Who is called a Mleccha?

In all four yugas, the Supreme Lord incarnates to punish the evildoers of that era and re-establish Dharma. In Kali Yuga, the evildoers will surpass all limits of immorality and be called ‘Mleccha.’ 

            In Satya Yuga, all human beings were well-versed in scriptures and followed the Vedic traditions and cultures in their daily lives. However, with time, the sages and saints became arrogant and egoistic in their perception of knowledge. This immodesty and arrogance among the sages and saints ultimately led to the decline of Dharma, as the principles of virtue and humility that were central to this era were no longer being upheld. So, Lord Maha-Vishnu took incarnations to establish the Sanatan Dharma’s principles of truth, peace, compassion, forgiveness, and friendship in the world.

            After the Satya Yuga came the Treta Yuga, during which Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Maha-Vishnu, bestowed His mercy upon mankind. During this era, people deliberately engaged in pious activities like Yajnya, or holy sacrifices, to attain the divine association of Almighty Lord Rama. At the end of the Treta Yuga, the supreme Lord vanquished and destroyed several demons on Earth, including the evil Ravana. However, this victory was followed by the Khand Pralay, a partial annihilation of the world, which mankind had to witness.         

            In the Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krishna killed Kamsa and many other demons, guided the Pandavas in the war, and ultimately established Dharma. The devotees of Golok Dham, the eternal abode, attained the holy association of the Supreme Lord Krishna. By taking birth at the same time as Lord Shree Krishna and accompanying Him in His pastimes, the devotees embraced the path to Golak Vaikuntha Dham. After Lord Krishna had performed all His wonderful pastimes, almost 1200 years had passed in the Kali Yuga, during which the influence of Kali had spread through its hidden, sinister motives. According to the holy scripture Shreemad Bhagavat, there is a verse related to this precarious situation that states as follows:

“ yadā devarṣayaḥ sapta maghāsu vicaranti hi

tadā pravṛttas tu kalir dvādaśābda-śatātmakaḥ”

(Source: Shreemad Bhagavat Mahapurana – Canto 12, Chapter 2, Verse 31)

Purport:

When Krishna left His mortal body and ascended to Golok Vaikunth, Kali Yuga had completed 1200 years of its allocated time. During that period, the Sapta Rishis – the seven sages – were wandering in the Magh Nakshatra (constellation). Later, after the demise of Maharaja (King) Parikshit, Kali Yuga took on its full form and spread its influence throughout the entire universe. In this age, people  were dominated by vices such as  greed, delusion, lust, anger, pride, materialism, and indolence. Despite being proficient in the scriptures (Shastras, Puranas, and Vedas), they dared to practice unrighteous deeds in contrast to the teachings of holy scriptures. Those who oppose the verdict of Vedas, commit sins like animal slaughter, consume all sorts of intoxicants,  deny the existence of God, and preclude deity worship are called Mlecchas in the Kali Yuga. Shree Jaidev ji, one of the great poets, inscribed in his holy poetic composition ‘Geet Govind’:

“ mleccha-nivaha-nidhane kalayasi karavalam

dhumaketum iva kim api karalam

kesava dhrita-kalki-sarira jaya jagadisa hare”

(Source: Geeta Govinda, Poet Jaidev Goswami)

Purport:

During this period of desperation, the Supreme Lord Kalki will appear in His extremely ferocious form as a fiery comet upon the earth to re-establish Dharma and annihilate all the sinners and evildoers known as Mlecchas, thus bringing complete annihilation of all such individuals.