On February 7, 1921, on the new moon day of the month of Magha, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja was born in a highly educated and respected Brahmin family in the village of Tiwari Pur in the Buxar district of Bihar, India. He was named Sriman Narayana. His parents were devoted Vaishnavas of the Sri Sampradaya, and from early childhood, his father regularly took him to Ramayana recitations, which he loved. His devotional nature was evident from a very young age.

In 1945, a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura named Srila Narottamananda Brahmachari was traveling and preaching the message of Lord Chaitanya in the Tiwari Pur area. Sriman Narayana became deeply inspired by the pure philosophy of the acharyas in the line of Srila Rupa Gosvami. In 1946, he traveled to Sri Navadvipa Dham in West Bengal, where he met Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. He received both harinama and diksha initiation from him and was given the name Gaura Narayana. He accompanied his spiritual master on extensive preaching tours throughout India, serving him personally and actively assisting in his preaching work. He also took part in organizing the annual Navadvipa Dham and Vraja Mandala pilgrimages, which later attracted thousands of devotees from around the world.

Because Gaura Narayana always served Vaishnavas in a loving and respectful way, his spiritual master gave him the title "Bhakta-bandhava," meaning "dear friend of the devotees."

His respectful and affectionate relationships with his two godbrothers, Sajjana-sevaka Brahmachari and Radhanatha Das, were exemplary. These three senior Vaishnavas jointly took responsibility for their spiritual master's mission, working in harmony throughout their lives. In 1952, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja awarded them all sannyasa (renounced order). Gaura Narayana became Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, Sajjana-sevaka became Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja, and Radhanatha Das became Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Gosvami Maharaja.

In 1954, Srila Kesava Maharaja entrusted Gaura Narayana with the responsibility of managing the newly opened Keshavaji Gaudiya Math in Mathura. The temple flourished, as the people of Vraja experienced his genuine care and spiritual leadership. For the next fourteen years, Narayana Maharaja divided his time between Mathura and Bengal. He also began organizing the annual Kartika Vraja Mandala pilgrimage, which continued until 2010. By his mercy, these pilgrimages are still held every year.

In 1968, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja left this world and entered the eternal pastimes of Radha and Krishna. Srila Narayana Maharaja performed all the necessary rituals for his samadhi ceremony.

Srila Kesava Maharaja had appointed him as the Vice-President of the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti and the Editor-in-Chief of its Hindi publications and the monthly magazine Bhagavata Patrika. He also instructed him to translate the writings of prominent Gaudiya Vaishnavas into Hindi—a task Narayana Maharaja diligently carried out throughout his life. His efforts led to the publication of more than fifty Hindi books, which are now being translated into many major world languages. His discourses in Hindi, Bengali, and English were recorded and are being transcribed and published.

A major relationship in Narayana Maharaja’s life was with Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the world-renowned preacher and founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). They first met in Calcutta in 1948 during the opening of a new branch of the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. Srila Prabhupada accepted sannyasa from Srila Kesava Maharaja in 1959. Later, Narayana Maharaja rendered great service by helping guide and spiritually support many of Prabhupada’s disciples around the world.

Because Narayana Maharaja had deep realizations of the pastimes of Radha and Krishna—along with complete philosophical understanding—his teachings were filled with affection and compassion. Those who heard his spiritual talks felt protected from material suffering and inspired in their devotional practice. His chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra during initiations had a deeply transformative effect. He became known across Vraja and around the world for awakening deep devotion in the hearts of many.

For more than fifty years, Narayana Maharaja lived a pure and devoted life, fully dedicated to serving his spiritual master, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and the Divine Couple, Radha and Krishna.

He traveled throughout India to spread Gaudiya Vaishnavism. In the mid-1980s, the first Western devotees began to seek his guidance. In 1996, responding to their repeated requests, he traveled to Europe and America. Over the next fourteen years, he circled the globe more than thirty times. Whether in India or abroad, his preaching emphasized the true purpose of Lord Chaitanya’s appearance, in full alignment with the vision of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and the teachings of Srila Rupa Gosvami. In this way, he upheld the principles of the Gaudiya tradition as a true acharya.

One of the most touching qualities of his preaching was his deep affection for everyone. As an exalted devotee, he reached into people’s hearts, giving them the assurance that he was their eternal well-wisher. This love was experienced by all who met him, and it served as proof of his position as a genuine representative of the Lord. He showed equal love to everyone—regardless of whether someone was his disciple, the disciple of another guru, or from a different path entirely. His divine love had no limits.

At the age of ninety, on December 29, 2010, at 3:00 a.m., in Chakra Tirtha, Jagannath Puri Dham, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja left this world. That day happened to be the appearance day of his dear godbrother, Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja. The next day, in Navadvipa Dham, he was placed in samadhi. As the empowered representative of Lord Chaitanya’s mercy, he continues to live on through his teachings and in the hearts of those who follow him. He used to say, "Do not think that I will ever leave you—never, ever—I am always with you."

With humility and longing for his mercy, we bow at his lotus feet and pray for the blessing to always serve him in some way

For further information, please see the following references and lectures:

1. A brief autobiography:
   Impressions of Bhakti
2. Acarya Kesari – His Life and Teachings
3. Krti Ratna
4. When Kindness and Compassion Take Form
5. Life of Humble Service
6. Bhagavat Patrika
7. Hindi Bhakti Books
8. Letters from America
9. My Siksa Guru and Priya Bandhu
10. Our Gurus: One in Siddhanta, One in Heart
11. Their Lasting Relation
12. Raising the Divine Temple of the Bhagavat:
    Rays of The Harmonist – Karttika 2007