Ramprasad Sen (রামপ্রসাদ সেন), the melodious mystic of Bangladesh

Sri Chinmoy has composed many, many songs. He began learning traditional Indian songs since his childhood. Even to these days he enjoys singing songs by Tagore, Ramprasad, Kamalakanta Bhattacharya, and other spiritual composers.

Ramprasad, the melodious mystic of Bangladesh, belong to the wonderful galaxy of Indian mystic whose approach to the Divine found expression and consummation in songs and melodies which form a part of the spiritual heritage of India.

In this group are to be counted, among others, saints such as Tukaram, Namadev, Tulsidas, Mirabai, Surdas, Jaydev, Chandidas, Vidyapati, all from North India.

Ramprasad Sen (রামপ্রসাদ সেন) (1720-1781) was a Bengali song-writer and singer of Hindu devotional songs, specially Shyamasangit (Songs devoted to Mother Kali).

He is almost always referred to as Ramprasad, and his songs are known as Ramprasadi. Ramprasad's life has been the subject of many mystical stories depicting his devotion to and relation with Kali.

Ramprasad was born in Chobbish Pargana, now Bangladesh. He had very little formal education, though he learnt Persian, Sanskrit, Bangla and a few other languages from a private tutor. A number of mythical stories can be found concerning Ramprasad.

The collected poems, songs and hymns composed by Ramprasad Sen have been published in an edition entitled Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair. The following is an example of one of Ramprasad's bhakti hymns to Mother Kali:

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.

To any devotee, Ramprasad has a special appeal. The songs of Ramprasad, the Kali-worshipper, were an abiding inspiration also to Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna used to sing the songs of saint like Ramprasad before the image of the Divine Mother as a part of his daily worship.