Ardhmagadhi is an ancient language, believed to have been spoken between the year 600 BC and the year 100. It was the language of the common people and is categorized under Prakrit, which is a term used for a group of languages spoken in ancient India. This language was mostly spoken by the people of Magadh, a kingdom which comprised parts of
Bihar. Its popularity with the common people made it a natural choice for Lord Mahavir for preaching the Jain religion. Many of the Jain scriptures are written in this language.
Although Ardhmagadhi is not in practice today, it is a popular topic for the students and researchers of Linguistics.
