Home > Indian History > Indian Puranas > Mleccha
Mleccha
Mleccha are the non-Aryan, barbarian, they are the outcastes.

Share this Article:

Mleccha is an abusive term given to the people who did not conform to the ethical and religious rule of the Indo-Aryan society. They were deprived of the usages and the study of the Vedas.

It is believed that Mleccha is related to Meluhha, the name of a trading partner of Bronze Age. In the later Vedic manuscript, Shatapatha Brahmana mentioned the name Mleccha. Baudhayana, the law maker describes a Mleccha as a person who eats meat or indulges in self-opposing declarations or is devoid of virtue and purity of conduct and also who do not speak the sacred language Sanskrit.

In Hindu philosophy, Mleccha is considered as a being who had different teachings than Hinduism and does not follow the Vedas. In the Indian history many Buddhists from the Pala dynasty were known as Mlechhas.

In the Mahabharata, some Mleccha combatants are described as having heads completely shaved or half-shaved or covered with knotted locks. They were impure in habits, and had crooked faces. They used to live in mountains and denizens of mountain-caves.

Mleccha in ancient India was also used by the Aryan kingdoms to foreigners. In the Bhagavata Purana the term is used in the context of meat eaters, outcastes, Christians and Muslims. Medieval religious literature, such as that of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, also uses the term to refer to those of larger groups of other religions, especially Christians and Muslims.

This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to [email protected]


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Puranas


Concept of Naraka in Vishnu Purana
Concept of Naraka has been discussed in the Vishnu Purana in an elaborate manner. It has been said that a person reaches hell if he commits an evil deed and the hell into which he reaches is determined by his actions.
Characters of Markandeya Purana
Markandeya Purana will give an idea about the mythological characters like Markandeya, Demon Mahisha, Dama, King Khaninetra and Khanitra.
Concept of Varna in Narada Purana
Concept of Varna in Narada Purana describes four basic varnas which include Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. Varna has been classified as per deeds performed by them.
Characters of Padma Purana
Some of the Characters of Padma Purana are Vishnu, Rama, Sita and Shiva.
Characters of Brahma Purana
Brahma Purana will give an idea about the mythological characters like Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, Rama and Parvati.
Characters of Shiva Purana
Shiva Purana will give an idea about the mythological characters like Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, Brahma and Krishna.
Adhyayas in Agni Purana
Adhyayas in Agni Purana are all encompassing. The chapters have dealt with a variety of subjects related to human lives. A large number of chapters have been dedicated to religious aspects of human life.
Ramayana in Agni Purana
Ramayana in Agni Purana has been described by Lord Agni in a vivid manner.
Puranic Deities of India
Puranic Deities in India are worshipped by the Hindus, they are of immense supremacy and are considered to be almighty.
Indian Puranic Tribes
The existence of Indian Puranic tribes is often mixed with mythology and fiction that depict them as superhuman or sub.
Puranic Texts
Puranic Texts are vital according to Hindu, Jain or Buddhist religion; they describe the history of the Universe.
Puranic Shaivism
Puranic Shaivism established during the Gupta Dynasty. This puranic religion developed and expanded, and was accompanied by the development of Brahmanical forms of worship. The stories of the Puranas spread rapidly through the singers and narrators.
Puranic Sources of ancient Indian history
In defining the ancient Indian history Puranic sources are indeed important.
Kauravas of Mahabharat
Kauravas were descendants of Kuru and the hundred sons of king Dhritarastra and Queen Gandhari who opposed Pandavas. They are central antagonists in the Mahabharata. Led by Duryodhana, they opposed their cousins, the Pandavas, in the epic Kurukshetra war.
Characters in Ramayana
The Ramayana features a rich category of characters, each embodying virtues or flaws. Lord Rama symbolizes righteousness, while Sita reflects devotion and purity. Hanuman represents unwavering loyalty, Lakshmana duty, and Ravana, despite his villainy, displays intellect and strength. Together, these characters shape an epic tale of dharma, sacrifice, and destiny.
Nilamata Purana
Nilamata Purana is a Kashmiri Purana that is referred by Kalhana. It is considered as one of the sources of ancient history of Kashmir.
Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita is the Holy Book of Hinduism. It constitutes a part of the Mahabharata and is essentially a detailed philosophical discourse given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
Indian Puranas
Indian Puranas serve as the encyclopaedias of religion and culture. The popularity of the Puranas lies in the fact that they are narrated in simple, lucid language unlike the four Vedas.
Kalki Purana
Kalki Purana is a visionary work that is regarding the life and times of Kalki, the tenth and final incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Surpanakha
Surpanakha was a female demon in Ramayana, who was Ravana`s sister and wanted to marry Rama.