Does one have to be born a Vaishnava?
No. Some Westerners have wholeheartedly taken up Vaishnavism. Historically, great Vaishnavas like Kanakadâsa are known to have run afoul of caste-conscious pretenders because anyone can be a Vaishnava, even those who are considered outcaste. Prescriptions of Vaishnava morality, such as the requirement of observing the ekâdashî fast, apply to all, not just those of high caste.
