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==Biography==
==Biography==
=== Early life ===
=== Early life ===
The life stories of Ramprasad are a mixture of biography and legend, and it is often difficult to separate the two.<ref name="McLeanx">{{Harvnb|McLean|1998}}, xviii.</ref> Ramprasad was born in [[Halisahar]], on the banks of the Ganges, about 35 miles north of [[Kolkata]].<ref name="harding_215">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p.215</ref> The exact birth date is not known due to the absence of birth records; His birth date is believed to be around 1723. His father Ramram Sen was an [[Ayurvedic]] doctor and [[Sanskrit]] scholar.<ref name="harding_215"/> Ramram hoped his son would follow in his profession, but Ramprasad showed no interest in practical pursuits. His early education included learning both Persian and Hindi. While still a boy, he was initiated into religious practices by the family guru, who suddenly passed away.<ref name="Hixon">{{Harvnb|Hixon|Jadunath Sinha|1994}}, pp. 205-207.</ref> He also lost his mother during his childhood.<ref>{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p.216</ref>
Ramprasad was born in [[Halisahar]], on the banks of the Ganges, about 35 miles north of [[Kolkata]].<ref name="harding_215">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p.215</ref> The exact birth date is not known due to the absence of birth records; His birth date is believed to be around 1723. His father Ramram Sen was an [[Ayurvedic]] doctor and [[Sanskrit]] scholar.<ref name="harding_215"/> Ramram hoped his son would follow in his profession, but Ramprasad showed no interest in practical pursuits. His early education included learning both Persian and Hindi. While still a boy, he was initiated into religious practices by the family guru, who suddenly passed away.<ref name="Hixon">{{Harvnb|Hixon|Jadunath Sinha|1994}}, pp. 205-207.</ref> He also lost his mother during his childhood.<ref>{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p.216</ref>


Ramprasad later came into contact with the famous [[Tantra|Tantrik]] [[yogi]] and scholar [[Krishnananda Agamavagisha]] and became his disciple. Agamavagisha was a famous devotee of goddess Kali and the author of the Bengali book ''Tantrasara''. Agamavagisha instructed Ramprasad about Tantric [[sadhana]]s and worship of Kali. Ramprasad would reportedly spend his time in prayer and meditation.<ref name="harding_217">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p.217</ref>
Ramprasad later came into contact with the famous [[Tantra|Tantrik]] [[yogi]] and scholar [[Krishnananda Agamavagisha]] and became his disciple. Agamavagisha was a famous devotee of goddess Kali and the author of the Bengali book ''Tantrasara''. Agamavagisha instructed Ramprasad about Tantric [[sadhana]]s and worship of Kali. Ramprasad would reportedly spend his time in prayer and meditation.<ref name="harding_217">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p.217</ref>


=== Marriage and employment ===
=== Marriage and employment ===

Revision as of 08:34, 12 April 2009

Ramprasad Sen (Bangla: রামপ্রসাদ সেন) (c. 1720-1781) was a Bengali mystic poet and singer of Hindu devotional songs, particularly Shyama Sangeet (songs devoted to the goddess Kali). He is almost always referred to as Ramprasad, and his songs are known as Ramprasadi. Ramprasad is widely known in Bengal, and his life has been the subject of many mystical stories depicting his devotion to and relation with Kali.

Biography

Early life

Ramprasad was born in Halisahar, on the banks of the Ganges, about 35 miles north of Kolkata.[1] The exact birth date is not known due to the absence of birth records; His birth date is believed to be around 1723. His father Ramram Sen was an Ayurvedic doctor and Sanskrit scholar.[1] Ramram hoped his son would follow in his profession, but Ramprasad showed no interest in practical pursuits. His early education included learning both Persian and Hindi. While still a boy, he was initiated into religious practices by the family guru, who suddenly passed away.[2] He also lost his mother during his childhood.[3]

Ramprasad later came into contact with the famous Tantrik yogi and scholar Krishnananda Agamavagisha and became his disciple. Agamavagisha was a famous devotee of goddess Kali and the author of the Bengali book Tantrasara. Agamavagisha instructed Ramprasad about Tantric sadhanas and worship of Kali. Ramprasad would reportedly spend his time in prayer and meditation.[4]

Marriage and employment

Ramprasad was married at the age of twenty-two to Sarvani, and had two daughters (Parameshwari and Jagadishwari) and two sons (Ramdulal and Rammohan). When his father died, he moved to Kolkata to support his family, working as an accountant in the household of Durgachan Mitra. According to popular stories, his fellow employees were aghast to see Ramprasad writing hymns to Kali in his account book, and reported him to their employer. Durgachan Mitra, upon reading Ramprasad's work, was moved by both his piety and literary skill. He granted Ramprasad leave to return to his village and write, while continuing to be paid by Durgachan Mitra.[2]

Sadhana

Ramprasad would reportedly sing and practice spiritual disciplines on the banks of river Ganga. According to traditional accounts, he was often found singing one fervent song after another with tears rolling down his cheeks, while his powerful song echoed over Ganga.[5] One day, the Maharaja Krishna Chandra of Nadia, a landlord under Nawab Sirajuddaula of Bengal, was traveling in this boat on the Ganges when he heard Ramprasad's enchanting song. Being a great devotee of Kali, the Maharaja appointed him as his court poet.[6] Ramprasad rarely attended the Maharaja's court and would spend his time in sadhana and worship of Kali.[6] He would practice sadhana in a panchavati groove with five trees—banyan, bel, amalaki, ashoka, and peepul—regarded as holy by Tantric tradition.[7] He would reportedly spend hours meditating on a panchamundi asana ( an altar inside which are interred five skulls–that of a snake, frog, rabbit, fox, and man).[8] According to traditional accounts, he had a vision of Adyashakti Mahamaya.[9]

Final days

The Maharaja Krishna Chandra, who had been Ramprasad's benefactor for many years, became gravely ill. During his last years, Ramprasad stayed besides him and would sings of Kali. After the death of the Maharaja, Ramprasad detached from worldly affairs and would spend his time in contemplating on Divine mother. During Ramprasad's old age, he was looked after by his son Ramdulal and daughter-in-law Bhagavati.[10] Throughtout his life, Ramprasad was particularly fond of Kali Puja on the night of Diwali, the festival of lights.[11] He would stay up all night and worship Kali. On one particular Kali puja night, he performed the puja, and sang throughout the night. In the morning, Ramprasad carried the jar of Mother's sanctified water on this head to Ganges. He was followed by the devotees, who carried the clay image of Kali, to be immersed in the Ganges after nightly worship. Ramprasad waded into the holy river, until the water was neck deep, all the while singing songs. As Kali's image was immersed, Ramprasad breathed his last. He was about 80 years old.[12]

Stories and legends

One popular story told of Ramprasad regards a fence he was repairing. His daughter was helping him, but shortly left him. Soon after, a radiant young girl came to help him, who he didn't recognize. After finishing the task, she vanished. He then realized that she was a manifestation of Kali.[2]

Poetry

Ramprasad's poems are of Bhakti and are also considered as Tantrik statements.[13] Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a mystic of nineteenth century Bengal, often sang his songs and Ramprasad was his most beloved poet[14][15] Ramprasad lived long before the Dakshineswar Kali Temple was built around the mid of nineteenth century. Harding writes that, Ramprasad's "influence is most certainly there (...) everywhere the Divine Mother's name is being sung."[15]

One of Ramprasad's bhakti hymns to the Goddess is as follows,

You'll find Mother In any house.
Do I dare say it in public?
She is Bhairavi with Shiva,
Durga with Her children,
Sita with Lakshmana.
She's mother, daughter, wife, sister—
Every woman close to you.
What more can Ramprasad say?
You work the rest out from these hints.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Harding 1998, p.215
  2. ^ a b c Hixon & Jadunath Sinha 1994, pp. 205-207.
  3. ^ Harding 1998, p.216
  4. ^ Harding 1998, p.217
  5. ^ Harding 1998, p.219
  6. ^ a b Harding 1998, p.220
  7. ^ Harding 1998, p.221
  8. ^ Budhanananda 1994, p. 21
  9. ^ Harding 1998, p.228
  10. ^ Harding 1998, p.231
  11. ^ Harding 1998, p.231
  12. ^ Harding 1998, p.233
  13. ^ Mondol 1999, p xvi-xvii.
  14. ^ Hixon 1998, pp.16-17
  15. ^ a b Harding 1998, p.214

References

  • Budhanananda, Swami (1994). Ramprasad: The Melodious Mystic. Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, India.
  • Harding, Elizabeth U. (1998). Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 8120814509.
  • Hixon, Lex (1994). Mother of the Universe. Quest Books. ISBN 9780835607025. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Hixon, Lex (1998). Great Swan: Meetings With Ramakrishna. Burdett, N.Y.: Larson Publications. ISBN 0-943914-80-9.
  • McLean, Malcolm (1998). Devoted to the Goddess : The Life and Work of Ramprasad. SUNY Press. ISBN 0-791436-90-X.
  • Mondol, Promothonath (1999). Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair : Selected Poems to the Mother Goddess, Ramprasad Sen. Hohm Press, Prescott, Arizona. ISBN 0-934252-94-7.

Bibliography

  • Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal, Ramprasad Sen, Translated by Rachel Fell McDermott (ISBN 0-195134-34-6)
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