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{{short description|Shakta poet of eighteenth century Bengal}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sadhak Ramprasad<br />(Ramprasad Sen)
| image = Ramaprasad_Sen.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = c. 1718<ref name="heehs_346" /> or c. 1723<ref name="harding_215" />
| birth_place = [[Garalgachha]], [[Hooghly District]], [[Bengal Subah]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1781|1718|df=yes}}<ref name="heehs_346" />
| death_place = [[Halisahar]], [[North 24 Parganas District]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[Company Raj]]
| other_names = Sadhak Ramprasad
| known_for = [[Ramprasadi]]
| occupation = Saint, poet
}}
{{Saktism}}
{{Hinduism}}
'''{{IAST|Sadhak Rāmprasād Sen}}''' ({{lang-bn|রামপ্রসাদ সেন}}; c. 1718 or c. 1723 – c. 1775) was a [[Hindu]] [[Shakta]] poet and saint of eighteenth century [[Bengal]].<ref>{{harvnb|Martin|2003|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=qSfneQ0YYY8C&pg=PA191&vq=ramprasad 191]}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Ayyappapanicker|1997}}, p. 64</ref> His ''[[bhakti]]'' poems, known as [[Ramprasadi]], are still popular in Bengal—they are usually addressed to the Hindu goddess [[Kali]] and written in [[Bengali language|Bengali]].<ref name="McDaniel">{{Harvnb|McDaniel|2004}}, p. 162</ref> Stories of Ramprasad's life typically include legends and myths mixed with biographical details.<ref name="Hixon" />

It is said that, Ramprasad was born into a Bengali [[Baidya]] Brahmin family, and showed an inclination towards poetry from an early age. He was highly influenced by [[Krishnananda Agamavagisha]], a Tantric scholar and [[yogi]]. Ramprasad became well known for his devotional songs. His life has been the subject of many stories depicting his devotion to, and relationship with, Kali. Ramprasad's literary works include ''Vidyasundar'', ''Kali-kirtana'', ''Krishna-kirtana'' and ''Shaktigiti''.

Ramprasad is credited with creating a new compositional form that combined the Bengali folk style of [[Baul]] music with classical melodies and ''[[kirtan]]''. The new style took root in Bengali culture with many poet-composers combining folk and raga-based melodies, mixing every common style of music from classical to semi-classical and folk.<ref name="Arnold" /> His songs are sung today, with a popular collection—''Ramprasadi Sangit'' ("Songs of Ramprasad")—sold at ''Shakta'' temples and ''pithas'' in Bengal.<ref name="McDaniel" />

== Biography ==
Biographies of Ramprasad are a mixture of biography, metaphor, and legend.<ref name="Hixon" />

=== Early life ===
Ramprasad was born in [[Garalgachha]], in [[Hooghly District]] (at his maternal house), in a [[Vaidya(caste)|Baidya]] Brahmin family,{{sfn|McDaniel|2004|p=162}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ekhon Samay|url=http://ekhonsamay.com/prabandha2-single-post.html|access-date=2021-06-15|website=ekhonsamay.com}}</ref> belonging to [[Dhanvantari]] gotra.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bhaṭṭācārya|first=Āśutosha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-vt3AAAAIAAJ|title=Early Bengali Saiva Poetry|date=1951|publisher=Calcutta Book House|pages=59|language=en|quote=Kaviranjan Rāmprasād Sen is known to be the first and the foremost poet of these Agamaní and Vijayā songs. Rāmprasād, the devotee poet of Bengal, was born, in the first part of the Eightenth Century, of a respectable Vaidya family of Dhanvantari gotra.}}</ref> Due to the absence of birth records, his actual birth date is not known, but it is believed to be around 1718<ref name="heehs_346">{{Harvnb|Heehs|2002}}, p. 346</ref> or 1723.<ref name="harding_215">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p. 215</ref> His father, Ramram Sen, was an [[Ayurvedic]] doctor and [[Sanskrit]] scholar. Ramprasad's mother Siddheswari was Ramram's second wife.<ref name="harding_215" /> Ramprasad was sent to a Sanskrit ''tol'' (school) where he learned Sanskrit grammar, literature, [[Persian language|Persian]].<ref name="Hixon">{{Harvnb|Hixon|Jadunath Sinha|1994}}, pp. 205–207</ref><ref name="Harding_216" /> As a youth, he had a talent for poetry and learning new languages.<ref name="Harding_216" />
[[File:Ramprasad Sen vita, a heritage temple complex at Halisahar 01.jpg|thumb|House of Ramprasad Sen at Halisahar]]
Ramram hoped his son would follow in his profession, but Ramprasad showed no interest in practical pursuits. As he grew up, his spiritual inclinations caused a great deal of anxiety to his parents. Believing that marriage would make Ramprasad more responsible, his parents married him to a girl named Sarvani when he was twenty-two years old.<ref name="Harding_216" /> In keeping with the family custom, the newly wed couple was initiated by the family's spiritual teacher, Madhavacharya. According to traditional accounts, during initiation when the ''[[guru]]'' whispered the ''[[mantra]]'' to him, Ramprasad became consumed by intense longing for the goddess Kali. One year after the initiation, he lost his guru.<ref name="Harding_216">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p. 216</ref> Ramprasad later became the disciple of [[Krishnananda Agamavagisha]], a Tantric yogi and scholar. Agamavagisha was a well known devotee of Kali and the author of the Bengali book ''Tantrasara''. Agamavagisha instructed Ramprasad in Tantric ''[[sadhana]]s'' (spiritual disciplines) and worship of Kali.<ref name="harding_217">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p. 217</ref>

=== Employment ===
Instead of following his parents wishes and looking for a job, it is said that Ramprasad devoted most of his time to ''sadhana''. Ramram died before he could make provisions to support the family. Forced finally by poverty, Ramprasad moved to Kolkata and worked as an accountant in the household of Durga Charan Mitra for a monthly salary of thirty rupees.<ref name="harding_217" /> According to traditional accounts, during his employment Ramprasad would write devotional songs to Kali.<ref name="harding_217" /> His fellow employees were appalled to see Ramprasad write poems in his account book, and reported him to their employer. Durga Charan Mitra, upon reading Ramprasad's work, was moved by his piety and literary skill. Instead of dismissing Ramprasad from work, he asked him to return to his village and compose songs to Kali, while continuing to pay his salary.<ref name="Hixon" />

=== ''Sadhana'' and poetry ===
After returning to his village, Ramprasad spent most of his time in ''sadhana'', meditation, and prayer. Traditional accounts tell of several esoteric ''sadhanas'' that he performed, including standing neck-deep in the river [[Ganges]], singing songs to Kali.<ref>{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p. 219</ref> Ramprasad would regularly practice his ''sadhana'' in a panchavati: a grove with five trees—[[banyan]], [[Aegle marmelos|bael]], [[Indian gooseberry|amalaki]], [[Ashoka tree|ashoka]], and [[peepul]]—all regarded as holy in Tantric tradition.<ref>{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p. 221</ref> 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).<ref>{{Harvnb|Budhanananda|1994}}, p. 21</ref> According to popular stories he had a vision of Kali in her form of ''Adyashakti Mahamaya''.<ref>{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p. 228</ref>

[[Raja Krishnachandra]] of [[Nadia district|Nadia]], a landlord under [[Nawab]] [[Siraj ud-Daulah|Sirajuddaula]] of Bengal, heard Ramprasad's hymns. Being an ardent devotee of Kali, he appointed Ramprasad as his court poet.<ref name="Harding_220">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p.220</ref> Ramprasad rarely attended the Maharaja's court and would spend his time in ''sadhana'' and worship of Kali instead.<ref name="Harding_220" /> Krishna Chandra became Ramprasad's benefactor, giving him {{convert|100|acre|km2 sqmi}} of tax free land. Ramprasad, in return, dedicated his book ''Vidyasundar'' ("Beautiful Knowledge") to the Maharaja.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hixon|Jadunath Sinha|1994}}, p. 204</ref><ref name="islam-2003" /> Krishna Chandra also gave Ramprasad the title ''Kaviranjana'' ("Entertainer of poets").<ref name="islam-2003">{{Harvnb|Islam|Sajahan Miah|2003}}, p. 158</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Thompson|2006}}, p. 17</ref> During the Maharaja's last years, Ramprasad stayed beside him, singing hymns to Kali. Ramprasad's mysticism was recognized by [[sufi]]s and [[Nawab Sirajuddaula]]. Ramprasad is said to have visited the court of the Nawab at the Nawab's fervent request.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hixon|Jadunath Sinha|1994}}, p. 206</ref>

[[Sister Nivedita|Sister Nivedita's]] book [[Kali the Mother (book)|Kali the Mother]] accounts for an encounter of Ramprasad with [[Nawab]] [[Siraj ud-Daulah|Sirajuddaula]], who was traveling in a barge and came across Ramprasad, singing on a shore. Fascinated by his music, the young Nawab welcomed him aboard and asked him to sing. Ramprasad was hesitant as he did not know any other song than the Shyama Sangeet, so the Nawab asked him to sing the songs dedicated to his Mother. <ref>Kali The Mother, by Sister Nivedita, Chapter: Two Saints of Kali, Link: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.215935</ref>

=== Death ===
During Ramprasad's old age, he was looked after by his son Ramdulal and daughter-in-law Bhagavati.<ref name="Harding_231" />
A folk story is told of Ramprasad's death.<ref name="islam-2003" /> Ramprasad was very fond of taking part in [[Kali puja]] on the night of [[Diwali]], the festival of lights.<ref name="Harding_231">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p. 231</ref> On one Kali puja night, he performed the puja and sang throughout the night. In the morning, Ramprasad carried the jar of Divine Mother's sanctified water on his head to the Ganges. He was followed by the devotees, who carried the clay image of Kali to be immersed in the Ganges after the night of worship. Ramprasad waded into the holy river, until the water was neck deep, all the while singing for Kali. As Kali's image was immersed, Ramprasad died—<ref>{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p .233</ref> this was believed to be around 1775.<ref>{{harvnb|Heehs|2002}}, p. 346</ref>

However, recent documentary evidence, a Kabulatipatra dated April 1794 bearing the sign of Ramprasad Sen as a witness, clearly proves the fact that Ramprasad Sen was alive in 1794. The said Kabulatipatra has been preserved and displayed at [[Sabarna Sangrahashala]] in [[Barisha, India|Barisha]].<ref>Bangiya Sabarna Katha Kalishetra Kalikatah by Bhabani Roy Choudhury, Manna Publication. {{ISBN|81-87648-36-8}}</ref><ref>Ramprasad Prayan Rahasya by Sibsoumya Biswas, Bartaman Patrika, 05.10.2015</ref>

== Stories and legends ==
In Bengal, popular stories and legends are told of Ramprasad.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hixon|Jadunath Sinha|1994}}, p. 205</ref> One of the most well known stories is about a "radiant girl" who helped him one day. Ramprasad was repairing a fence with the assistance of his daughter, who left shortly thereafter. Soon a "radiant girl", whom he didn't recognize, came to help him. After finishing the task, she vanished. According to the story, Ramprasad then realized that she was a manifestation of Kali.<ref name="Hixon" />

Another popular story is told of Ramprasad's vision of goddess [[Annapurna Devi Mata|Annapurna]] of [[Varanasi]]. Ramprasad was on his way to the river for his daily ritual bath when a beautiful young woman stopped him, asking if she could hear him sing a devotional song to the Divine Mother. Ramprasad requested her to wait, since it was getting late for his noon worship. When he returned, he couldn't find her, and began to think that it may have been the "play of Divine Mother."<ref name="Harding_225-6" /> Sitting down to meditate, he was surrounded by a radiant light and heard a female voice saying, "I am Annapurna (…) I came all the way from Varanasi to hear your songs but, alas, I had to leave disappointed." Ramprasad was angry with himself and immediately left for Varanasi to find Mother Annapurna and sing for her. After walking many miles, he reached [[Triveni Sangam|Triveni]], where he took rest under a tree on the bank of the [[Ganges]]. Here he reportedly received another vision, saw the same mystical light, and heard the Mother's voice saying, "Stay here and sing for me. (…) Varanasi is not the only place where I live; I pervade the whole universe."<ref name="Harding_225-6">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, pp. 225–226</ref>

== Poetry and influence ==
[[File:Kali by Raja Ravi Varma.jpg|thumb|right|Goddess Kali, the patron goddess of Ramprasad Sen]]

Ramprasad Sen is regarded as one of the notable figures of the [[bhakti movement]] in Bengal during the eighteenth century.<ref>{{Harvnb|Zaehner|1983}}, p. 145</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Zaehner|1983}}, p. 139</ref> He is credited with popularizing the ''[[bhakti]]'' [[Shakta]] tradition<ref>{{harvnb|Rodrigues|2006}}, p. 183</ref><ref name="sen_155-6" /> and ''[[Shyama Sangeet]]''—devotional songs to the goddess Kali.<ref>{{Harvnb|Islam|Harun-or-Rashid, Aklam Hussain|1992}}, p. 286</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|McDaniel|2004}}, p. 21</ref> Ramprasad was the first Shakta poet to address Kali with such intimate devotion, and to sing of her as a tender loving mother or even as a little girl. After him, a school of Shakta poets continued the Kali-''bhakti'' tradition.<ref name="heehs_346" />

Ramprasad created a new compositional form that combined the Bengali folk style of [[Baul]] music with classical melodies and ''[[kirtan]]''. This new form took root in Bengali culture for the next hundred and fifty years, with hundreds of poet-composers combining folk and raga-based melodies, and bringing together styles of music that included classical, semi-classical, and folk. His poetic style has been described as "sweet, familiar and unsophisticated",<ref name="Ayyappapanicker">{{Harvnb|Ayyappapanicker|1997}}, p. 64.</ref> though his lyrics were sung in classical style rather than a folk style.<ref name="McDaniel" /><ref name="Lal" /> Two of his notable successors as composers in the same style were [[Kamalakanta Bhattacharya (West Bengal)|Kamalakanta Bhattacarya]] and [[Mahendranath Bhattacarya]].<ref name="Arnold">{{Harvnb|Arnold|2000}}, p. 846.</ref><ref name="White">{{Harvnb|White|2001}}, p. 168.</ref>

Ramprasad's songs are known as ''Ramprasadi''.<ref name="Thompson-19" /> The devotion to Kali often included as a background the events in Bengal during his time, such as the [[Bengal famine of 1770]], economic hardships, and the deterioration of rural culture. His poems were very popular during his lifetime.<ref name="McDaniel" />

Ramprasad's literary works include '' Vidyasundar'' (or ''Kalikaman-gala'') (ca. sixth or seventh decade of the 18th century), ''Kali-kirtana'', the fragmentary ''Krishna-kirtana'', and ''Shaktigiti''.<ref name="sen_155-6">{{Harvnb|Sen|1960}}, pp. 155–156</ref><ref name="Lal">{{Harvnb|Majumdar|1992}}, pp. 3912–3913</ref> ''Kali-kirtana'' is a collection of lyric and narrative poetry describing the early life of [[Parvati|Uma]]. ''Krishna-kirtana'' is an incomplete book of poems and songs to [[Krishna]]—the complete collection is yet to be discovered. ''Vidyasundara Kavya'' is written in a narrative style that was already popular in Bengali literature, telling the traditional love story of Vidya and Sundara—children of kings who are aided by Kali in meeting, falling in love, and marrying. ''Shaktigiti'' is Ramprasad's well known and respected work, in which he expresses his deepest feelings and love for Kali. In ''Shaktigiti'', he shares the most intimate relationship with Kali—a child who can both love and quarrel with his mother over the inequities of human birth.<ref name="Lal" />

[[Ramakrishna Paramahamsa]], a mystic of nineteenth century Bengal, often sang his songs and regarded Ramprasad as his beloved poet.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hixon|1998}}, pp. 16–17</ref><ref name="Harding_214">{{Harvnb|Harding|1998}}, p. 214</ref> Many of these songs are recorded in ''[[The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna]]'', which at one point mentions, ''"…he (Ramakrishna) would spend hours singing the devotional songs of great devotees of the Mother, such as Kamalakanta and Ramprasad. Those rhapsodic songs describing direct vision of God…''"<ref>''[[The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna]]'', by [[Swami Nikhilananda]], Introduction, ''p. 13''.</ref>[[Paramhansa Yogananda]] also was an admirer of Ramprasad and his devotional songs, frequently singing them.<ref>{{Harvnb|Satyananda|2006}}, p. 157</ref> [[Sister Nivedita]] compared Ramprasad with the English poet [[William Blake]].<ref name="Thompson-19" />

One of Ramprasad's hymns to the Goddess is as follows:<ref>{{Harvnb|Nathan|Clinton B. Seely|1982}}, p. 60</ref>
<blockquote>
<poem>
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.
</poem>
</blockquote>

Another of his popular poems describes the human attempt to understand the Goddess:<ref>{{Harvnb|Monaghan|1999}}, p. 334.</ref>

<blockquote>
<poem>
You think you understand the Goddess?
Even philosophers can not explain her.
The scriptures say that she, herself,
is the essence of us all. It is she, herself,
who brings life through her sweet will.

You think you understand her?
I can only smile, you think that you can
truly know her? I can only laugh!
But what our minds accept, our hearts do not.
Ants try to grasp the moon, we the goddess.
</poem>
</blockquote>

Ramprasad's songs are still popular in Bengal<ref name="Thompson-19">{{Harvnb|Thompson|2006}}, p. 19</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Tagore|Krishna Dutta|Andrew Robinson|1997}}, p.[https://books.google.com/books?id=v08xxlHuWtUC&pg=PA174&dq=ramprasad 175]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barrackpore.gov.in/HTM/sdobkp_profile.htm|title=Eminent Personalities|publisher=Govt. of [[Barrackpur]]|access-date=2009-05-05|quote=A poet, sensitive about his time and his songs are to be heard in practically every rural Bengali home even today.}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Lipner|1998}}, p. 261, "Ramprasad Sen, and eighteenth-century Bengali Sakta devotee of Kali who is still popular among his compatriots."</ref> and recited regularly in the worship of Kali.<ref name="Harding_214" /> Scholar Shuma Chakrovarty notes that his songs are "broadcast over the radio and sung on the streets and in the homes and temples of Calcutta by a cross-section of people—children, the elderly, housewives, businessmen, scholars, the illiterate, monks, householders, and the youth of all classes".<ref>{{Harvnb|Hixon|Jadunath Sinha|1994}}, p. 207</ref> Many of his songs were sung by popular [[Shyama Sangeet]] singers like [[Dhananjay Bhattacharya]], [[Pannalal Bhattacharya]], and [[Anup Ghoshal]]. Still his master literature combination of simple words in the songs melts one's hearts and floods the eye with tears. An [anekanta]vadin reading of Ramprasad's texts is also found.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== References ==
{{Refbegin|2}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Arnold|editor-first=Alison|title=The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2000|page=846|isbn=978-0-8240-4946-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC&pg=RA2-PA846}}
* {{cite book|last=Ayyappapanicker|first=K.|title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=1997|page=64|isbn=978-81-260-0365-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&pg=RA1-PA64}}
* {{cite book|last=Budhanananda|first=Swami|title=Ramprasad: The Melodious Mystic|publisher=[[Ramakrishna Mission Delhi|Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi]], India|year=1994|isbn=978-81-7505-240-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Harding|first=Elizabeth U. |title=Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|year=1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4woiJbQTsBQC|isbn=978-81-208-1450-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Heehs|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Heehs | title=Indian Religions: The Spiritual Traditions of South Asia : an Anthology|publisher=Orient Blackswan|year=2002|pages=620|isbn=978-81-7824-079-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXxofDbDUzAC}}
* {{cite book|last=Hixon|first=Lex|author2=Jadunath Sinha |title=Mother of the Universe|publisher=Quest Books|year=1994|isbn=978-0-8356-0702-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HzNAYrZgtekC&pg=PA205}}
* {{cite book |last=Hixon | first=Lex |author-link=Lex Hixon |title=Great Swan: Meetings With Ramakrishna |publisher=Larson Publications |location=Burdett, N.Y. |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-943914-80-0 }}
* {{cite book|last=Islam|first=Sirajul|author2=Sajahan Miah |title=Banglapedia: national encyclopedia of Bangladesh|publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh|year=2003|isbn=978-984-32-0584-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Islam|first=Sirajul|author2=Harun-or-Rashid, Aklam Hussain |title=History of Bangladesh, 1704-1971|publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh|year=1992|isbn=978-984-512-337-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Majumdar|first=Manas|editor=Mohan Lal|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Literature|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=1992|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA3912|isbn=978-81-260-1221-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Lipner|first=Julius|author-link=Julius J. Lipner|title=Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices|publisher=Routledge|year=1998|pages=392|isbn=978-0-415-05182-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Martin|first=Nancy M.|title=The Blackwell companion to Hinduism|editor=Gavin D. Flood|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|year=2003|chapter=North Indian Hindi Devotional Literature|isbn=978-0-631-21535-6}}
* {{cite book|last=McDaniel|first=June|title=Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0-19-516790-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Mondol|first=Promothonath|title=Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair : Selected Poems to the Mother Goddess, Ramprasad Sen|publisher=Hohm Press, Prescott, Arizona|year=1999|isbn=978-0-934252-94-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Monaghan|first=Patricia|title=The Goddess Companion|publisher=Llewellyn Worldwide|year=1999|isbn=978-1-56718-463-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Nathan|first=Leonard|author2=Clinton B. Seely|title=Grace and mercy in her wild hair: selected poems to the Mother Goddess|publisher=Great Eastern|year=1982|pages=[https://archive.org/details/gracemercyinherw00rama/page/73 73]|isbn=978-0-87773-761-2|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/gracemercyinherw00rama/page/73}}
* {{cite book|last=Rodrigues|first=Hillary |title=Introducing Hinduism|publisher=Routledge|year=2006|pages=416|isbn=978-0-415-39269-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Satyananda|first=Swami|title=A Collection of Biographies of 4 Kriya Yoga Gurus|publisher=iUniverse|year=2006|pages=320|isbn=978-0-595-38675-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nJcFB8iarboC}}
* {{cite book|last=Sen|first=Sukumar |title=History of Bengali Literature |url=https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.11018|publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1960|edition=3|isbn=978-81-7201-107-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Tagore|first=Rabindranath |author2=Krishna Dutta |author3=Andrew Robinson |title=Selected letters of Rabindranath Tagore|publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v08xxlHuWtUC|isbn=978-0-521-59018-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Thompson|first= Edward J.|title=Bengali Religious Lyrics, Sakta|publisher=Read Books| series = The Heritage of India| year=2006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mno5laP3AlEC|isbn=978-1-4067-9107-5}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20080509080346/http://www.pgeu.net/dirs/pge/pge06/100198/e100198-h.html Project Gutenberg etext]
* {{cite book|last=White|first=David Gordon|title=Tantra in Practice|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|year=2001|page=168|isbn=978-81-208-1778-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hayV4o50eUEC&pg=PA168}}
* {{cite book|last=Zaehner|first=R. C.|title=Hinduism|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1983|pages=[https://archive.org/details/hinduism0000zaeh/page/218 218]|isbn=978-0-19-888012-7|url=https://archive.org/details/hinduism0000zaeh/page/218}}
{{Refend}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|last=Banerjee|first=Shyamal |title=Divine Songs of Sage Poet Ramprasad|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal|date=January 2004|pages=275|isbn=978-81-215-1085-1}}
* ''Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal'', Ramprasad Sen, Translated by Rachel Fell McDermott ({{ISBN|0-195134-34-6}})

== External links ==
* {{Internet Archive author}}
* [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ramprasad-Sen Ramprasad Sen] at ''Encyclopædia Britannica''
* [http://www.poetseers.org/spiritual_and_devotional_poets/india/poems_ramprasad Poems of Ramprasad: poetseers.org]
* [http://kamdev.faithweb.com/photo.html History of Ramprasad Sen Challenged]


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sen, Ramprasad}}
[[Category:18th-century births]]
[[Category:18th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:1775 deaths]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindus]]
[[Category:18th-century Bengali poets]]
[[Category:Bengali-language writers]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindu saints]]
[[Category:Bengali male poets]]
[[Category:Hindu poets]]
[[Category:Hindu tantra]]
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]
[[Category:Shaktas]]
[[Category:Scholars from West Bengal]]
[[Category:People from North 24 Parganas district]]

Ramprasad Sen - Revision history

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