| Gaudi Prakrit | |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | Gauṛí Prākrit |
| Region | Gauda (or ancient Bengal) |
| Era | First millennium |
Indo-European
| |
Early form | Old Eastern Indo-Aryan
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
| Glottolog | None |
Gaudi Prakrit is the Middle Indo-Aryan Prakrit language used in Gauda or ancient Bengal. The language originates from the Old Eastern Indo-Aryan and is the historical ancestor of Bengali (alternately Magadhi). It was originally considered as Prakrit till 400 AD, later its Apabhraṃśa appeared which is known as Gaudi Apabhransha. Although not sufficiently proven, the existence of the language that predated the Vanga-Kamarupi and Bengali is believed to be descended from it.[1]
Evidence of the presence of Gaudi Prakrit is found in Daṇḍin's Kavyadarsa. A reference to the Gaudí Prakrit exists in this text, written in about the 6th century.[2]