Mleccha

Mleccha (from Vedic Sanskrit: म्लेच्छ, romanized: mlecchá) is a Sanskrit term, referring to those of an incomprehensible speech, foreign or barbarous invaders as distinguished from the Vedic tribes.^[1][2] In Vedic Brahmanical discourse, the term is used to refer to foreigners (anāryans) who are considered outside the realm of Vedic dharma.^[3]

The word Mleccha was commonly used for foreign barbarians of whatever race or colour.^{[4][verification needed]} As a mleccha, any foreigner stood outside the varna system and the ritual ambience. Thus, historically, contact with them was viewed by the Hindus as polluting. The Mleccha people were Śākas, Huns, Chinese, Greeks, Kambojas, Pahlavas, Bahlikas and Rishikas.^[5] The Barbaras, Kiratas, Paradas, Saka-Greeks, Indo-Greeks, Pulindas, Scythians,^[6] Kushans,^[7] Kinnaras,^[8] Tusharas,^[9] Nishadas,^[10] Türks, Mongols, Romans, Balochs^[11] and Arabs were also mlecchas.^[12]