In this thread, I will discuss a theory for the origin of the word “Mlēccha”, used in India to denote the non-Vedic people. As of now, there is no theory for this word, except that the word sounds like a barbarian grunt, and thus, it denotes barbarians. I think this is wrong. 
The contrast with “Mlēccha” is of course the word “Ārya” to denote agricultural tribes. The Manusmriti gives the geographic demarcation of “Āryāvarta” (the extent of Ārya people) as the land between the Himalayas and the Vindhyas: the irrigated fields of the Indo-Gangetic plain.
The Manusmriti gives the extent of a greater region, called “Yajñiyo Dēśa” (the land fit for conducting Yajña, or astronomical tallying for planning the agricultural season of the year) as the habitat of the Krishnamriga (black antelope) which aligns with the Indian subcontinent.
Any land that is not the natural habitat of Krishnamriga (out of the Indian subcontinent) is described by Manusmriti as “Mlēccha Dēśa” - the land of the Mlēcchas. For the purpose of Indian history, this is particularly land to the north-west, referred extensively in literature.
The most important part of this “Mlēccha Dēśa” is the Eurasian Steppe, especially the Oxus river basin, which is mentioned in many literary epics where the victories over the Mlēcchas by heroic kings were mentioned.
So who are these Mlēcchas?
So who are these Mlēcchas?
It was mentioned that the Mlēccha tribes were originally following the Yajña and other Ārya (agricultural) practices, but that they gradually lost the practices and fell down onto a less civilized state.
These people were pastoral migrants out of the cultivated river plains.
These people were pastoral migrants out of the cultivated river plains.
What could the word “Mlēccha” mean? It should definitely refer to pastoralist practices of grazing animals and living mainly on them for sustenance.
The main source of this sustenance is milk. Indeed, my theory is that the word “Mlēccha” comes from the same root as “Milch/Milk”.
The main source of this sustenance is milk. Indeed, my theory is that the word “Mlēccha” comes from the same root as “Milch/Milk”.
The Indo European word for “milk” is a mystery. There are two possible roots. The northern Germanic and Slavic languages share the root “melg*”: English “milk” Czech “Mleako” etc.The Latin word “Lacto” is very different and possibly connected to Greek “gala” and “galagos”.
See this blog post criticizing the hypothesized Indo-European root for milk, and arguing that the Greek “galagos” is connected to the Hittite “kalaktar” (sustenance) and arrived from a different route.
paleoglot.blogspot.com/2010/03/indo-e…!
paleoglot.blogspot.com/2010/03/indo-e…!
Neither of these words are connected to any Sanskrit or Persian words for milk ! There are many words but none of them match. It is very telling on the level of confusion on such an important word.
My theory is that “Mleko”, “Milch” etc. come from a very old word for “licking”.
My theory is that “Mleko”, “Milch” etc. come from a very old word for “licking”.
To “Lick” is “leha” in Sanskrit, “leichein” in Greek etc.
My opinion is that both the north European and the south European root words come from this. The prefix “me” denotes the mother who provides the milk for the baby to lick. The prefix “go” refers to the cow.
My opinion is that both the north European and the south European root words come from this. The prefix “me” denotes the mother who provides the milk for the baby to lick. The prefix “go” refers to the cow.
“Mlecchas” are essentially people dependent on “milk”. It is a word taken from their own dialects (probably from Oxus valley) which later fell into disuse in the Indian heartland. It was used in a derisive manner to refer to their lack of Āryan (that is, agricultural) practices.
Thus, the descendants of the European section of the Indo European speakers should not be called as “Ārya” but as “Mlēccha”. (End of thread)
