Prakrit

Prakrit refers to a group of ancient Indian languages that evolved from Sanskrit and were used in everyday speech, literature, and religious texts from around 500 BCE to 800 CE. Unlike Sanskrit, which was formal and mainly used by scholars and priests, Prakrit languages were more accessible to common people. They played a vital role in Indian cultural history, influencing many regional languages. Today, Prakrits are studied by linguists for understanding historical language development and are known through inscriptions, plays, and texts from early Indian civilizations.