Gaudi Prakrit

Gaudi Prakrit
PronunciationGauṛí Prākrit
RegionGauda (or ancient Bengal)
EraFirst millennium
Early form
Old Eastern Indo-Aryan
Language codes
ISO 639-3
GlottologNone

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. It was originally considered as Prakrit till 400 AD, later its Apabhraṃśa appeared which is known as Gaudi Apabhransha.

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. Gaudi Prakrit and Kamrupi Prakrit was very closely related, so often some researchers called it together Vanga-Kamrupi.