Rajasthani literature written in various genres starting from 1000 AD. But, it is generally agreed that modern Rajasthani literature began with the works of Surajmal Misrana.His most important works are the Vansa Bhaskara and the Vir Satsai. The Vans Bhaskar contains accounts of the Rajput princes who ruled in what was then Rajputana The Vir Satsai is a collection of hundreds of couplets.Medieval Rajasthani literature is mostly poetry only and it is more about the heroic poetry mentioning of the great kings and fighters of the Rajasthan. Early Rajasthani literature is created by mostly Jain saints. Earlier Rajasthani was known as Maru Gurjar (or dingal), which was close to Gujarati.
Rajasthani Literature can be classified into three categories, which are as follows:-
- Sanskrit and Prakrit
- Rajasthani
- Hindi
Sanskrit and Prakrit
Major literature of Sanskrit and prakrit developed in Rajasthan are as follows:-
- Shishupal Vadh by poet Magh
- Samaraichcha Katha by Hari Bhadra Suri
- Kuvalaya Mala by Udyotan Suri
- Upmiti Bharva Prancha Katha by Sidhi Rishi
- Harkaili by Vigrah Raj Chauhan IV of Ajmer
- Prithvi Raj Vijay by Prithvi Raj Chauhan
- Geet Goving and Sangeet Raj by Jai deva
- Charan Literature
Rajasthani
Major literature of Rajasthani developed in Rajasthan are classified into three styles which are as follows:-
- Jain- such as Prithvi Raj charit by Manak Chandra
- Dingal or Charan- like Prithvi Raj Raso by Chand Bardai, Rao Jaitasirau Chhanda by Vithu Sujo Nagarjota.
- Popular- like Veli Krishna Rukmani by Prithvi raj Rathore, Vansh Bhaskar by Surya Mal, Songs of Meera Bai, Khayal which are dance drama’s