Devotional poet and lyricist
कवि नारायण अग्रवाल 'दास नारायण'
Devotional poet and lyricist. 49 years of Krishna-bhakti verse, sung by India's greatest voices.
दास नारायण
१About
Kavi Narayan Agrawal "Das Narayan", 80, has given 49 unbroken years to devotional poetry. Born in Prayagraj on 5 June 1946, he has written over 1000 bhakti padas and bhajans, of which 521 stand officially released as per the IPRSL 2018 report. He continues the lineage of Surdas, Kabir, Tulsidas and Mira, writing Krishna-bhakti padas in the sant tradition, in language today's devotee understands.
His work carries recognition from the highest offices of India. On 11 August 2017, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi personally released his album "Gopala Ko Samarpan" (Zee Music). Former Prime Minister Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao honoured him on stage as "Bhajan Ratna of India" for "Raga - Mohan Gandhi", his composition for Mahatma Gandhi's 125th birth anniversary, and former President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma described him as the ambassador of the sant-kavi tradition in the modern age.
The greatest names of Indian music have sung or set his words: Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, Pt. Jasraj, Kishori Amonkar, Jagjit Singh, Hari Om Sharan, Anup Jalota and Anuradha Paudwal. Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan composed the tunes of 8 of his bhajans, and Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia has given music to 15. Smt. Hema Malini Ji has recorded over 20 of his bhajans on Zee Music and Times Music (2017-2025).
His work continues undiminished at 80: four albums on Janmashtami 2024, the "Mahakumbh" album and two Clef Music Awards in 2025, the "Vrindavan" dance ballet, and in 2026 the published compilation "Krishna Bhakti Pad". His bhajans are sung daily in homes, temples and satsangs across India and abroad, including the satsangs of Pujya Morari Bapu and Baba Ramdev. He wears plain white, lives simply, and says God gives him the words.
Born on 5 June in Prayagraj.
"Best Scout" honour from Dr. Rajendra Prasad, first President of India, at Hindi Vidyapeeth Prayag.
M.A. (Hindi), D.S.B. Govt College, Nainital, Agra University.
His first devotional albums; international distribution of his work begins.
Begins hosting the annual Radha Krishna Utsav at ISKCON Juhu.
Trophy for his contribution to the Radha Krishna Utsav, in the 25th year of ISKCON.
"Jantra", his padas in the voice of Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi.
Jagjit Singh's "Das Narayan's Nivedan", titled with the poet's own name, launched at ISKCON Juhu with composer Khayyam.
"Nivedan", every bhajan his, wins Best Devotional Album at the GiMA Awards.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi releases "Gopala Ko Samarpan" on 11 August.
"Vidya Vaachaspati" sarasvat samman, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Hindi Vidyapeeth, Vrindavan.
Two Clef Music Awards; the "Vrindavan" ballet staged by Sudha Chandran in Nagpur.
"Krishna Bhakti Pad" (Vani Prakashan) launched by Smt. Hema Malini Ji at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
२Sung by legends
For five decades, the summit of Indian classical and devotional music has lent its voice to his padas.
३Works
A selection from five decades of recordings and publications.
Personally released by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 11 August 2017. Every song written by Kavi Narayan Agrawal. The album marked Smt. Hema Malini Ji's debut as a bhajan singer, with music by Pt. Jasraj, Rajan-Sajan Mishra, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and Pt. Shivkumar Sharma.
Released by the Prime Minister of India
Jagjit Singh's devotional album titled with the poet's own name, his photograph on the cover. Launched at ISKCON Juhu with composer Khayyam. The album, every bhajan his, won Best Devotional Album at the GiMA Awards 2012.
GiMA 2012, Best Devotional Album
"Kavivar Das Narayan Ke Krishna Bhakti-Pad", a compilation of his bhakti padas, edited by Dr. Umesh Chandra Sharma. ISBN 9789373489506. Launched by Smt. Hema Malini Ji at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
With Anup Jalota and Hema Malini. Its song "Ganga Ji Ko Swach Rakhenge" won him the Clef Music Award for "Devotional - Best Lyricist", awarded by name.
Clef Music Awards 2025
Written, conceived and directed by him, every bhakti pada his own. Staged by Sudha Chandran and her troupe, Nagpur, 22 September 2025.
Devotional album in the voice of Jagjit Singh.
Hema Malini's devotional album on Times Music.
His padas in the voice of Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi.
In the voice of Rekha Bhardwaj.
His bhajans set to tunes by Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, sung by Dr. Soma Ghosh.
A single by Smt. Hema Malini Ji with Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia (Zee Music, 2020), dedicated to Shri Ram.
Also: four albums launched at ISKCON Juhu on Janmashtami 2024 ("Mein Krishna Ke Gun Gaon" and "Krishna Krishna Krishna" on Zee Music, two on Bhakti Sagar), and "Shri Ram Chandra Kripalu Bhajman" (N A Classical), Clef Music Award 2025 for "Devotional - Best Album". With Ustad Rashid Khan's "One & Only One Rashid", his label N A Classical won Best Hindustani Classical Album - Vocal at the GiMA Awards 2014.
४Honours
From the highest offices of the Republic, and from five decades of music, literature and seva.
Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi personally released "Gopala Ko Samarpan" (Zee Music), every song written by Kavi Narayan Agrawal. Documented in Zee Entertainment's official press release.
Conferred on stage by former Prime Minister Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao for "Raga - Mohan Gandhi", composed for Mahatma Gandhi's 125th birth anniversary and sung by Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna.
Described him as the ambassador of the sant-kavi tradition in the modern age.
Honoured as "Best Scout" by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, first President of India, at Hindi Vidyapeeth Prayag; acknowledged as "First President's Scout of India" by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Trophy for outstanding contribution to ISKCON's Radha Krishna Utsav 1991, presented in the 25th year of ISKCON (1966-1991), Bombay.
"Bhajan Ratna of India", conferred on stage by former Prime Minister Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao, for "Raga - Mohan Gandhi" (Mahatma Gandhi's 125th birth anniversary).
"Charanamrit" trophy by Pen Audio, marking 50 years of Indian Independence.
"Shraist Bhakt Kavi Trophy", conferred by Bharat Ratna Smt. Lata Mangeshkar, The Oberoi, Mumbai.
"Kavi Shiromani Trophy" (Saraswati Award), conferred by Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Nehru Centre, Mumbai.
"Pratham Bhakt Kavi Trophy", conferred by Pt. Jasraj Ji.
"Kavi Shreshth" Award, Satsang Sarita, Mumbai, conferred by Pt. Purushottam Das Jalota Ji.
"Rashtriya Mahamandaleshwar Samman", Surat, Gujarat.
Samman Samaroh in his honour as "Suprasiddh Geetkar Narayan Agrawal 'Narayan'", in the presence of Ghazal Samrat Ghulam Ali, Samachar, Nagpur, 14 May 2004.
"Shri Bhav Bhaveshwar Rashtriya Samman 2012", Shri Sadgurudev Swami Akhandanand Memorial Charitable Trust, Barumal, Gujarat, presided by Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vigyananand Saraswati, Basant Panchami, 28 January 2012.
GiMA Awards 2012, "Best Devotional Album": Jagjit Singh's "Nivedan" (ASA Music), the album, every bhajan his, won.
"Best Hindustani Classical Album - Vocal", Gionee Star GiMA Awards 2014, won by N A Classical for "One & Only One Rashid" by Ustad Rashid Khan.
Honour on the 118th Jayanti of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON.
"Prabhupad Bhakti Kala Kshetra Sarvoch Samman", ISKCON's highest honour for devotional arts, for 40 years of service at ISKCON Juhu.
Felicitation trophy, SHE (Spirituality for Health & Environment) Alliance, "Mumbai LifeYaatra Samagam", 21 April 2023, felicitated by Hon'ble Governor of Gujarat Shri Acharya Devvrat Ji, Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Mumbai.
"Most Promising Devotional Poet of India", Pillars of Maharashtra Awards Vol. II (IEMS and IIEF), in the presence of Smt. Usha Mangeshkar, 10 June 2023.
"Vidya Vaachaspati" sarasvat samman, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Hindi Vidyapeeth, Vrindavan Dham, Mathura, 28 January 2024.
"Agra Gaurav Samman", International Dwitiya Agra Vibhuti Alankaran Samaroh 2025, International Agrawal Sammelan (Regd.), Kolkata, at Shyam Arpan, Chhattisgarh Bhavan, Khatu Shyamji (Rajasthan), 12 June 2025.
Clef Music Award, "Devotional - Best Lyricist", awarded to him by name for "Ganga Ji Ko Swach Rakhenge" (Mahakumbh), 5th Clef Music Awards by Radioandmusic.com, The Westin Garden City, Mumbai, 19 September 2025.
Clef Music Award, "Devotional - Best Album", for "Shri Ram Chandra Kripalu Bhajman" (N A Classical Audio Cassettes Co.), 19 September 2025.
५In their words
"नारायण जी की वाणी से अमृत वर्षा होती है; ऐसा लगता है कोई आकाशवाणी हो रही है।"
Nectar showers from Narayan Ji's words; it feels as if a voice from the heavens is speaking.
"नारायण जी की सिद्ध वाणी है।"
Narayan Ji's words are siddha, perfected.
"यह कृति ब्रज साहित्य की अमूल्य धरोहर"
"A priceless heritage of Braj literature."
The ambassador of the sant-kavi tradition in the modern age.
In paraphrase.
"Devotion isn't about renouncing the world, it is about living a balanced and meaningful life."
६Gallery
७Press and verification
Every major claim on this site can be verified at the links below.
Artist pages on every major platform, plus the label and reference pages.
Clippings from Jagran, Amar Ujala, Lokmat, Navbharat, Dainik Bhaskar, National Express and others. Click any clipping to read it.
22 September 2025: the Lokmat group carried full-page interviews in English, Hindi and Marathi, including Lokmat Times, "Das Narayan embodies rare fusion of devotion, literature".
८Seva
For 40 years he has served ISKCON Juhu selflessly, and has hosted its annual Radha Krishna Utsav since 1985. His contribution to the 1991 Utsav was honoured with a trophy marking 25 years of ISKCON.
Through COVID-19 he moved the Utsav online, so the annual gathering never broke its chain at a time when isolated families needed devotional solace most.
At the personal request of Dr. Vijay Darda, Chairman of the Lokmat Media Group, he wrote the Lokmat Sakhi Manch anthem "Aao Sakhi Milkar Gaayein Mangal Gaan", with music by Uttam Singh, sung by Preeti Uttam Singh. He declined all payment, calling it social service.
On 28 June 2025 he lent his poetry to four initiatives launched with the SHE Alliance, Om Sanatan Trust and Har Ghar Gau Seva:
Temple of Mental Peace. He also gives "Temple of Mental Peace" talks, 90-minute sessions drawing on the sant tradition, for organisations, schools and private gatherings.
९Contact
For programmes, press and recordings, please write to
kavinarayanagrawal@gmail.comFor the label, N A Classical Audio Cassettes Co.: naclassical@hotmail.com
N A Classical Audio Cassettes Co., the label he founded, which produced the four Vedas in audio form. Mumbai, India.
