Maratha
75px80px Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj • Sharad Pawar • Second Lieutenant Rama Raghoba Rane• Smita Patil• Prithviraj Chavan• Ritesh Deshmukh • Rajinikanth
Varna	Kshatriya[1][2][3]
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Marathi
Populated States	India, particularly Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and Karnataka.

The Maratha (IPA: [ˈməraʈa];, archaically transliterated as Marhatta or Mahratta) are an Indian caste, found predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people; historically, it describes the Maratha Empire founded by Shivaji in the seventeenth century and continued by his successors, which included many castes.^[4]

They primarily reside in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Goa. Those in Goa and neighbouring Karwar are known specifically as Konkan Marathas as an affiliation to their regional and linguistic alignment.^[5] The Dhangar Ahirs of Indore call themselves as Marathas.^[6]

Etymology[link]

The word Maratha is used for Kshatriya caste belonging to Maharashtra.^[1] The Marathas .

The modern Marathi language developed from the Prakrit known as Mahārāshtri;^{[citation needed]} the words Maratha and Marathi may be a derivative of the Prakrit word Marhatta found in Jain Maharashtri literature, itself from Sanskrit Maharāṣhṭra. The etymology of the words "Maharashtra" is uncertain; the various theories include:

• It derives from the Sanskrit words Maha ("great") and rāṣhṭra ("nation", "dominion")
• Maha (Sanskrit for "great") + rashtra, derived from the name of a clan known as rashtrika (rāṣṭrika) mentioned in some of Ashoka's inscriptions. Rashtrika alludes to a people of the Deccan who were progenitors of the Marathi-speaking people; that the later "Maharashtri Prakrit" is associated with these people
• Maha (Sanskrit for "great") + rashtra, derived from ratta, supposedly a corruption of Rashtrakuta (the name of a dynasty that held sway over the Deccan from the 8th to 10th centuries).
• Maha (Sanskrit for "great") + rathi or ratha (charioteer)

Maratha clans[link]

In theory, Marathas belong to one of the 96 different clans, known as the 96 Kuli Marathas or Chhānnava Kule.^[8] The actual organisation of this clan system is disputed in the popular culture and by historians; an authoritative listing was apparently first attempted in 1889 and a list finalised in 1956 by the Government of India.^{[citation needed]}

History[link]

Before Shivaji[link]

The history of the Maratha caste prior to Shivaji (1630–1680) is sparsely illuminated, although there is reference to the Marathas as the ruling class of the Deccan region in the Sri Lankan epic texts Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa.^{[citation needed]}

The fifth rock edict of Ashok Maurya (273 to 236 BCE) mentions the countries of the Rashtrikas and the Aparantas who were his feudatories and to whose dominions he had sent his "Dharma Matra". The Ceylonese chronicle Mahavamsa mentions the missions sent after the third Buddhist Council at Pataliputa - from which one Rakkhita (Rashtrika) was sent to Vanavasi (afterwards the Capital of Kadamb Kingdom) and a Yona Damma Rakkhita was deputed to Apranta (North Kokan) and Maharakkhita to Maharashtra Country. In the cave temples of Maharashtra, which began to be excavated about the middle of first century BCE, we find among the list of donors princes and chiefs, who call themselves Mahabhojas and Maharathis. In the great cave temple of Kara, the lion pillar in the Court near the entrance was scooped out by a Maharathi named Agimitra. Varaha - Mihir a famous astronomer of the sixth century, used the word Maharashtra, which later came to be corrupted into Mahratta or Maratha. Hiuen-Tsang calls Pulakesi II the Kshatriya king of Maharashtra (Mo-ho-la-cha) and describes his Maratha warriors as warriors from Mo-ho-la-cha who had hundreds of elephants which were intoxicated with liquor prior to battle and being invincible. He also goes on to say, "The king in consequences of possessing these men (The Marathas) and elephants, treats his neighbours with contempt. His plans and Undertaking are widespread, and his beneficient actions are felt over a great distance. His subjects obey him with perfect submission." Rajeshkar a Sanskrit author of the ninth century, used Marahatti (Marathi) in the feminine gender. The poet Jayamangal who lived in twelfth century, clearly defines the geographical limits of Maharashtra as follows : "Maharashtra is the name of country between the river Narmada and the province of Karnataka."^{[citation needed]}

Hiuen-Tsang describes the Marathas and their country as", "This country is about 5000 li in circuit. The capital borders on the west on a great river. It is about 30 li round. The soil is rich and fertile, it is regularly cultivated and very productive. The climate is hot, the disposition of the people is honest and simple, they are of medium build, and of a stern, vindictive character. To their benefactor they are grateful, to their enemies relentless. If they are insulted, they will risk their life to salvage themselves. If they are asked to help one in distress, they willingly agree to. If they are going to seek revenge, they first give their enemy warning, then each being armed they attack each other with lances, When one turns to flee, the other pursues him, but they do not kill a man down (a person who submits). The country provides for a band of champions to the number of several hundred. Each time they are about to engage in conflict, they intoxicate themselves with wine, and then one man with lance in hand will meet ten thousand and challenges them in fight. "^[9]

A number of Maratha warriors, including Shivaji's father Shahaji served the various Muslim kingdoms of the day. Shivaji's mother Jijabai was the daughter of Lakhuji Jadhav, a nobleman from Sindkhed Raja. The Maratha clans and their subdivisions were also involved in fighting amongst themselves, until Jijabai started a trend toward greater Maratha unity. They also took up various other professions like writers, poets, landowners, ministers, etc.^{[citation needed]}

Maratha Empire[link]

Maratha Empire, 1758 (denoted in orange).

The Maratha Empire was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km².^[10]

The empire was founded and consolidated by Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhosle. He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital,^[11] and successfully fought against the Mughals to defend his kingdom.^[12] The Maratha Empire waged war for 27 years with the Mughals from 1681 to 1707, which became the longest war in the history of India. The Marathas eventually emerged victorious. Shivaji pioneered "Shiva sutra" or Ganimi Kava (guerrilla tactics), which leveraged strategic factors like demographics, speed, surprise and focused attack to defeat his bigger and more powerful enemies.^[13] While Venkoji, the younger half-brother of Shivaji, founded the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom.

Chattrapati Shahu, a grandson of Shivaji became ruler in 1707. During this period, he appointed Peshwas as the prime ministers of the Maratha Empire. After the death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the empire expanded greatly under the rule of the Peshwas. The empire at its peak stretched from Tamil Nadu^[14][15] in the south, to Peshawar^[16] (modern-day Pakistan) on the Afghanistan border in the north and led Expeditions to Bengal in the east. Ahmad Shah Abdali, amongst others, were unwilling to allow the Maratha's gains to go unchecked. In 1761, the Maratha army lost the Third Battle of Panipat which halted imperial expansion.

After 1761, young Madhavrao Peshwa reinstated the Maratha authority over North India, 10 years after the battle of Panipat. In a bid to effectively manage the large empire, semi-autonomy was given to strongest of the knights, which created a confederacy of Maratha states. They became known as Gaekwads of Baroda, the Holkars of Indore and Malwa, the Scindias of Gwalior and Ujjain, Bhonsales of Nagpur.^[17] In 1775, the British East India Company intervened in a succession struggle in Pune, which became the First Anglo-Maratha War. Marathas remained the preeminent power in India until their defeat in the three Anglo-Maratha Wars (1805–1818), which left Britain in control of most of India.

Influence[link]

The history of the states and dynasties comprising the Maratha Empire constitutes a major portion of the history of late medieval India. While that extensive history is detailed elsewhere, the rise of the Marathas:

• represented the revival of the political power of the Hindus in north India after many centuries of Muslim rule.The Maratha Empire represented the biggest military challenge for the Mughals, and was primarily responsible for breaking the back of Mughal domination of India^{[citation needed]}
• led to the dilution of the caste system as a large number of lower castes, Brahmins and other castes fought along with them.^[11]
• led to the modernisation of India's armed forces, as they introduced indigenously-designed and manufactured muskets (known as Gardi muskets), and modernised the Indian navy.^{[citation needed]}
• encouraged the usage of Sanskrit and development of the Marathi language and was seminal to the consolidation of a distinct Maharashtrian identity.^[11]

Foreign observations[link]

In 1798 Colonel Tone, who commanded a regiment of the Peshwa's army, wrote^[18] of the Marāthas: "The three great tribes which compose the Marātha caste are the Kunbi or farmer, the Dhangar or shepherd, and the Gawli or cowherd; to this original cause may perhaps be ascribed that great simplicity of manner which distinguishes the Marātha people." ^[19]

Maratha dynasties and states[link]

Engraving of a Maratha Soldier by James Forbes 1813.

Internal diaspora[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2011)

A Maratha Family from Mumbai, 1880's

The empire also resulted in the voluntary relocation of substantial numbers of Maratha and other Marathi-speaking people outside Maharashtra, and across a big part of India. Thus, there are today several small but significant communities descended from these emigrants living in the north, south and west of India. These communities tend often to speak the languages of those areas, although many do also speak Marathi in addition. Notable Maratha families outside Maharashtra include Scindia of Gwalior, Gaekwad of Baroda, Ghorpade of Mudhol, Holkar of Indore and Bhonsle of Thanjavur.^[17]

Political participation[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

Marathas have dominated the state politics of Maharashtra since its inception in 1960. Since then, Maharashtra has witnessed heavy presence of Maratha ministers or officials (which comprises 25% of the state) in the Maharashtra state government, local municipal commissions, and panchayats.

Military service[link]

The Maratha Light Infantry regiment of the Indian Army is one of the "oldest and most renowned" regiments of the Indian Army.^[20] Its First Battalion, also known as the Jangi Paltan ("Warrior Platoon"),^[21] traces its origins back to 1768 as part of the Bombay Sepoys.

Notable Marathas[link]

References[link]

Sources[link]

• James Grant Duff - A History of the Mahrattas, 3 vols. London, Longmans, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green (1826) ISBN 81-7020-956-0

External links[link]

• Maratha.net
• Maratha history at GatewayForIndia.com
• Hind Maratha Maratha Matrimony Details.