The Sanskrit terms Mleccha-bhāṣā and Mlecchabhāṣā can be transliterated into English as Mleccha-bhasa or Mleccha-bhasha or Mlecchabhasa or Mlecchabhasha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Mlechchhabhasha.

In Hinduism

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Early Indians spoke Sanskrit, which later got mutated to most of the various local tongues that we now have. Sanskrit was believed to have all the sounds that are necessary for communication. If unfamiliar languages were detected, early Indians would club them as foreign tongue "mleccha bhasha". As the Sanskrit word itself suggests, "mlecchas" were those whose speech was alien. Historians cite that knowledge of "correct speech" was a crucial component of being about to take part in the appropriate yajnas (religious rituals and sacrifices). Thus, without correct speech, one could not hope to practice correct religion, either.

The notion of being Arya suggested a knowledge of Sanskrit in order to effectively perform ritual hymns; thus suggesting the importance of language. Parasher discusses the importance of knowing the correct speech in order to perform sacrifice and ritual in the religion of the brahmanas. Parasher continued that: "The best experts of the sacrificial art were undoubtedly the various families of the brahmanas who, placed in a hierarchy within the Indo-Aryan social system, became the upholders of pure and best speech".

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mlecchabhāṣā (म्लेच्छभाषा).—a foreign language.

Mlecchabhāṣā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mleccha and bhāṣā (भाषा).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mlecchabhāṣā (म्लेच्छभाषा):—[=mleccha-bhāṣā] [from mleccha > mlech] f. a foreign or barbarous language, [Mahābhārata]

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Bhasha, Mleccha.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Mleccha Bhasha, Mleccha-bhāṣā, Mleccha-bhasa, Mlecchabhāṣā, Mlecchabhasa, Mlecchabhasha; (plurals include: Mleccha Bhashas, bhāṣās, bhasas, Mlecchabhāṣās, Mlecchabhasas, Mlecchabhashas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Sushruta Samhita, volume 2: Nidanasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)

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