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Thread: Scythians - mlechhas to ancient Indians?

  1. #1
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    Scythians - mlechhas to ancient Indians?

    Scythians were identified as mlechhas (correct spelling?) by the ancient Indians. And I get from this site that jats came from scythians. So the foreign barbarians were assmilated by the Indians just like the rest of invaders to India.
    If you cannot beat the invader, assimilate him!

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by amans View Post
    And I get from this site that jats came from scythians.

    There is no final word yet! Stay a bit longer and you will find various views floating around. Cheers!
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  3. #3
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    Question

    Mlechhas(barbarian?) a derogatory term used by ancient Indians - vedic hindus/buddhists to identify foreign invaders - like the greeks, hunas and scythians. Could it be the reason that jats who are supposedly descended from scythians and occupied most of the fertile lands in northern India are kind of looked down upon(as people without culture? may be?) within the hindu caste hierarchy? Trying to find the historical truth behind the treatment of various ethnic groups in the hindu society.

  4. #4
    Jats are supposed to be originated from Gatae and Massagatae, branches of scythians. Scythians were barbaric but the fiercest fighters of the ancient time. Here is what Herotodus says about "Massagatae", who defeated and killed the "Cyrus the great" of Persia.

    According to Herodotus:

    [1.215] In their dress and mode of living the Massagetae resemble the Scythians. They fight both on horseback and on foot, neither method is strange to them: they use bows and lances, but their favourite weapon is the battle-axe. Their arms are all either of gold or brass. For their spear-points, and arrow-heads, and for their battle-axes, they make use of brass; for head-gear, belts, and girdles, of gold. So too with the caparison of their horses, they give them breastplates of brass, but employ gold about the reins, the bit, and the cheek-plates. They use neither iron nor silver, having none in their country; but they have brass and gold in abundance.

    [1.216] The following are some of their customs; - Each man has but one wife, yet all the wives are held in common; for this is a custom of the Massagetae and not of the Scythians, as the Greeks wrongly say. Human life does not come to its natural close with this people; but when a man grows very old, all his kinsfolk collect together and offer him up in sacrifice; offering at the same time some cattle also. After the sacrifice they boil the flesh and feast on it; and those who thus end their days are reckoned the happiest. If a man dies of disease they do not eat him, but bury him in the ground, bewailing his ill-fortune that he did not come to be sacrificed. They sow no grain, but live on their herds, and on fish, of which there is great plenty in the Jaxartes. Milk is what they chiefly drink. The only god they worship is the sun, and to him they offer the horse in sacrifice; under the notion of giving to the swiftest of the gods the swiftest of all mortal creatures
    Last edited by prashantacmet; November 26th, 2009 at 02:49 AM.
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  5. #5
    Mlecchas was term used in the ancient sutras and literarture to depict the culture and counrty of the western people.It never meant an untouchable as it is assumed today.
    "upon knowing truth, the foolish become wise, and the wise become silent".

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