Mleccha; 14 Definition(s)

Introduction

Mleccha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Alternative spellings of this word include Mlechchha.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Mleccha (म्लेच्छ).—A tribe of people of ancient India. This tribe was born from the tail of the celestial cow Nandinī, kept by Vasiṣṭha for sacrificial purposes when there was a fight between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha. Mahābhārata gives the following information regarding them.

The mlecchas who sprang up from the tail of the celestial cow Nandinī sent the army of Viśvāmitra flying in terror. (Śloka 38, Chapter 174, Ādi Parva). (See full article at Story of Mleccha from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

1a) Mleccha (म्लेच्छ).—Born out of the left side of Vena's body when the latter's body was churned;¹ begin with Anu, son of Yayāti; ruled by Dakṣa; ruled by Turvasu; ruled by the hundred sons of Pracetas of Druhyu family in the east; the rule of the kings;² not to be seen in Kuśadvīpa; Śakas (Parādas, Viṣṇu-purāṇa), Pallavas (Paplava, Viṣṇu-purāṇa) and Kāmbojas, all Mlecchas; (Ābhiras, Viṣṇu-purāṇa) Guruṇdas and Vṛṣalas, also belonged to this group;³ kingdoms of, found in the lotus coming out of the naval of the Lord;⁴ their kingdoms side by side with those of the Āryas;⁵ people who live in their countries are ineligible for Pārvana śrāddha;⁶ attain salvation at Benares;⁷ do not molest the women of their enemies;⁸ to be conquered by Kalki;⁹ put down by Pramati god.¹⁰

• 1) Matsya-purāṇa 10. 7;
• 2) Ib. 34. 30; 4. 54; 33. 14; 48. 9; 50. 76; Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 23. 16.
• 3) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 16. 12; 19. 60; 31. 79, 84 and 90; III. 20. 5; 48. 48-9; 68. 44; 73. 109; 74. 11-12, 203-6, 215; Matsya-purāṇa 273. 22; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 3. 48; 17. 5; 24. 69; V. 38. 28.
• 4) Matsya-purāṇa 169. 11;
• 5) Ib. 273. 25.
• 6) Ib. 16. 16.
• 7) Ib. 181. 19.
• 8) Ib. 188. 51.
• 9) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 18. 43.
• 10) Matsya-purāṇa 114. 11-12; 121. 43; 144. 53.

1b) These were the elder Madhucchandasas, who were cursed by Viśvāmitra to become Mlecchas;¹ defeated by Bharata; these were the Mlecchas of the north;² worship progenitors;³ eleven kings ruled for 300 years.⁴ Then Kolikilas followed;⁵ their dharma described.⁶

• 1) Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 82; 47. 41; 48. 15, 21, 36; 58. 78; 83. 112; 99. 12, 268;
• 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 16. 33; 20. 30; 23. 16; XII. 1. 40-43.
• 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 93. 44.
• 4) Ib. 99. 364.
• 5) Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 364.
• 6) Ib. 99. 392-400.

Mleccha (म्लेच्छ) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.27.23, II.28.44, II.29.15, II.31.10, II.47.12, II.48.33, III.48.19, V.158.20, VI.10.64, VI.10.66, VIII.30.70, VIII.51.19) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Mleccha) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Mleccha (म्लेच्छ) refers to “persons whose language is not intelligible”. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (also see the Manubhāṣya verse 7.149)

context information

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Mleccha (म्लेच्छ).—(I) a word although correct, yet looked upon as incorrect owing to its faulty utterance; (2) a person like the uncultured people, who is not able to pronounce words correctly cf. म्लेच्छा मा भूमेत्यध्येयं व्याकरणम् (mlecchā mā bhūmetyadhyeyaṃ vyākaraṇam) M. Bh. I. 1, Ahnika 1.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Mleccha referred to people of foreign extraction in ancient India. The Sanskrit term Mleccha, referring to the indistinct speech of some non-Aryans. Mleccha is used for one who is impure, dirty or uncultured. It is derived from the root mlich~mlech, meaning to speak indistinctly (like a foreigner or barbarian who does not speak Sanskrit). We find the use of root also in Mahābhāṣya.

Some explanations of the name "mleccha" suggest that the word was derived from the Indo-Aryan perception of the speech of the indigenous peoples. Namely, "mlech" was a word that meant "to speak indistinctly." As such, some suggest that the Indo-Aryans used an onomatopoeic sound to imitate the harshness of alien tongue and to indicate incomprehension, thus coming up with "mleccha".

Mleccha (from Vedic Sanskrit म्लेच्छ mleccha, meaning "non-Vedic" or "non-Aryan", "barbarian", "foreigners"), also spelt Mlechchha or Mlechha.

Mleccha — from ‘mlecch’ to talk confusedly. A term of disrespect for Non-Aryans who do not conform to the Aryan codes of practice or speak Sanskrit. Nowadays used mostly for foreigners such as Europeans and Muslims.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Mleccha (म्लेच्छ, “barbarian”) refers to one of the two types of human beings according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.36.—Those human beings who have no control over their speech i.e. behave and speak shamelessly without regard to anyone are called barbarians.

How many types of barbarians (mleccha) are there? They are of two types namely: from Antaradvīpa and from Karmabhūmi. Who are the barbarians from Karmabhūmi? These are the human beings from areas like Pulinda, Śabara, Yavana, Śaka, Khasa, Barbara etc of Karmabhūmi (area /region of labour).Who are called inhabitants of Antaradvīpa? The hinter region between Lavaṇa Ocean and Himavāna and Vijayārdha Mountains is called Antaradvīpa. Those born in this region are called Antaradvīpaja.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

India history and geogprahy

Mleccha (म्लेच्छ) were wild ferocious tribes whose acts of violence caused vast devastations and destructions, struck terror in the social life of the country. They are said to have been repulsed and destroyed by lord Śiva.

Mleccha (म्लेच्छ) is the name of a tribe mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. These tribes (eg., the Mlecchas) migrated to places other than their original settlemenets and gave their names to the janapadas they settled. They replaced the old Vedic tribes in Punjab and Rajasthan though some of them are deemed as offshoots of the main tribe..

Mleccha.—(EI 22), name applied to the Muhammadans and other foreigners; cf. Mleccheśvara (EI 32). Note: mleccha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

mlēccha (म्लेच्छ).—m (S) corruptly mlēñcha m The generic term for a barbarian or foreigner; that is for one speaking any language but Sanskrit, and not subject to the usual Hindu institutions.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mleccha (म्लेच्छ).—[mlecch-ghañ]

1) A barbarian, a non-Āryan (one not speaking the Sanskṛt language, or not conforming to Hindu or Āryan institutions), a foreigner in general; ग्राह्या म्लेच्छप्रसिद्धिस्तु विरोधादर्शने सति (grāhyā mlecchaprasiddhistu virodhādarśane sati) J. N. V.; म्लेच्छान् मूर्छयते (mlecchān mūrchayate); or म्लेच्छनिवहनिधने कलयसि करवालम् (mlecchanivahanidhane kalayasi karavālam) Gīt.1.

2) An outcast, a very low man; (Baudhāyana thus defines the word:-gomāṃsakhādako yastu viruddhaṃ bahu bhāṣate | sarvā- cāravihīnaśca mleccha ityabhidhīyate ||).

3) A sinner, wicked person.

4) Foreign or barbarous speech.

-ccham 1 Copper.

2) Vermilion.

Derivable forms: mlecchaḥ (म्लेच्छः).

Mleccha (म्लेच्छ).—m.

(-cchaḥ) 1. The generic term for a barbarian or foreigner; that is, for one speaking any language but Sanskrit, and not subject to the usual Hindu institutions. 2. A sinner, a criminal. 3. Indistinct or barbarous speech. E. mlecch to speak inarticulately, aff. ghañ .

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