Page "Indian literature" Paragraph 35

Marathi literature began with saint-poets like Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, Ramdas, and Eknath.

Modern Marathi literature was marked by a theme of social reform.

Well-known figures from this phase include Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Lokhitwadi, and others.

Prominent modern literary figures include Jnanpith Award winners Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar, Vishnu Vaman Shirvadakar ( Kavi Kusumagraj ) and Govind Vinayak Karandikar.

Though the earliest known Marathi inscription found at the foot of the statue at Shravanabelgola in Karnataka is dated c. 983 CE, the Marathi literature actually started with the religious writings by the saint-poets belonging to Mahanubhava and Warkari sects.

Mahanubhava saints used prose as their main medium, while Warkari saints preferred poetry as the medium.

The early saint-poets were Mukundaraj who wrote Vivekasindhu, Dnyaneshwar ( 1275 – 1296 ) ( who wrote Amrutanubhav and Bhawarthadeepika, which is popularly known as Dnyaneshwari, a 9000-couplets long commentary on the Bhagavad Gita ) and Namdev.

They were followed by the Warkari saint-poet Eknath ( 1528 – 1599 ).

Mukteswar translated the great epic Mahabharata into Marathi.

Social reformers like saint-poet Tukaram transformed Marathi into an enriched literary language.

Ramdas's ( 1608 – 1681 ) Dasbodh and Manache Shlok are well-known products of this tradition.