When he arrived in Sri Navadvipa Dhama, the annual parikrama was under way and he joined with the group. On Phalguni Gaura Purnima, 1947, Paramaradhyatama Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami gave him harinama and diksa. From then on he was known by the name Sri Gaura-Narayana. After that, seeing his interest in hearing harikatha, Srila Gurudeva engaged him in his service. Very soon Srila Gurudeva also awarded him with the title Bhaktabandhava, which means 'friend of the devotees', because he was always serving all the Vaisnavas in a very pleasing manner.

When Srila Kesava Maharaja went somewhere for preaching or other special tasks, he always kept Sri Gaura-Narayana with him. On one occasion, Srila Gurupadapadma had him take care of Gurudeva´s dear servant, Sri Anangamohana Brahmacari, when he became sick. But after Anangamohana left this world, Gurudeva again kept Sri Gaura-Narayana with him.

Travelling and preaching bhakti with Srila Guru Maharaja throughout the length and breadth of the subcontinent provided an excellent opportunity for him to hear hari-katha. Sri Gurudeva was also very happy to train him in bhakti-tattva.

He had the rare opportunity to perform parikrama with Srila Gurudeva of all the major places of pilgrimage in North, South, East and West India and to hear the glories of the dhamas. Especially significant were Sri Brajamandala, Sri Gaura-mandala and Sri Ksetra-mandala, which are the sacred places of Sri Krishna and Sri Gaurasundara, who is radiant with the mood and lustre of Sri Radha.

Once, when Srila Gurudeva was sitting with one of his Godbrothers, Sri Gaura-Narayana was also sitting nearby. Paramaradhyatama Sri Gurudeva looked in Sri Gaura-Narayana's direction and said, "I want to give you the red cloth of sannyasa. I have seen many non-Bengali Indians; they don't understand the profound depth of Sriman Mahaprabhu's elevated bhakti-siddhanta, especially prema-tattva. But you have taken to heart these moods in a very unsophisticated way. Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatana and our many Gaudiya Vaisnavas acaryas remained many days in Braja, but they could not find any bhakta from North India who could take to heart Sriman Mahaprabhu's inner moods. You are very fortunate."

Weeping, Sri Gaura-Narayanaji fell at the lotus feet of his guru and with great humility said, "I devote myself fully to your lotus feet. I am removing everything-the attachment of my mother, the affection of my father, the love of my wife and the friendship of my friends-and I am offering it at your lotus feet. You can keep me naked, dressed in a loincloth, in a white cloth, in a red cloth, or you can give me sannyasa. Keep me in the way which is auspicious for me. Now I solely belong to you."

Hearing his words, Sri Gurudeva's eyes also brimmed with tears. He looked at Sripada Sanatana Prabhu, who had also heard Sri Gaura-Narayana's words and was stunned. What Srila Gurudeva determined after this was only known to him. He was quiet for some time, the he continued with his hari-katha. Some time later, on Gaura Purnima in 1952, Sripada Gaura-Narayana Dasadhikari was given tridanda sannyasa and became known as Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja.

In 1954 Srila Kesava Maharaja posted him in charge of the newly opened temple in Mathura named Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha. Srila Narayana Maharaja began to spend part of the year in Mathura and the other part in Bengal, carrying on extensive services in both areas. This went on over the period of the next fourteen years. He was also appointed by Srila Kesava Maharaja as Vice-President of his institution, the Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti, and Editor-in-Chief of its Hindi publications and the monthly magazine Sri Bhagavat Patrika.

In 1968 Srila Kesava Maharaja passed from this world, and Srila Narayana Maharaja performed all the necessary ceremonial rituals for his samadhi burial. During this time period, as a humble servitor of the Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti, Srila Narayana Maharaja also began to organize the annual Karttika Vraja Mandala Parikrama, which he continues to carry on up to the present day.