महाराष्ट्रातील_स्थलनामे
ग्रामनामे
<!--Place names in Maharashtra show an imprint of its making as a region of Marathi speaking population and social and cultural characteristics of its sub-regions created by nature and history. To some extent the place names reveal the cultural history of Maharashtra and its sub-regions. From this point of view, a study of place names in Maharashtra is an important tool of knowing its cultural history. A look at the names of towns and cities in Maharashtra reveals that these names fall into two categories, namely, first those formed by adding affix to the original word, and second, those without any affix. Place names such as Vadgaon, Pandharpur, Kolhapur, and Narasobachi Wadi belong to the first category, while names like Pune, Nasik, 156 MAHARASHTRA : LAND AND ITS PEOPLE Chiplun, Walhe, Nira belong to the second category. In general it can be said that place names formed by adding an affix are more in number in Maharashtra. These names reveal history, nature and culture of the respective region. The Affixes which are frequently used in the formation of place names in Maharashtra are as follows : Gaon, Pura, Wadi, Khed, Vali, Oli, Wada, Ur, Ghar, and Puri. Out of these the use of Gaon affix is maximum. The word Gaon is derived from the Sanskrit word Grama. This word occurs in Rigveda and means a village situated in the midst of farms. Like the word Grama, the word Pura in Rigveda is used for town with ramparts. Affixes like Vali, and Oli are derived from the Sanskrit word Pali, and they mean a town or a village situated in the hills or in the mountain. Consideration of place names in Maharashtra from a historical point of view shows that place names before 5th century A. D. are mainly in Prakrit while subsequent place names are in Sanskrit or Sanskritized forms of Prakrit names. The main reason for this seems to be that after fifth century A. D. leadership of this region was in the hands of the Sanskrit speaking people of north India. After 12th century A. D. in the region of the Yadavas, the use of Marathi place names and affixes increased considerably. When the Muslim rule began over Maharashtra, the influence of Persion and Arabic words was visible on the place names. By adding the affix ‘Abad’ after the names of some illustrious persons, the names of some towns were formed. Names such as Aurangabad, Daulatabad, Edlabad, Mamurabad, Osmanabad illustrate this point. Just as names of some towns were formed by adding Urdu affix ‘Abad’ similarly some place names were formed by adding Sanskrit affixes ‘Pura’ and ‘Nagar’ to Urdu names as for example, Ahmednagar, Rahimatpura, Nizampura, and Faizpur etc. The process of Sanskritization of Prakrit place names might have begun from 5th century A. D. The Use of such place names might have been prevalent in the administrative work and in the activities of the elites. Modern versions of some Sankrit names appearing in ancient inscriptions and copper-plates are stated below, so as to get an idea of this transformations: Ancient Sanskrit Name Modern Marathi Version Balegram Balegaon Alandigram Alandi Khambagram Khamgaon Kuregram Koregaon Shrinilaya Shirwal Along with Sanskritization of Prakrit names Prakritization of Sanskrit names or suffixes was also taking place. Thus after 9th century Sanskrit suffix Pura was Prakritized as ‘Vur’, and as a result the Sanskrit name Siripura became modern Sirur. CULTURAL SUB-REGIONS OF MAHARASHTRA 157 The place names not only reveal foot-prints of history, but also distinctive natural, historical, social and cultural characteristics of the sub-regions of Maharashtra. With this in view, characteristic features of the place names in the cultural sub-regions of Maharashtra are described below. The rise and development of culture in ancient Maharashtra mainly took place in Godavari, Purna and Wardha-Wainaganga vallies, broadly speaking in the Marathawada and Vidarbha regions. Satavahanas, Vakatakas and Yadavas built their empires in this region and made a significant contribution to the development of its culture. The spread of the Aryan culture of the Sanskrit speaking north Indians took place during their regimes. These events have left their imprint on the place names in this part. Place names formed by using affix ‘Gaon’ derived from the Sanskrit word ‘grama’ are maximum in number in this part. In the analysis of place names done by Iravati Karve, it was found that, out of 1130 place names having the affix Gaon, 449 places are in Godavari Vally, 381 villages and towns were in Purna, and Wardha- Vainaganga vallies. 180 towns and villages are in Krishna-Bhima valley, while 61 were in Konkan, and 59 in Khandesh. From this, it is obvious that although influence of Sanskritic culture is visible on all sub-regions of Maharashtra, it is more pronounced in Godavari valley.17 Like a affix ‘Gaon’, ‘Pura’ and ‘Puri’ are Sanskrit suffixes and they are used with reference to towns having fortification. The use of these suffixes is more in Godavari, Purna, Wardha-Vainganga vallies. Out of 555 towns and villages having the suffix ‘Pura’, 272 are in Vidarbha, mainly in Purna and Wardha-Vainganga vallies, and next to this, 192 are in Godavari valley. Similarly out of 51 towns having the suffix Puri’, 31 are in Godavari valley and 12 in Vidarbha. Place names with the suffix ‘Wadi’ are more in number in Godavari valley, and next to it in Krishna-Bhima valley. Out of 361 towns and villages having this suffix, 195 are in Godavari valley, and 99 are in Krishna-Bhima valley. A distinctive geographical feature of Konkan region is its hilly terrain. This has made the planning of villages and towns in this region, different from the rest. The affixes filce vali and oli bring out this natural distinctiveness of Konkan. These affixes have been derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Palli’ which means a village or a town in the hills or mountain. Out of 114 place names with affix vali 91 and out of 110 place names with affix oli 23 are in Konkan. As a result of uneven terrain, centralised villages are not found in Konkan. The dispersed type of villages are common in this region. This feature becomes manifest through the affix ‘ghar’ to the name of villages. Thirty six out of 56 villages with this affix, and 21 out of 46 villages with an affix ‘ wade ’ are in Konkan. 158 MAHARASHTRA : LAND AND ITS PEOPLE A type of rural settlement called ‘ wadi ’ is connected with the centralised type of villages. Extended habitation of such villages is known as wadi. In course of time, these wadis develop into villages. Such a process of growth can take place only on a plateau. As a result, village names with suffix wadi are rarely found in Konkan. Out of 361 villages having place names with the affix wadi, only 8 are in Konkan, while 195 are in Godavari valley, 99 in Krishna-Bhima valley, 14 in Khandesh and 45 in Purna and Wardha-Vainganga vallies. Khandesh is a northern boundary region of Maharashtra. A part of Khandesh touches the State of Gujarat, and as has already been mentioned of the culture of Gujarat it is visible on this region. Place names prevalent in this region reveal this influence. Out of 47 place names having the affixes Vad, Od and De, 37 are in Khandesh, Similar affixes are found in Gujarat in a large number. Just as the influence of Gujarat is visible on Khandesh, the influence of Karnatak is visible on Sangli, Miraj, and Kolhapur region of the Southern Maharashtra, several place names found in this region have Kannad suffixes. The above discussion has brought out clearly the social and cultural development of Maharashtra and its sub-regions since ancient times. Geographical diversity characterizing sub-regions of Maharashtra laid the foundation of sub-sequent social and cultural development. The Political history of Maharashtra from ancient times to modern period, occuring on the foundation of geographical diversity has decided the future course of social and cultural development. In ancient times royal dynasties from outside Maharashtra contributed to the making of this history. Slowly the centre of this initiative shifted to Maharashtra. With the rise of Maratha power, the Marathi populace began its march in the direction of self Government, and with the attainment of independence this process has reached a very important landmark. In the cultural development of Maharashtra and its sub regions, the cultural exchange played a very significant role. Political power has also made a significant contribution to this process. The culture of the politically dominant sub-region was accepted by other subregions to a certain extent, while some cultural features of sub-regions were absorbed in the great cultural tradition of Maharashtra. The process of assimilation of the great cultural tradition and the little cultural tradition is active even in contemporary times. -->