CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN INDIA. 125 



persuaded that our holy rehgion cannot possibly re- 

 ceive any additional lustre from it. 



The word Mlech'ha in Sanscrit, does not signify 

 literally a foreigner ; but it is generally understood in 

 that sense by the Pauranics, when announcing, in a 

 prophetical style, the different powers who were to 

 rule over India. Hear now, says the author of the 

 Vishnu-pur aw a, hear nozv what will come to pass in 

 these times: poxverful Kings among the 'Aryya- 

 Mlech'has will appear ; they Xiull subvert the reigning 

 religion, spoil and deceive the Prajas, or the people. 



In the Bhagavata, they are called Abrahmavar- 

 chasah in the plural, and Abrahmavarchah in the sin- 

 gular; because, as they understood not the funda- 

 mental tenets of their own religion, through their 

 spiritual blindness, and the hardness of their hearts, 

 they gave it up to embrace a new one. 



In the Brahmmida we read, then will come the 

 Aryya-Ml^ch'has, xvho will seduce the people; they 

 will he proud, and at the same time distrustful, as if 

 constantly alarmed. 



In the Vayu-purdn'a it is declared, that generations 

 of Kings will rise, and set like the sun. Then zvill come 

 /Ae 'Aryya-Mlech'has, tvho xvill forsake the D'harma, 

 religious creed, Carma wot^ship, Tirt'ha the places of 

 pilgrimage of their ancestors ; they will seduce the 

 people with their new doctrine, and will grozu worse and 

 worse every day. A.fter them Sarva M16ch'ha, all sorts 

 of foreign and impure tiibes ivill overrun the country. 



Such is the character given of these good Aryyas^ 

 called Avariiam, and Abraiam, as well as their 



