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{{Short description|Western Hindi language of India}}
{{Short description|Indo-Aryan language}}
{{Distinguish|text = with the other Indian literary languages of [[Brajabuli]] and [[Brajavali dialect|Brajavali]], or with the [[Brijbasi]] ethnic group}}
{{Distinguish|text = with the other Indian literary languages of [[Brajabuli]] and [[Brajavali dialect|Brajavali]], or with the [[Brijvasi]] ethnic group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2009}}
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
| name = Braj Bhasha
| name             = Braj
| nativename = ब्रजभाषा ''Braj Bhāshā''
| nativename       = {{lang|bra|ब्रजभाषा}}
| altname = Brij Bhasha
| ethnicity        = Brajwasi
| states = [[India]]
| altname         = Brij Bhasha
| region = [[Braj]]
| states           = [[India]]
| speakers = {{sigfig|1,556,314|2}}
| region           = [[Braj]]
| date = 2011 census
| speakers         = {{sigfig|1.556314|3}} million
| 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>
| date             = 2011 census
| 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>
| ref             = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language_MTs.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702150916/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language_MTs.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 July 2018|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>
| familycolor = Indo-European
| 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>
| fam2 = [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]]
| familycolor     = Indo-European
| fam3 = [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]]
| fam2             = [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]]
| fam4 = [[Central Indo-Aryan languages|Central Indo-Aryan]]
| fam3             = [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]]
| fam5 = [[Western Hindi languages|Western Hindi]]
| fam4             = [[Central Indo-Aryan languages|Central Indo-Aryan]]
| script = [[Devanagari]]
| fam5             = [[Western Hindi languages|Western Hindi]]
| iso2 = bra
| script           = [[Devanagari]]
| iso3 = bra
| iso2             = bra
| glotto = braj1242
| iso3             = bra
| glottorefname = Braj
| glotto           = braj1242
| glottorefname   = Braj
| map              =
| mapcaption      = Braj-speaking region
| image            = Braj Bhasha.svg
}}
}}
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'''{{efn|commonly called ''Braj Bhasha'', also known as ''Vraj Bhasha'' or ''Brij Bhasha'' or ''Braj Boli''}} is a language within the [[Indo-Aryan language family]] spoken in the [[Braj region]] in Western Uttar Pradesh centered on [[Mathura]] and in some parts of eastern Rajasthan centered on [[Bharatpur district|Bharatpur]], [[Karauli]], [[Dholpur district|Dholpur]], it was one of the two predominant literary languages of North-Central India before gradually merging and contributing to the development of standardized Hindi in the 19th century. It is spoken today in its unique form in many districts of [[Western Uttar Pradesh]], often referred to as 'Central Braj Bhasha'.


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.
The language was historically used for Vaishnavite poetry dedicated to Krishna, whose life was associated with sites in the Braj region. There were also early prose works in terms of the hagiographical ''vārtā'' literature of the [[Vallabh sect|Vallabha sect]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Masica |first=Colin P. |title=The Indo-Aryan Languages |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1991 |pages=53, 57, 62}}</ref>


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.
Braj is considered by scholars to be a more conservative example of the Central Indo-Aryan languages compared to the [[Hindustani language]], which has been influenced by [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and intermediate dialects.{{Sfn|Masica|1991|p=197-198}}
 
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 ==
== 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:
Braj Bhasha is spoken in the nebulous [[Braj]] region centred on [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]], [[Agra]], [[Aligarh]], [[Hathras]], [[Gautam Buddh Nagar]], Southern Part of [[Bulandshahr]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Bharatpur, Rajasthan|Bharatpur]], [[Deeg]], [[Karauli]] & [[Dholpur]] in [[Rajasthan]]. It is the predominant language in the central stretch of the Ganges-Yamuna [[Doab]] in the following districts:
* [[Bharatpur district|Bharatpur]]
* [[Deeg district|Deeg]]
* [[Hathras district|Hathras]]
* [[Hathras district|Hathras]]
* [[Mathura district|Mathura]]
* [[Mathura district|Mathura]]
Line 41: Line 44:
* [[Aligarh district|Aligarh]]
* [[Aligarh district|Aligarh]]
* [[Firozabad district|Firozabad]]
* [[Firozabad district|Firozabad]]
* [[Auraiya District|Auraiya]]
* [[Gautam Buddha Nagar district]]
* [[Etah district|Etah]]
* Southern Part of [[Bulandshahr district]]
* [[Shahjahanpur district|Shahjahanpur]]
* [[Sambhal district]]
* [[Mainpuri]]
* [[Farrukhabad district]]
* [[Etawah district|Etawah]]
* [[Etah district]]
* [[Farrukhabad]]
* [[Mainpuri district]]
* [[Kasganj]]
* [[Etawah district]]
* [[Badaun]]
* [[Kasganj district]]
* [[Palwal]]
* [[Badaun district]]
* [[Bareilly district]]
* [[Faridabad district]]  
* [[Palwal district]]
* [[Karauli district]]
* [[Dholpur district|Dholpur]]
 


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


In [[Rajasthan]] it is spoken in the districts of :
* [[Bharatpur district|Bharatpur]]
* [[Bharatpur district|Bharatpur]]
* [[Dhaulpur district|Dhaulpur]]
* [[Karauli]]
* [[Dholpur district|Dholpur]]


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 [[Western Uttar Pradesh]] spoken in the southern part of western Uttar Pradesh. Braj-speaking districts include [[Mathura]], [[Hathras]], [[Agra]], [[Aligarh]], [[Etah]], [[Firozabad]], [[Budaun]], [[Mainpuri]], [[Etawah]], [[Bareilly]], [[Sambhal]] and Most parts of [[Gautam Buddh Nagar]] (areas of [[Jewar]] and [[Greater Noida]]), [[Bulandshahr]] (areas of [[Khurja]], [[Shikarpur, Bulandshahr]], [[Dibai]] and [[Aurangabad, Bulandshahr]]) and Even Some communities still speaks Braj basha near southern part of [[Ghaziabad]].
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.)
In Haryana it is spoken in the districts of :
* [[Palwal]],  
* [[Faridabad]]
The area of South Delhi, which is connected to [[Faridabad]], still has some communities that speak Brajbhasha.


Important works in Braj Bhasha are:
It is spoken in several villages of [[Mathura]], specially in [[Vrindavan]], [[Madhuvan]], [[Deeg]], [[Kaman, Rajasthan|Kaman]], [[Kosi Kalan]], [[Chhata]], [[Baldeo]], and all other villages belongs to Braj Area with [[Bajna, India|Bajna]], [[Surir]], [[Bhidauni]],
* ''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) ==
==Phonology==
{| class="wikitable"
|-


! Brij Bhasha
===Consonants===
! Meaning
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|+ Phonemes of Braj Bhasha
| 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?
! colspan="2" |
| Where is your home?
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! [[Dental consonant|Dental]]
! [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Retroflex consonant|Retroflex]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
|-
| Roti khaay layi kaa?
! colspan="2" | [[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
| Had your meal?
| {{IPA link|m}}
|
| {{IPA link|n}}
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
| kaah haal-chal hai?
! rowspan="4" | [[Plosive consonant|Plosive]]/<br/>[[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
| How are you?
! <small>[[voicelessness|voiceless]]</small>
| {{IPA link|p}}
| {{IPA link|t̪}}
| {{IPA link|ts}}
| {{IPA link|ʈ}}
|
| {{IPA link|k}}
|
|-
|-
| batayo toh
! <small>[[voicelessness|voiceless]] [[aspirated consonant|aspirated]]</small>
| I told you.
| {{IPA link|pʰ}}
| {{IPA link|t̪ʰ}}
| {{IPA link|tsʰ}}
| {{IPA link|ʈʰ}}
|
| {{IPA link|kʰ}}
|
|-
|-
| je lali meri hai .
! <small>[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
| She's my daughter.
| {{IPA link|b}}
| {{IPA link|d̪}}
| {{IPA link|dz}}
| {{IPA link|ɖ}}
|
| {{IPA link|ɡ}}
|
|-
|-
| je hamao lalla hai
! <small>[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]] [[aspirated consonant|aspirated]]</small>
| He's my son.
| {{IPA link|bʱ}}
| {{IPA link|d̪ʱ}}
| {{IPA link|dzʱ}}
| {{IPA link|ɖʱ}}
|
| {{IPA link|ɡʱ}}
|
|-
|-
|tu kab awego ?
! colspan="2" | [[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
|When you will be coming?
|
|
| {{IPA link|s}}
|
|
|
| {{IPA link|ɦ}}
|-
|-
| Tero hi baat dekhro.
! colspan="2" | [[Flap consonant|Flap]]
| I was waiting for you.
|
|
| {{IPA link|ɾ}}
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
| Tero byah hai go kaah?
! colspan="2" | [[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
| Are you married?
| {{IPA link|ʋ}}
|-
|
| Kahan koon/ kit koon jaro hai?
| {{IPA link|l}}
| Which place you are going to?
|
|-
| {{IPA link|j}}
| 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
|}
|}
== Literature ==
{{Main|Braj literature}}[[File:Story_of_Camel_and_Jackal_in_Braj_language.webm|thumb|Story of Camel and Jackal in Braj language]]
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:
* ''Pushtimargiya kiratan'' of ashtachhap.
* ''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]]
* Dasam Granth by [[Guru Gobind Singh]]
* Nayikabhed, Nakhshikh and satasattak by Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Atre |first=Shubhangana |title=History |publisher=Maharashtra state textbook bureau |year=2019 |location=Maharashtra |language=English}}</ref>
* ''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>
* ''[[Chaurashi Vaishnavan ki Varta|Caurāsī Vaiṣṇavan kī Vārtā]]'' by [[Gokulanatha|Gokulanātha ]]; Edited and Compiled by [[Harirāy]]. An important [[Pushtimarga Sampradaya|Pushtimarg]] sacred biography of [[Vallabha|Vallabhācārya]]'s exemplary devotees.


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 187: Line 190:
* [[Brajavali dialect]]
* [[Brajavali dialect]]
* [[Brajabuli]]
* [[Brajabuli]]
* [[Awadhi language]]


== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
Line 193: Line 199:
== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
* Snell, Rupert. 1991. ''The Hindi Classical Tradition: A Braj Bhāṣā Reader'' {{isbn|0728601753}}
* Snell, Rupert. 1991. ''The Hindi Classical Tradition: A Braj Bhāṣā Reader'' {{isbn|0728601753}}
* Snell, Rupert. 2016. [http://hdl.handle.net/2152/46339 ''Braj in Brief: An introduction to literary Braj Bhāṣā'']


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{incubator|bra}}
* https://web.archive.org/web/20070524104936/http://www.ciil.org/Main/Languages/indian.htm
* https://web.archive.org/web/20070524104936/http://www.ciil.org/Main/Languages/indian.htm


Line 202: Line 210:


[[Category:Languages of India]]
[[Category:Languages of India]]
[[Category:Hindi languages]]
[[Category:Central Indo-Aryan languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Languages of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Languages of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Languages of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Brij]]
[[Category:Brij]]
[[Category:Languages listed as Hindi dialects in latest census]]

Latest revision as of 11:33, 16 March 2026


Not to be confused with with the other Indian literary languages of Brajabuli and Brajavali, or with the Brijvasi ethnic group.

Braj
Brij Bhasha
ब्रजभाषा
Native toIndia
RegionBraj
EthnicityBrajwasi
Native speakers
1.56 million (2011 census)[1]
Census results conflate some speakers with Hindi.[2]
Devanagari
Language codes
ISO 639-2bra
ISO 639-3bra
Glottologbraj1242

Braj[lower-alpha 1] is a language within the Indo-Aryan language family spoken in the Braj region in Western Uttar Pradesh centered on Mathura and in some parts of eastern Rajasthan centered on Bharatpur, Karauli, Dholpur, it was one of the two predominant literary languages of North-Central India before gradually merging and contributing to the development of standardized Hindi in the 19th century. It is spoken today in its unique form in many districts of Western Uttar Pradesh, often referred to as 'Central Braj Bhasha'.

The language was historically used for Vaishnavite poetry dedicated to Krishna, whose life was associated with sites in the Braj region. There were also early prose works in terms of the hagiographical vārtā literature of the Vallabha sect.[3]

Braj is considered by scholars to be a more conservative example of the Central Indo-Aryan languages compared to the Hindustani language, which has been influenced by Punjabi and intermediate dialects.[4]

Geographical distribution[edit | edit source]

Braj Bhasha is spoken in the nebulous Braj region centred on Mathura, Agra, Aligarh, Hathras, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Southern Part of Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur, Deeg, Karauli & Dholpur in Rajasthan. It is the predominant language in the central stretch of the Ganges-Yamuna Doab in the following districts:


In Rajasthan it is spoken in the districts of :


In Western Uttar Pradesh spoken in the southern part of western Uttar Pradesh. Braj-speaking districts include Mathura, Hathras, Agra, Aligarh, Etah, Firozabad, Budaun, Mainpuri, Etawah, Bareilly, Sambhal and Most parts of Gautam Buddh Nagar (areas of Jewar and Greater Noida), Bulandshahr (areas of Khurja, Shikarpur, Bulandshahr, Dibai and Aurangabad, Bulandshahr) and Even Some communities still speaks Braj basha near southern part of Ghaziabad.


In Haryana it is spoken in the districts of :

The area of South Delhi, which is connected to Faridabad, still has some communities that speak Brajbhasha.

It is spoken in several villages of Mathura, specially in Vrindavan, Madhuvan, Deeg, Kaman, Kosi Kalan, Chhata, Baldeo, and all other villages belongs to Braj Area with Bajna, Surir, Bhidauni,

Phonology[edit | edit source]

Consonants[edit | edit source]

Phonemes of Braj Bhasha
Labial Dental Alveolar Retroflex Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n
Plosive/
Affricate 		voiceless p t̪ ts ʈ k
voiceless aspirated pʰ t̪ʰ tsʰ ʈʰ kʰ
voiced b d̪ dz ɖ ɡ
voiced aspirated bʱ d̪ʱ dzʱ ɖʱ ɡʱ
Fricative s ɦ
Flap ɾ
Approximant ʋ l j

Literature[edit | edit source]

Main article: Braj literature
Story of Camel and Jackal in Braj language

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:

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ commonly called Braj Bhasha, also known as Vraj Bhasha or Brij Bhasha or Braj Boli

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  2. ↑ "Census of India: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues –2001". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Masica, Colin P. (1991). The Indo-Aryan Languages. Cambridge University Press. pp. 53, 57, 62.
  4. ↑ Masica 1991, p. 197-198.
  5. ↑ "Google Notebook". google.com. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Atre, Shubhangana (2019). History. Maharashtra: Maharashtra state textbook bureau.
  7. ↑ Sujit Mukherjee (1998). A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850. Orient Blackswan. pp. 425–. ISBN 978-81-250-1453-9.

Further reading[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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