A FAVOURITE BHAJAN OF GANDHIJI

October 2nd on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi, I am sharing Gandhiji’s most favourite Bhajan “Vaishnava Jan to tene kahiye je”. This really soothes the soul and purifies ones mind, certainly divine and has a social message for a harmonious living. It simply fills every one’s heart with pure joy.

One of the greatest Gujarati poet-saints, Narsi Mehta introduced philosophical poetry into the bhakti world of Gujarat. He composed about 740 songs. 'Vaishnava-janato', the prayer song popularized by Mahatma Gandhi, is a composition of Narsi Mehta's. This soul stirring poetry moves any theist.

Narsimha Mehta, describes how a Vishnav Jan (Not only Vaishnav every person) should behave, what is his qualities...and here comes Mahatma Gandhiji to show us that it is possible to be a Vaishnav. He had all the qualities of a “Vaishnav jan” which is there in this Bhajan.I bow with great respect to the poet Shri Narsimha Mehta, Mahatma Gandhiji.

BHAJAN LYRICS:

Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je
PeeD paraayi jaaNe re
Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye
Man abhimaan na aaNe re (Vaishnava)

SakaL lok maan sahune vande
Nindaa na kare keni re
Vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe
Dhan-dhan janani teni re (Vaishnava)

Sam-drishti ne trishna tyaagi
Par-stree jene maat re
Jivha thaki asatya na bole
Par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re (Vaishnava)

Moh-maaya vyaape nahi jene
DriDh vairaagya jena man maan re
Ram naam shoon taaLi laagi SakaL
tirath tena tan maan re (Vaishnava)

VaN-lobhi ne kapaT-rahit chhe Kaam-krodh nivaarya re BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta KuL ekoter taarya re (Vaishnava).

The meaning is:
He and he alone is the man of God, Who knows the pain and misery of others, who tries to help others in distress, And who does not have pride in his mind.

He and he alone is the man of God, Who respects and salutes all, who does not talk ill of others, Who keeps his mind pure in words and action, And whose mother is considered blessed by all.

He and he alone is the man of God, Who views everybody as equal, Who considers other women as his mother, Who never tells lies all his life, And who never yearns for other's wealth.

He and he alone is the man of God, Who never has any attachments, who is strongly detached to worldly pleasures, who is addicted to remembering his God, And in whose mind are all the holy places of the world.

He and he alone is the man of God, Who has no greed and deceit in his mind, who has forsaken all pleasures and anger, The poet Narsi will like to see such a person by whose virtue, the entire family gets salvation.

Last but not least this lyrical composition was a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi and it is not hard to see why. The words describe not only a perfect Vaishnav but also what a perfect human being should be. It aims high and one who achieves such objectives would indeed be a perfect person. It is a perfect example of the high ideals and philosophy.