Maratha: Encyclopedia II - Maratha - Etymology

Maratha - Etymology

Several theories have been proposed by various scholars for the etymology of the words "Maratha" and "Marathi". One theory holds that a reference to a clan known as "Rāshtrika" in some of Ashoka's inscriptions alludes to a people of the deccan who were progenitors of the marathi-speaking (and maratha) people; that the later "Mahārāshtri" Prakrit, a dialect of Sanskrit, is associated with these people; and that the word "Marāthi" is a derivation of the word "Mahārāshtri". This theory does not address the deeper root of the word "Rāshtrika" and its use in reference to a specific people in south-central India; it may be noted in this connection that the word "Rāshtra" is literally "nation" in Sanskrit, "Rāshtrika" meaning "national".

Other theories link the words "Marātha" and "Rāshtri" with "Ratta", supposedly a corruption of "Rāshtrakuta", dynasty that held sway over the deccan between the 8th and 10th centuries AD. However, the Ashokan inscriptions predate the Rashtrakutas by more than a millenium, and these theories cannot be reconciled. All theories however affirm, as do linguists, that the modern Marathi language has developed from the Prakrit known as Mahārāshtri.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Etymology", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki