Vaishnava Janato
From Hey Ram · 2000
- Lyricist
- Andal
- Singers
- Vibha Sharma, Asha Bhosle
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Hey Ram2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Vaishnav jan to | Call that person a true devotee of Lord Vishnu, |
| Tene kahiye je | Call them a true devotee, |
| Peed paraayi | Who understands the pain and suffering |
| Jaanae re} (2) | Of others. |
| Female | |
| {Par dukhkhe | Even when rendering help |
| Upkaar kare toye | To someone in deep distress, |
| Man abhimaan na | They do not let pride or vanity |
| Aanae re} (2) | Enter their mind. |
| Female | |
| Vaishnav jan to | Call that person a true devotee of Lord Vishnu, |
| Tene kahiye je | Call them a true devotee, |
| Peed paraayi | Who understands the pain and suffering |
| Jaanae re | Of others. |
| Female | |
| Vaishnav jan to | Call that person a true devotee of Lord Vishnu, |
| Tene kahiye je | Call them a true devotee, |
| Peed paraayi | Who understands the pain and suffering |
| Jaanae re | Of others. |
| Male | |
| Vaaranam aayiram | Surrounded by a thousand majestic elephants, |
| Soozha valam seithu | Circumambulating in grand procession, |
| Naarana nambi | Lord Narayana, the perfect supreme being, |
| Nadakindraan endredhir | Is walking towards me; to welcome Him, |
| Poorana porkudam | Golden pots brimming with holy water |
| Vaiththu puramengum | Are placed all around the town, |
| Thoranam naatta | And festive floral garlands are hung everywhere; |
| Female | |
| Kana kanden | I saw all this in a divine dream, |
| Thozhi naan….. | Oh my dear friend... |
| Chorus | |
| ……………….. | |
| Female | |
| Kana kanden | I saw all this in a divine dream, |
| Thozhi naan….. | Oh my dear friend... |
{ வைஷ்ணவ
ஜன டோ டேனே
கஹியே ஜே பீட்
பராயி ஜானே ரே } (2)
Call that person a true devotee of Lord Vishnu,
Call them a true devotee,
Who understands the pain and suffering
Of others.
{ பர் டுக்ஹே
உப்கார் கரே டோயி
மன அபிமான னா
ஆனே ரே } (2)
Even when rendering help
To someone in deep distress,
They do not let pride or vanity
Enter their mind.
வைஷ்ணவ
ஜன டோ டேனே
கஹியே ஜே பீட்
பராயி ஜானே ரே
Call that person a true devotee of Lord Vishnu,
Call them a true devotee,
Who understands the pain and suffering
Of others.
வைஷ்ணவ
ஜன டோ டேனே
கஹியே ஜே பீட்
பராயி ஜானே ரே
Call that person a true devotee of Lord Vishnu,
Call them a true devotee,
Who understands the pain and suffering
Of others.
வாரணம் ஆயிரம்
சூழ வலம் செய்து நாரண
நம்பி நடக்கின்றான் என்றெதிர்
பூரண பொற்குடம் வைத்து
புறமெங்கும் தோரணம் நாட்ட
Surrounded by a thousand majestic elephants,
Circumambulating in grand procession,
Lord Narayana, the perfect supreme being,
Is walking towards me; to welcome Him,
Golden pots brimming with holy water
Are placed all around the town,
And festive floral garlands are hung everywhere;
கனா கண்டேன்
தோழி நான்
I saw all this in a divine dream,
Oh my dear friend...
.......................
கனா கண்டேன்
தோழி நான்
I saw all this in a divine dream,
Oh my dear friend...
{Vaishnav jan to
Call that person a true devotee of Lord Vishnu,
Tene kahiye je
Call them a true devotee,
Peed paraayi
Who understands the pain and suffering
Jaanae re} (2)
Of others.
{Par dukhkhe
Even when rendering help
Upkaar kare toye
To someone in deep distress,
Man abhimaan na
They do not let pride or vanity
Aanae re} (2)
Enter their mind.
Vaishnav jan to
Call that person a true devotee of Lord Vishnu,
Tene kahiye je
Call them a true devotee,
Peed paraayi
Who understands the pain and suffering
Jaanae re
Of others.
Vaishnav jan to
Call that person a true devotee of Lord Vishnu,
Tene kahiye je
Call them a true devotee,
Peed paraayi
Who understands the pain and suffering
Jaanae re
Of others.
Vaaranam aayiram
Surrounded by a thousand majestic elephants,
Soozha valam seithu
Circumambulating in grand procession,
Naarana nambi
Lord Narayana, the perfect supreme being,
Nadakindraan endredhir
Is walking towards me; to welcome Him,
Poorana porkudam
Golden pots brimming with holy water
Vaiththu puramengum
Are placed all around the town,
Thoranam naatta
And festive floral garlands are hung everywhere;
Kana kanden
I saw all this in a divine dream,
Thozhi naan…..
Oh my dear friend...
………………..
Kana kanden
I saw all this in a divine dream,
Thozhi naan…..
Oh my dear friend...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This unique sequence blends Narsinh Mehta's famous 15th-century Gujarati hymn 'Vaishnav Jan To' with Kodhai (Andal)'s classic 8th-century Tamil Pasuram 'Vaaranam Aayiram' from Nachiyar Thirumozhi, as featured in Kamal Haasan's film 'Hey Ram' (2000) with music arranged by Ilaiyaraaja. The first section highlights the highest ethical virtue of empathy, defining a true spiritual seeker as one who feels the suffering of others and serves selflessly without arrogance. The second section transitions into vivid divine romanticism, where Andal recounts a sacred dream to her friend in which Lord Narayana enters in a grand procession amidst a thousand elephants, welcomed by golden urns and festive decorations across the town.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethical Definition / Anaphora
“Vaishnav jan to”
The repeated refrain 'Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je' establishes a definitive moral guideline for what constitutes true devotion.
Visual Imagery (Thoondal / Vaarnanai)
“Vaaranam aayiram / Soozha valam seithu”
Andal creates grand royal imagery using thousand elephants and full golden pots to portray her mystical dream of divine marriage.
Tamil Initial Rhyme / Moonaikkuyippu
“Poorana porkudam”
The repetition of the 'Po' sound at the start of words ('Poorana porkudam') creates melodic rhythm (Amonai) in traditional Tamil verse.
Did you know?
Trivia
In 'Hey Ram' (2000), directed by Kamal Haasan, this piece juxtaposes Mahatma Gandhi's favorite Gujarati bhajan 'Vaishnav Jan To' with Andal's Tamil devotional poem 'Vaaranam Aayiram'. Ilaiyaraaja composed the score for the film, replacing original composer L. Subramaniam, and seamlessly interwoven traditional devotional poetry to emphasize the cross-cultural Gandhian spirit and historical period of the film.
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