Birth and childhood:
Shri Narayan Swami was born in a Saraswat-Brahmin family in Rawalpindi district of Punjab around 1886. He was devoted to saints and Shri Radha Krishna’s devotees from His childhood, His mind seemed very less at home. He used to get divine bhavo and shed tears out of ecstasy of love-bliss from time to time after hearing the sweet glories of Vrindavan.
Education and Spiritual Life:
Shri Narayan Swami had studied in Kashi and had taken initiation from a saint named "Mukund Swami". His guru was a great devotee despite being knowledgeable, and by His inspiration, He came to Vrindavan. It is known from the first verse of Mangalacharan of His book 'Braj-Vihar'. The pada is as follows -
Bandau Sriguru Charan Kamalwar.
jinako naam sakal mangalnidhi dhyan dharat agh rahat na palbhar.
param udaar saar nigmagam bhakti gyanki khaan manohar.
narayan mohi din jaanike vaas diyo vrindavan gahi kar.
Arrival at Vrindavan:
In year 1900, His mind was restless for the sight of Shri Radha Krishna and He finally arrived at Vrindavan. The form and nectar of Shri Radha Krishna are such that whoever devotes to Them with pure heart, even once, tastes this nectar. As soon as He arrived at Vrindavan, and as soon as He had the darshan of Vrindavan's deities and various groves, He carefully and thoughtfully told his mind - 'O madman! Now you don't have to wander anywhere else. You have arrived here, now only by the slight grace of Shri Radha Krishn, you can easily cross the ocean of birth and death. He was very young and was very attractive when He arrived at Vrindavan.
Shri Narayan Swami often lived on the banks of Yamuna in Khapatiya Baba's siege on Keshighat. He did a job in the temple office of Lalababu. He used to receive only food offerings from the temple without taking a salary. So the job or Sewa, He was doing is merely for the maintenance of His body while eating the Prasada of the temple. He used to work throughout the day and watch Rasleela in the night and drinking the nectar of Shri Radha Krishna, He goes to various temples and used to compose daily various padas of Rasleela.
He always remembered Shri Radha Krishna. He used to love roaming and walking in the street of Vrindavan to get a glimpse of Shri Radha Krishna. Praise and blasphemy were the same for him. He was enlightened within some time. All his hopes from the world vanished and He started relishing this Rasa or nectar of Shri Radha Krishna more and more.
He used to say openly with the unflinching conviction that a sadhaka can remain in the state of the Akhanda Brahmajyoti (God in the form of light or Formless), only until he didn't get a glimpse of the sweet form of Nandanandan. Once someone beholds the form of Shyam Sundar, He can never turn away from the devotion of 'Sagun Sakar' [With Form]. His mind remains absorbed in His form. Shri Narayana Swami once said very naturally in the moments of separation.
Sanware Kyon Moson Risa Mani.
Tere Kaaj Gharbar Tyagi Kai Galiyan Firat Deewani.
Lok Laaj, Kulreeti Preeti Jag, Inhun Kau Diyau Pani.
‘Narayan’ Ab To Hansi Chitavaon, Ere Roop Gumani.
Meaning: O Lord Krishn, Why have you been annoyed with me? I have been wandering in the lanes of Braj intoxicated with Your love, renouncing my household. I have thrown away the false sense of social-modesty, and family decorum, material attachments etc in the water. Shri Narayan Swami says [lovingly], O arrogant one [of beauty], please cast a glance upon me with love.
He was very much inclined towards the 'Raas mandalis’ [Group who performs Raas leelas act] of Vrindavan. Many times, at Raas Mandals in Vrindavan, His padas were sung.
A few days later, He quits His job and took complete renunciation. He was very simple and generous. He never used to touch any kind of metal. He never looked at women and wealth. He followed the ethics of Vrindavan carefully. He loved Vrindavan so much that He never used to defecate on the holy land of Braj.
He composed a book called 'Braj Vihar'. There is a description of the pastimes of Shri Radha Krishna, filled with divine nectar. In some places, even the experience of succulents is seen. His pada and couplets are very preachy and succulent. He was always engrossed in the ocean of love.
Arrival at Govardhan :
In 1955, He went to Govardhan after getting disturbed by the public uproar. One day He saw the divine couple Sri Radha Krishna at Kusum Sarovar. Running behind them, He went to Govardhan, but they disappeared. He was tired and sat under a tamarind tree. After a while, He again saw Shyamashyam returning from Govardhan, then He ran after him to Kusum Sarovar, yet He could not reach to Him. He wanted to rest after being tired of running after them. But how will He rest? Sometimes He wept sobbing, sometimes He fells to the ground becoming unconscious. Crying and falling unconscious are the symptoms of divine love, as He said in His verse:
Narayan Ghati Kathin, Jahan Nehko Dham.
Vikal Murchha Siskibau, Yah Magmein Vishram.
Since Narayan swami had a vision of the divine couple at Kusum Sarovar, so He started living there at Uddhavkund. At the same time, on Phalgun Krishna Ekadashi in 1956, He entered the Divine Palace of Shri Radha Krishna forever on Kusum-Sarovar.
Literature [Compositions]:
Most of Sri Narayana Swami Ji's compositions are compiled in a book called 'Braj-Vihar'. There are also 43 Raas-Leelas in this book, which are composed by him. His compositions in couplets or Dohas are compiled in a book called 'Anurag Ras' which is a must-read for Rasopasna devotees. His famous couplet is as such:
"Do Batan Ko Bhool Mat Jo Chahat Kalyan,
Narayan Eik Mout Ko, Doojo Shri Bhagwan"
- Shri Narayan Swami, Anurag Ras (81)
Do not forget two things in life, if you really want your welfare. One is death and the other is God. Do not wait or procrastinate.