Kali Bhakta Ramprasad

[Guest guest]

Ramprasad Sen belonged to Kumarhatta, a place about 25 miles from

Calcutta up the Hooghly. His Vidyasundar was written some time in the

sixth or seventh decade of the [eighteenth] century. The influence of

Bharatchandra is clearly noticeable. His works include Kalikirttan and

the fragmentary Krishnakirttan. These poems were written in the form

of the 'Pancali' style that was developing from the older 'Kirttan'.

 

There are a number of very popular devotional songs of the Mother

Goddess [Kali] bearing the signature of Ramprasad. The simple and

appealing melody associated with the songs is also attributed to the

poet who is looked upon as a saint. But this melody and the songs

pertaining to it may have been the work of another Ramprasad (

Brahman) belonging to Calcutta who was reputed as a composer of

'Kabi' songs. This Ramprasad was a younger contemporary of the first

(who was a Vaidya). The songs are purely devotional, being appeals to

God the Mother, couched in the words of a wayword but repentant child.

.... The sentiments evoked by the songs are a combination of homely

affection and pure devotion and therefore their appeal is

irresistible."

 

……. when one's kundalini shakthi is so awakened, one sees kali ma in

all forms

of her creation ! A poem by ramprasad, the mystic bengali poet!!!!

 

O Kali, Thou art fond of cremation grounds;

so I have turned my heart into one

That thou, a resident of cremation grounds,

may dance there unceasingly.

O Mother! I have no other fond desire in my heart;

fire of a funeral pyre is burning there;

O Mother! I have preserved the ashes of dead bodies all around

that Thou may come.

O Mother! Keeping Shiva, conqueror of Death, under Thy feet,

Come, dancing to the tune of music;

Prasada waits With his eyes closed

 

.... Ramprasad (1718-75)

 

Kali's dwelling place, the cremation ground denotes a place where the

five elements (Sanskrit: pancha mahabhuta) are dissolved. Kali dwells

where dissolution takes place. In terms of devotion and worship, this

denotes the dissolving of attachments, anger, lust,jealousy, ego,

pride, ahamkar, and other binding emotions, feelings, and ideas. The

heart of the devotee is where this burning takes place, and it is in

the heart that Kali dwells. The devotee makes her image in his heart

and under her influence burns away all limitations and ignorance in

the cremation fires. This inner cremation fire in the heart is the

fire of knowledge, ( gyanagni), which Kali bestows.

 

Behold my Mother playing with Shiva,

lost in an ecstasy of joy!

Drunk with a draught of celestial wine,

She reels, and yet does not fall.

Erect She stands on Shiva's bosom,

and the earth Trembles under Her tread;

She and Her Lord are mad with frenzy,

casting Aside all fear and shame.

 

.... Ramprasad (1718-75)

 

O Kali! Why dost Thou roam about nude?

Art Thou not ashamed, Mother!

Garb and ornaments Thou hast none;

yet Thou Pridest in being King's daughter.

O Mother! Is it a virtue of Thy family that Thou

Placest thy feet on Thy husband?

Thou art nude; Thy husband is nude; you both roam cremation

grounds.

O Mother! We are all ashamed of you; do put on thy garb.

Thou hast cast away Thy necklace of jewels, Mother,

And worn a garland of human heads.

Prasada says, "Mother! Thy fierce beauty has frightened

Thy nude consort.

 

Ramaprasad fence incident

 

There is an incident in Ramprasad's life. Once Ramprasad was building

a fence and singing songs in praise of Kali. He was tired, the sun was

hot and he had a lot to do. Suddenly a dark girl clad in a red sari

came by and said that she wanted to help him. Ramprasad agreed.

Feeling thirsty, he went to drink some water and when hewas back, the

fence was complete but the girl was no where to be seen. It was then

that he realized that Kali had helped him construct the fence of his

cottage.

 

Contributions by : Devi_bhakti

Adi_shakti16

Baburoy