on a par with the Jewish and Christian traditions
and as a fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy. He also
believed that his movement would lead to the
harmonization of all religions. Though he referred
to himself as Jesudas, servant of Jesus, he empha-
sized Christ’s Asiatic character and saw Christ in a
VEDANTIC light as the one god, who is worshipped
under different names by all those who worship
God.
He died on January 8, 1884.
Further reading: Keshub Chunder Sen in England: Dia-
ries, Sermons, Addresses and Epistles (Calcutta: Writers
Workshop, 1980); Glyn Richards, ed., A Source Book of
Modern Hinduism (London: Curzon Press, 1985); David
C. Scott, ed., Keshub Chunder Sen: A Selection (Madras:
Christian Literature, 1979).
Sen, Ramprasad (c. 1718–c. 1780) Bengali
poet-saint and Kali devotee
Ramprasad Sen, who is often referred to by his
first name alone, was a beloved Bengali poet-saint,
whose songs are known to every Bengali.
As for many of the poet-saints of India the
details of his life are intermixed with myth. Simi-
larly, as with KABIR, his name and fame impelled
other writers to compose many beautiful verses
in homage to his works, particularly his collec-
tion of songs known as Padabali. His other major
attributed works are Bidyasundar, Kalikirttan, and
Krishnakirttan.
Ramprasad was probably born to a higher-
caste Vaidya family of traditional physicians,
possibly BRAHMINS. He was educated in SANSKRIT
and in Persian in addition to Bengali. He is said to
have lived in the village of Kumarhatt, also known
as Halishore, on the banks of the GANGES not far
from Calcutta (Kolkata). It seems certain that he
was patronized by the contemporary king, Maha-
raja Krishnachandra Ray Bahadur.
Ramprasad started out as a clerk for a wealthy
household in or near Calcutta. It is said that
he was constantly distracted from his duties by
thoughts of the GODDESS DURGA or KALI. Legend
says that one of his employers, upon seeing his
beautiful verses to the goddess in his account
books, told him to cease being an accountant and
offered him a salary simply to continue compos-
ing devotional verse.
Legend also says that when Ramprasad was a
little over 60 years old, he announced that on the
day when the goddess was going to be immersed
in the Ganges (either Kali or Durga Puja day), he
also would be immersed with the Divine Mother.
It is said that he slowly descended into the river,
singing some of his farewell songs. He died sing-
ing a song to the goddess Tara.
In one of the amazing stories associated with
Ramprasad he accompanied the maharajah on
a journey on the Ganges. As usual he was sing-
ing his devotional songs. The Muslim ruler of
the area happened to overhear the song and was
enchanted by it. The ruler requested Ramprasad
to sing for him so Ramprasad sang a song in Mus-
lim style. The Nawab, the Muslim ruler, was not
pleased and asked him to sing a song to Kali. The
Muslim was moved to tears and offered patron-
age and high rank to Ramprasad, who declined
them.
Most importantly Ramprasad is a central fig-
ure in the revival of Shaktism (see SHAKTA) or
goddess worship in late 18th-century Bengal. His
works typically show him drunk or mad with the
goddess, and he cannot live without her. His work
shows strong TANTRIC influence.
Ramprasad’s poems to the goddess see her as
a daughter, as a fierce wife of SHIVA, as the Divine
Mother, and as his own mother. His sentiment
in regard to her is very close to that of another
famous Bengali, RAMAKRISHNA.Further reading: Lex Hixon, Mother of the Universe:
Visions of the Goddess and Tantric Hymns of Enlighten-
ment (Wheaton, Ill.: Quest Books, 1994); Malcolm
McLean, Devoted to the Goddess: The Life and Work
of Ramprasad (Albany: State University of New York
Press, 1998); J. McDaniel, Madness of the Saints:Sen, Ramprasad 395 J