Mleccha

For the dynasty of Kamarupa, see Mleccha dynasty.

Mleccha (from Vedic Sanskrit: म्लेच्छ, romanized: mlecchá) is a Sanskrit term, referring to those of an incomprehensible speech, foreigners or invaders deemed distinct and separate from the Vedic tribes.[1][2] In Vedic literature, the term is used to refer to 'non-Aryans' (Sanskrit: अनार्याः, romanized: anāryaḥ): foreigners who did not speak Indo-Aryan languages and those considered culturally or linguistically distinct from the Vedic or Aryan people and outside the religious and cultural sphere of Vedic dharma.[3]

The word Mleccha was commonly used for foreign non vedic people of whatever race or colour.[4][verification needed] As a mlecchais any foreigner who stood outside the varna system and the ritual ambience.The Baudhayana sutras define a mleccha as someone who eats beef or indulges in self-contradictory statements or is devoid of righteousness and purity of conduct. The Mleccha people were Śākas, Huns, Chinese, Greeks, Kambojas, Pahlavas, Bahlikas, Rishikas and Daradas.[5][6] The Barbaras, Kiratas, Paradas, Saka-Greeks, Indo-Greeks, Pulindas, Scythians,[7] Kushans,[8] Kinnaras,[9] Tusharas,[10] Nishadas,[11] Türks, Mongols, Romans, Balochs[12] and Arabs were also mlecchas.[13]

  1. ^ Parasher, Aloka (1979). "The Designation Mleccha for Foreigners in Early India". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 40: 109–120. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44141948. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022. Mlecchas as a reference group in early India included certain outsiders who did not conform to the values and ideas and consequently to the norms of the society accepted by vedic people.
  2. ^ "mlechchha | ancient Indian class {". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  3. ^ "mleccha". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  4. ^ Basham, A. L. (1954) The wonder that was India, pages 145–146, Sidgwick and Jackson, London.
  5. ^ National geographer, 1977, p 60, Allahabad Geographical Society – History.
  6. ^ Mahabharata 6.51, 6.118, 7.20, 7.90, 7.116, 7.118, 8.73 etc
  7. ^ Truschke, Audrey (2021). The Language Of History: Sanskrit Narratives Of A Muslim Past. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-5305-000-9. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  8. ^ Language multiplicity and ancient races in India
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ MBH 12.65.13-15
  11. ^ Sharma, R. S. (1993). Indian Society: Historical Probings. People's Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7007-176-1. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  12. ^ Bhandarkar 1929, p. 30.
  13. ^ Thapar, Romila (1 January 1978). Ancient Indian Social History: Some Interpretations. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 9788125008088.