Vaishnav jan to
Encyclopedia
Vaishnava Jana To is one of the most popular Hindu Bhajan, written in 15th Century by poet Narsinh Mehta
Narsinh Mehta
Narsinh Mehta also known as Narsi Mehta or Narsi Bhagat was a poet-saint of Gujarat, India, and a member of the Nagar Brahmins community, notable as a bhakta, an exponent of Hindu devotional religious poetry. He is especially revered in Gujarati literature, where he is acclaimed as its Adi Kavi...

. It was written in Gujrati. The bhajan was included in Mahatma Gandhi’s daily prayer. The bhajan tells us about the life, ideals and mentality of a Vaishnav Jana (The follower of Vishnu or Krishna). The bhajan mesmerizes us with its simplicity and purity.

Lyrics

Here is the lyrics of the bhajan-

Gujrati

વૈષ્ણવ જન તો તેને કહિયે, જે પીડ પરાયી જાણે રે

પર દુખ્ખે ઉપકાર કરે તોયે, મન અભિમાન ના આણે રે

સકળ લોક માન સહુને વંદે, નિંદા ન કરે કેની રે

વાચ કાછ મન નિશ્છળ રાખે ધન ધન જનની તેની રે

સમદૃષ્ટિ ને તૃષ્ળા ત્યાગી પરસ્ત્રી જેને માત રે

જિહ્વા થકે અસત્ય ન બોલે પરધન નવ ઝાલે હાથ રે

મોહ માયા વ્યાપે નહિ જેને દૃઢ વૈરાગ્ય જેના મન મા રે

રામ નામ શુ તાળી રે લાગી સકળ તીરથ તેના તન માં રે

વણ લોભી ને કપટ રહિત છે કામ ક્રોધ નિવાર્યા રે

ભણે નરસૈયો તેનો દર્શન કરતા કુળ એકોતેર તાર્યા રે

Hindi

वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये जे पीड पराई जाणे रे,

पर दु:खे उपकार करे तोये मन अभिमान न आणे रे,

सकल लोकमां सहुने वंदे निंदा न करे केनी रे,

वाच काछ मन निश्चल राखे धन धन जननी तेनी रे,

समदृष्टि ने तृष्णा त्यागी, परस्त्री जेने मात रे,

जिह्वा थकी असत्य न बोले, परधन नव झाले हाथ रे,

मोह माया व्यापे नहि जेने, दृढ़ वैराग्य जेना मनमां रे,

रामनाम सुताली लागी, सकल तीरथ तेना तनमां रे,

वणलॊभी ने कपटरहित जे, काम क्रोध निवार्या रे,

भणे नरसैयॊ तेनु दरसन करतां, कुण एकोतेर तार्या रे ॥

Idiomatic Translation

A person of God is the one, who understands the pain of others.

Such a person helps those in need, and does not boast about it.


This person is polite to all people and does not condemn or criticize anyone.

He/She is pure in speech, deed and thought, glory to the mother who gave birth to such a virtuous person.


He is equanimous, has given up all desires and looks at other women as mothers.

He does not speak untruth and does not covet others' wealth.


Delusion and attachment can never pervade in her, her mind is firm in detachment.

She is ever engrossed in God's name and meditation, and she embodies all holy places.


Such a person has no greed and deceit; and has overcome lust and anger.

Narsi says: Seeing such a person gives liberation to the entire family lineage.

Influence

  • This bhajan has inspired many people. This bhajan was one favourite bhajan of Mahatma Gandhi
    Mahatma Gandhi
    Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...

    .

In movies

  • Elements of the hymn were included in Bollywood movies Water, Road to Sangam
    Road to Sangam
    Road to Sangam is a 2009 Bollywood film written and directed by Amit Rai. The film features Bollywood actors Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Pawan Malhotra....

    , and the movie Gandhi
    Gandhi (film)
    Gandhi is a 1982 biographical film based on the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who led the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India during the first half of the 20th century. The film was directed by Richard Attenborough and stars Ben Kingsley as Gandhi. They both...

    . The hymn was also used as a title song for several Indian films.
  • Its recital by classical
    Carnatic music
    Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...

     singer M. S. Subbulakshmi
    M. S. Subbulakshmi
    Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi , also known as M.S., was a renowned Carnatic vocalist. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. She is the first Indian musician to receive...

    is popular.

External links

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