Mahatma Gandhi and Vaishnavo Janato

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Mahatma Gandhi and
Vaishnava Jan To.

We remember
“Vaishnava Jan To ……..” Gandhiji’s favourite hymn on his birth anniversary, 2 October (1869-1948).

It was written in the 15th century by the poet Narsinh Mehta. The bhajan, written in Gujarati, became a part of Mahatma Gandhi’s daily prayer.
The bhajan speaks about the life, ideals and mentality of a Vaishnava Jana (a follower of Vishnu).

A translation in English:

“One who is a Vaishnava (one who is a devotee of Vishnu)
Knows the pain of others
Does good to others, especially to those ones who are in misery
(even if he does good to others), he doesnt take pride about his act.

A Vaishnava, tolerates and praises the entire world
Does not say bad things about anyone
Keeps his/her words, actions and thoughts pure
O Vaishnava, your mother is blessed

A Vaishnava sees everything equally, rejects greed and avarice
Considers some one else’s wife/daughter as his mother
Will never speak lies with his/her tongue,
Does not even touch someone else’s property

A Vaishnava does not succumb to worldly attachments
Who has devoted himself to staunch detachment to worldly pleasures
Who has been addicted to the elixir coming by the name of Ram
For whom all the religious sites are in his own body

Who has no greed and deceit
Who has renounced lust of all types and anger
The poet Narsi will like to see such a person
By whose virtue, the entire family gets salvation”.

– Joy Kallivayalil.