Old Indo-Aryan refers to the earliest stage of the Indo-Aryan languages, which are a branch of the larger Indo-European language family. This stage is primarily represented by ancient texts, including the Vedas, which are sacred scriptures of Hinduism. Old Indo-Aryan languages were spoken in the Indian subcontinent around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE. The most notable Old Indo-Aryan language is Sanskrit, which has had a profound influence on many modern languages in India. Other languages in this category include Prakrit and Pali. These languages played a crucial role in the development of literature, philosophy, and religious thought in ancient India.