Hindu Poet - Kamalakanta


Kamalakanta was born in Burdwan India in the late 18th Century. From an early age he expressed an interest in spirituality and later in life Kamalakanta received initiation into Tantric Yoga from a Tantric yogi named Kenaram Bhattacharya. His songs made him famous during his lifetime and because of his fame as a singer poet the Maharaja of Burdwan, Tej Chandra asked Kamalakanta to be his Guru. Kamalakanta became a great devotee of Kali and composed many impassioned and devotional love poems to the Mother.

It is said that the Divine Mother in her aspect of Mahakali wishes her sincere devotees to make the fastest progress. Kali is often depicted as the great destroyer of ignorance and hostile forces. The poetry of Kamalakanta displays this heroic attitude of imploring Kali to destroy limitations and bondage. The poetry of Kamalakanta also displays a profound faith in his all powerful Kali.

"The earth quakes under Your leaps and bounds.
You are frightful with that sword in Your hand ."

Whilst Kali is often depicted as a black and terrifying form, this however is just one aspect of hers as a destroyer of ignorance. Kamalakanta also alludes to the other aspect of Kali as he states in his poem - "Is my Mother Really Black?"

"If She's black,
how can She light up the world?
Sometimes my Mother is white,
sometimes yellow, blue, and red.
I cannot fathom Her.
My whole life has passed
trying. "

The poems of Kamalakanta and Ramprasad were later sung by Sri Ramakrishna, who himself was a great devotee of the Divine Mother.These devotional songs would often send Sri Ramakrishna into an ecstatic state as he became absorbed in contemplation of the Divine Mother. Many of these songs are recorded in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.

Richard Pettinger
http://www.poetseers.org/


MORE RESOURCES:

findingDulcinea

Bards at the Inaugural Gates
Wall Street Journal - 10 hours ago
Ms. Alexander comes from a political and academic family and is a champion of politically engaged poetry. Her father, Clifford L. Alexander Jr., ...
Elizabeth Alexander, President-elect Obama’s inaugural poet findingDulcinea
all 2 news articles


Poetry reading to honor Paul Cuffe
SouthCoastToday.com, MA - 9 hours ago
To mark the 250th anniversary of his birth, there will be a poetry reading in the "Ocean Voices" series, 7 pm Jan. 13, at New Bedford's Ocean Explorium. ...
Hoagland to give reading at explorium SouthCoastToday.com
all 2 news articles


From Mary's viewpoint
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 40 minutes ago
She will also be a guest on Bill Minor's Poetry Show from 9-10 pm Sunday on KUSP. Bill Minor, a visual artist as well as poet, will also appear at Capitola ...


FREE AND CHEAP / Memorial poetry reading for John Stone
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 13 hours ago
A free poetry reading at Callanwolde will celebrate the life and work of John Stone, an Atlanta physician well-known for achieving balance between science ...


Tucson weekend: Wooden Ball, Craig Ferguson, poetry slam and reggae
Arizona Daily Star, AZ - 2 hours ago
Spoken-word competitors will step to the mic at 7 pm Saturday for Ocotillo Poetry Slam’s “The Coronation Slam.” Featuring JW Baz and hosted by reigning slam ...


Pelham Library Announces Political Poetry Prize Contest
Westchester.com, NY - 10 hours ago
Pelham, NY - The James J. Nicholson Political Poetry Prize enters its second year with a new judge and an expanded contest. There will be three competitions ...


Edmundson's January Term Class Offers the Gift of Poetry
University of Virginia, VA - 10 hours ago
January 9, 2009 — It takes only seven days to begin to learn to read poetry well, said University of Virginia English professor Mark Edmundson. ...


Students sought for poetry contest
Statesman Journal, OR - 4 hours ago
SALEM — Students 5 to 18 years old may enter Mission Mill Museum's fifth annual Victorian Valentine's Day Poetry Contest, part of the museum's celebration ...


New York Daily News

Gloomy Poetry: Governor does his best with a disheartening message
The Post-Standard - Syracuse.com, NY - Jan 8, 2009
David Paterson tried to stir them Wednesday with poetry and calls for shared sacrifice. At the start of his meticulously memorized, hour-long speech, ...
Governor Says New York Is in a Perilous Situation New York Times
If only Paterson's plan was as good as his fancy words New York Daily News
A call for greatness Albany Times Union
Albany Times Union
all 479 news articles


KTRU pick of the week: Poetry on Record: 98 Poets Read Their Work
The Rice Thresher, TX - 14 hours ago
Poetry on Record features a diverse collection of poetry on four discs chock full of readings by the poets themselves. The poetry ranges from incomplete ...

Poetry - Google News

Home | Articles Site Map