Braj Bhasha

{{Short description|Indo-Aryan language}} {{Distinguish|text = with the other Indian literary languages of Brajabuli and Brajavali, or with the Brijvasi ethnic group}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}

{{Infobox language | name = Braj | nativename = {{lang|bra|ब्रजभाषा}} | ethnicity = Brajwasi | altname = Brij Bhasha | states = India | region = Braj | speakers = {{sigfig|1.556314|3}} million | date = 2011 census | 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> | 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 | fam3 = Indo-Aryan | fam4 = Central Indo-Aryan | fam5 = Western Hindi | script = Devanagari | iso2 = bra | iso3 = bra | glotto = braj1242 | glottorefname = Braj | map = | mapcaption = Braj-speaking region | image = Braj Bhasha.svg }} '''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 centred on Mathura, Eastern Rajasthan centred on Bharatpur, Karauli, Dholpur, South Eastern Areas of Haryana. 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Masica |first=Colin P. |title=The Indo-Aryan Languages |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1991 |pages=53, 57, 62}}</ref>

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.{{Sfn|Masica|1991|p=197-198}}

== Geographical distribution ==

Braj Bhasha is spoken in the nebulous Braj region centred on Mathura, Agra, Aligarh, Hathras, Gautam Buddh Nagar, 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: * Bharatpur * Deeg * Hathras * Mathura * Agra * Aligarh * Firozabad * Gautam Buddha Nagar district * Bulandshahr district * Sambhal district * Farrukhabad district * Etah district * Mainpuri district * Kasganj district * Badaun district * Bareilly district * Faridabad district * Palwal district * Karauli district * Dholpur * Gurugram district

In Rajasthan it is spoken in the districts of : * Bharatpur * Deeg district * Karauli * Dholpur

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, 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 : * Palwal, * Faridabad * Eastern part of Gurgaon district 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==

===Consonants=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Phonemes of Braj Bhasha |- ! colspan="2" | ! Labial ! Dental ! Alveolar ! Retroflex ! Palatal ! Velar ! Glottal |- ! colspan="2" | Nasal | {{IPA link|m}} | | {{IPA link|n}} | | | | |- ! rowspan="4" | Plosive/ Affricate ! voiceless | {{IPA link|p}} | {{IPA link|t̪}} | {{IPA link|ts}} | {{IPA link|ʈ}} | | {{IPA link|k}} | |- ! voiceless aspirated | {{IPA link|pʰ}} | {{IPA link|t̪ʰ}} | {{IPA link|tsʰ}} | {{IPA link|ʈʰ}} | | {{IPA link|kʰ}} | |- ! voiced | {{IPA link|b}} | {{IPA link|d̪}} | {{IPA link|dz}} | {{IPA link|ɖ}} | | {{IPA link|ɡ}} | |- ! voiced aspirated | {{IPA link|bʱ}} | {{IPA link|d̪ʱ}} | {{IPA link|dzʱ}} | {{IPA link|ɖʱ}} | | {{IPA link|ɡʱ}} | |- ! colspan="2" | Fricative | | | {{IPA link|s}} | | | | {{IPA link|ɦ}} |- ! colspan="2" | Flap | | | {{IPA link|ɾ}} | | | | |- ! colspan="2" | Approximant | {{IPA link|ʋ}} | | {{IPA link|l}} | | {{IPA link|j}} | | |}

== Literature == {{Main|Braj literature}}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 North 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 North 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 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 Ramchandra Shukla * Sufi poetry by Amir Khusro * Eulogies by Kavi Bhushan * ''Dasam Granth'' by Guru Gobind Singh * ''Nayikabhed'', ''Nakhshikh'' and ''Satasattak'' by Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaja.<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> * ''Caurāsī Vaiṣṇavan kī Vārtā'' by Gokulanātha, edited and compiled by Harirāy. An important Pushtimarg sacred biography of Vallabhācārya's exemplary devotees.

== See also == * Hindi literature * Brajavali dialect * Brajabuli * Awadhi language

== Notes == {{Notelist}} == References == {{Reflist}}

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

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