O! when will be the day
We chant your name,
That tears will flow down from our eyes,
Our hearts will bloom like lotus,
And, darkness of the mind will be dispelled.

O Divine Mother
when will we give up all feelings of difference,
All pain and misery will leave our hearts.
Truth, O dear truth prevail!
O formless Mother be our shelter,
Take away the darkness
of ignorance from our eyes.

​-Ramprasad
English Adaptation by Jeanette Kangas
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Ramprasad
1720-1794

Ramprasad was born around 1720 in the village of Kumarhatta in West Bengal. His father, an Ayurvedic practitioner, had Ramprasad tutored in several languages.

Ramprasad became immersed in devotional poetry and music so much so that he wrote songs in ledger books where he worked as a clerk. Upon discovery, he was sent back to his village with a monthly stipend to support his poetry.
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Ramprasad’s deep devotion to the Divine Mother in her many forms was a focus of his poems. His unique combining of devotional songs with classical melodies, Baul style, and kirtan came to be known as Ramprasadi in Bangla music.

Sacred Songs of India
Translated V. K. Subramanian
©2003 
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Mystic Poet: Ramprasad

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