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Sacred Poetry from Around the World

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Yoga / Hindu : Shakta (Goddess-oriented)

18th Century

India
(Indian Subcontinent)

Ramprasad (Ramprasad Sen)

Timeline (1718? - 1775?)

Poems by Ramprasad (Ramprasad Sen)
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Although stories abound in the life of Ramprasad Sen, little exists that would satisfy a strict historian.

Ramprasad was born in a small village along the Ganges, just outside of Calcutta in Bengal, India. His father was an Ayurvedic doctor.

As a boy, Ramprasad showed himself to be an excellent student and displayed a natural talent for poetry and language.

Although he impressed everyone with his intellectual abilities, he showed no interest in taking up the family profession of Ayurveda or any profession, for that matter. His increasing otherworldliness and interest in spiritual practices worried his parents, who were afraid he would renounce the world. To head off that possibility, his parents married their meditative son to a beautiful young girl.

Soon after the marriage, Ramprasad's father died, leaving the family in poverty. As the oldest son, the responsibility fell on Ramprasad to provide for the entire family. Despite his bright mind, Ramprasad struggled to find employment.

He eventually found a job as an accountant's clerk in nearby Calcutta. But he couldn't prevent his devotional poetry from pouring out. Lacking good paper, he wrote his poems in the margins of his account ledgers. Some of his coworkers noticed this and complained to the manager that Ramprasad was writing poetry rather than keeping the accounts. The manager demanded to see Ramprasad's ledgers. Upon reading Ramprasad's songs to the mother goddess Kali, the manager was so moved that he told Ramprasad to go home and devote all his time to his writing -- and he would still draw the same monthly pay.

Ramprasad turned deeply to his spiritual practices and poetry, often singing his songs by the banks of the Ganges or immersed, neck-deep in the sacred waters.

One day a local Maharaja heard Ramprasad singing songs to Kali. He appointed Ramprasad as court poet, granting him enough land to support his family. It was then that Ramprasad delved more deeply in Tantric spiritual practices, often fasting and sitting in a nearby meditation garden.

He began to have visions of Mother Kali. His songs and quiet charisma started to draw devotees.

Ramprasad and his wife had four children. Finances continued to be a challenge for Ramprasad and his family. His intense focus on spiritual practices meant he neglected the day-to-day maintenance of his land, yet the family continued to get by.

Ramprasad's poetry to the Mother Goddess Kali is playful, petulant, blissful, rageful -- and sometimes shocking. His poetry shows the whole tempestuous relationship between a child and his Mother, between the soul and God. He doesn't just show one face to the Divine Mother, he doesn't just pretend to be 'the good little boy;' he communicates everything to Her nakedly. And, in doing so, he achieves a profound intimacy with the Divine.

Poems by Ramprasad (Ramprasad Sen)

	Come, let us go for a walk, O mind
	Conquer Death with the drumbeat Ma! Ma! Ma!
	I drink no ordinary wine
	Its value beyond assessment by the mind
	Kulakundalini, Goddess Full of Brahman, Tara
	Love Her, Mind;
	Ma, You're inside me;
	Meditate on Kali! Why be anxious?
	Mother, am I Thine eight-months child?
	Mother, this is the grief that sorely grieves my heart
	O Death! Get away; what canst thou do?
	O Mother, who really
	Of what use is my going to Kasi any more?
	Once for all, this time
	So I say: Mind, don't you sleep
	Tell me, brother, what happens after death?
	This time I shall devour Thee utterly, Mother Kali!
	Who in this world
	Who is that Syama woman
	Why disappear into formless trance?

Recommended Books

	Devoted to the Goddess : The Life and Work of Ramprasad, by Malcolm Mclean Amazon.com
	The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, by M. (Sri Mahendra Gupta) / Translated by Swami Nikhilananda Amazon.com
	Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair: Ramprasad Sen - Selected Poems to the Mother Goddess, Translated by Leonard Nathan / Clinton Seely Amazon.com
	Great Swan: Meetings with Ramakrishna, by Lex Hixon Amazon.com
	Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar, by Elizabeth U. Harding Amazon.com
	Mother of the Universe: Visions of the Goddess and Tantric Hymns of Enlightenment, Translated by Lex Hixon Amazon.com
	Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal, Translated by Rachel Fell McDermott Amazon.com

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Ramprasad (Ramprasad Sen)

Daily Poem Email

Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Support
the Poetry Chaikhana