Gandhi's favorite hymn

Prayer meetings were an integral part of Gandhi's day. These meetings served more than a spiritual purpose, by being occasions for Gandhi to interact with his followers and admirers, and more importantly - the common citizens of India. Gandhi often articulated his views on current events in these meetings, and was very particular about being on time for them.

Most prayers sung in these meetings were Hindu hymns, but the spirit rather than the letter was poignant for Gandhi. One of Gandhi's favorite hymns is considered to be the Guajarati hymn "Vaishnava janato" composed by the poet-saint Narsinh Mehta (1414-1481); a significant literary figure in Gujarati literature. The hymn describes the qualities of an ideal Vaishnavite (a follower of Lord Vishnu). Although written in Gujarati, the simple lyrics make it easy to understand for anyone with a working knowledge of Hindi (the national language of India). The hymn is set to tune in the mellifluous Indian raga Mishra Khamaj, which also explains its enduring appeal.

The English translation is below (the virtues extolled in the hymn are in italics)

Vaishnava (devotees of Lord Vishnu) people are those who,

Feel the pain of others,
Help those who are in misery,
But never let ego or conceit enter their mind.

Vaishnavas, respect the entire world, Do not censure anyone, Keep their words, actions and thoughts pure, The mother of such a soul is blessed.

Vaishnavas see all equally, renounce greed and avarice, Respects women as he respects his own mother, Their tongue might get tired, but they will never speak falsehood, Their hands would never touch the wealth of another.

Vaishnavas do not succumb to worldly attachments, They are detached from worldly pleasures, They are enticed by the name of God (Shri Ram), All holy sites of pilgrimage are embodied within them.

Vaishnavas encompasses the absence of greed and deceit, They have renounced all types of lust and anger, The author of this poem (Narsi) would be grateful to meet such a soul, By who's virtue, liberates their entire lineage.

It is easy to understand why this hymn struck a chord with Gandhi. Like any true master piece this simple hymn transcends its religious and linguistic boundaries to shine as beacon to all those who wish to lead a virtuous life. A rendition of the hymn is here.

 

Steve Jobs' iPod

Steve Jobs's love for music is well known, and many of his favorite artists like Chris Martin, Norah Jones, U2 often performed during his product launches. Walter Isaacson's biography* has an entire chapter devoted to Steve Job's musical tastes. Isaacson refers to Steven Levy's definitive book on the iPod's influence on our culture: The Perfect Thing, where among other things, Levy remarks that the our iPod playlists can strip us naked and reveal who we are - just like that- at one glance.

Bob Dylan was Steve Jobs' favorite musician - period. Unsurprisingly Dylan occupied a significant portion (six volumes of Dylan's bootleg series and fifteen other albums) of his iPod playlist. Dylan was more than a musician to Jobs; he was a revolutionary, a supreme artist, a free spirit, a visionary who didn't believe in boundaries - qualities that Jobs himself aspired to achieve.

Job's favorite Dylan song was "One too many mornings", and the normally reclusive Dylan sang it for him during one his concerts after Jobs mentioned it during his pre- concert visit.
One too many mornings was recorded in 1963, and released in 1964 as part of iconic "The times  they are-a changin'" album.

The lyrics# (below) are supposedly about a break up, without any reconciliation in sight - or in mind. Dylan reflects, regrets and then resigns himself to life.

Down the street the dogs are barkin'
And the day is a-gettin' dark
As the night comes in a-fallin'
The dogs will lose their bark

And the silent night will shatter
From the sounds inside my mind
As I'm one too many mornings
And a thousand miles behind

 

From the crossroads of my doorstep
My eyes start to fade
And I turn my head back to the room
Where my love and I have laid

And I gaze back to the street
The sidewalk and the sign
And I'm one too many mornings
And a thousand miles behind

 

It's a restless hungry feelin'
That don't mean no one no good
When everythin' I'm a-sayin'
You can say it just as good

You're right from your side
I'm right from mine
We're both just one too many mornings
And a thousand miles behind

You can listen to Dylan performing it live here in 1966


This version has superior audio (again performed in 1966)




*Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (2011). New York: Simon & Schuster
# http://www.metrolyrics.com/one-too-many-mornings-lyrics-bob-dylan.html
Dylan picture credit
Steve Jobs picture credit