental, spiritual love, where they were metaphorically women reuniting with their beloved. (In its inversion of the conventional genders of worshipper and worshippee, Maulana Da’ud's [[Chandayan]] departs from this tradition.)

Important works in Braj Bhasha are:
* ''Yugala Shataka'' by Swami Sri Sribhatta Devacarya; known as the first 'Vani' book in Vraja Bhasha composed in the 14th Century AD as a part of [[Nimbarka Sampradaya]] tradition of [[Radha]] [[Krishna]] worship.
* ''[[Vinaya Patrika]]'' by [[Tulsidas]]
* ''Sur Sagar'' by [[Surdas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/notebook/public/03553967701179803178/BDQs4SwoQx5vXjbQh|title=Google Notebook|work=google.com|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref>
* ''Buddha Charit'' by [[Acharya Ram Chandra Shukla]]
* [[Sufi]] poetry by [[Amir Khusro]]
* Eulogies by [[Kavi Bhushan]]
* ''Vrind Satsai'' by [[Vrind]] (1643 - 1723), court poet of ruler of [[Kishangarh]]<ref name="Mukherjee1998">{{cite book|author=Sujit Mukherjee|title=A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YCJrUfVtZxoC&pg=PA425|date= 1998|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=978-81-250-1453-9|pages=425–}}</ref>

== Basic Phrases of the Brij Bhasha (Sample sentences) ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-

! Brij Bhasha
! Meaning
|-
| Kahan jaye rayo he re lallu/lalli ?
| Where are you going?
|-
| kaa kar rao he ( to male), kaha kar rai hai (to female)?
| What are you doing?
|-
| tero naam kaa hai?
| What is your name?
|-
| kaa khayo?
| What did you eat?
|-
| kaa ho rayo hai?
| What's going on?
|-
| moye na pato.
| I don't know.
|-
| toye kaa dikkat hai ?
| What is your problem?
|-
| kaha koye re tu?
| What's the name of your place?
|-
| Ghar kon- kon hai re?
| Who's at home?
|-
| tero ghar kahan hain?
| Where is your home?
|-
| Roti khaay layi kaa?
| Had your meal?
|-
| kaah haal-chal hai?
| How are you?
|-
| batayo toh
| I told you.
|-
| je lali meri hai .
| She's my daughter.
|-
| je hamao lalla hai
| He's my son.
|-
|tu kab awego ?
|When you will be coming?
|-
| Tero hi baat dekhro.
| I was waiting for you.
|-
| Tero byah hai go kaah?
| Are you married?
|-
| Kahan koon/ kit koon jaro hai?
| Which place you are going to?
|-
| nyah aa .
| Come here.
|-
| ''humbe'' hanji
|Yes/no both with expression
|-
|-
|chalo chalo
|lets move
|-
|chup hai ja
|silent
|-
|Non diyo nek so
|Give me some salt
|-
|mere jore nai
|I don't have
|-
|-
|je bus kitau ja rai hai?
|Where will this bus go?
|-
|jyada mat bol
|don't speak too much
|-
|itaku aa
|come here
|-
|pallanku haija
|go that side
|-
|khano khay le
|have food
|-
|nek moye diyo
|give me a little bit
|-
|jame namak laghu hai
|there is too much salt in this
|}

== See also ==
* [[Hindi literature]]
* [[Brajavali dialect]]
* [[Brajabuli]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Snell, Rupert. 1991. ''The Hindi Classical Tradition: A Braj Bhāṣā Reader'' {{isbn|0728601753}}

== External links ==
* https://web.archive.org/web/20070524104936/http://www.ciil.org/Main/Languages/indian.htm

{{Hindi topics}}
{{Central Indo-Aryan languages}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Languages of India]]
[[Category:Hindi languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Languages of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Brij]]

Braj Bhasha - Revision history

MarielKrr8600268 at 06:03, 16 March 2026

122.161.66.149: /* Geographical distribution */