Narhari reached Badrika Forest, performed deep penance and then came to Banaras (Kashi, Varanasi). While in Banaras, he started practising devotion, worship and meditation. He maintained himself by collecting alms. In addition, Narahari gained so much expertise in Vedas, Upanishad,[1] and Puranas[2] that even the eminent learned men of Banaras started respecting him for his calibre. Though he was very young the learned men treated him as a senior most ascetic.
In Banaras, there was an elderly Guru named Krishna-Saraswati. He initiated Narhari according to rites prescribed by the scriptures. After his initiation, young Narahari became the super ascetic, Sri Narasinha Saraswati. He initiated major activities for the upliftment of religion and the welfare of mankind in Banaras.
Sri Narasinha Saraswati started for his pilgrimage after taking the kind permission and blessings from his Guru. After staying in Badrikavan[3] for some time, he came to the Sangama (Calcutta) and wandering around he reached Prayag[4]. There he came across a worthy disciple, Madhav. Both wandered together and later, Sri Narasinha Saraswati Swamiji (i.e. Sriguru) initiated Madhav. He named him as Madhav Saraswati. Madhav became the favourite disciple of Sriguru. Sriguru then went along with his seven disciples on pilgrimage and travelled through all the holy places in the country, Bharat. It was nearing thirty years since he had left home. Hence Sriguru thought of returning to his native place and meet his parents as promised.
[1] Upanishad: 108 Philosophical treatises that appear within Vedas. The Upanishads are part of the Hindu Shruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy and are seen as religious instructions by most forms of Hinduism. The very edifice of Indian religions (Hinduism,Jainism,and Budhism) is built on the strong foundation of the Upanishads. The Upanishads are mystic or spiritual interpretations on the Vedas, their putative end and essence, and thus known as Vedānta (“the end of the Vedas”).
[2] Puranas: The Puranas (Sanskrit, purāná “ancient”, since they focus on ancient history of the universe) are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss varied topics like devotion to God in his various aspects, traditional sciences like Ayurveda, Jyotish, cosmology, concepts like dharma, karma, reincarnation and many others. The sage Vyasa is credited with compilation of Puranas from age (yuga) to age, and for the current age he has been identified and named Krishna Dvaipayana, the son of the sage Parashara.According to tradition the Puranas were written by Vyasa at the end of Dvapara Yuga. One of the main objectives of the Puranas was to make available the essence of the Vedas to the common man, and the Puranas were basically meant not for the scholars but for the ordinary man. They bring forth the Vedic knowledge and teachings by way of parables, allegories, stories, legends, life stories of kings and other prominent persons, and chronologies of historical events. The Puranas unfold the principles of Hinduism in a simple way.
Puranas are named after the three main forms of Brahman: Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Protector of Life and Humanity; and Shiva, the Destroyer.
Brahma Puranas: Brahma Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Markandeya Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Vamana Purana.
Vishnu Puranas: (Harivansh) Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Naradeya Purana, Garuda Purana, Padma Purana, Varaha Purana.
Shiva Puranas: Shiva Purana, Vayu purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana, Matsya Purana, Kurma purana.
Apart from the above mentioned eighteen major Puranas, there are an equal number of subsidiary Puranas, called Upapuranas. They are: Sanatkumara, Narasimha, Brihannaradiya, Sivarahasya, Durvasa, Kapila, Vamana, Bhargava, Varuna, Kalika, Samba, Nandi, Surya, Parasara, Vasishtha, Devi-Bhagavata, Ganesa and Hamsa.
[3] Badrikavan: Badrika Forest
[4] Prayag: New name – Alahabad in Uttar Pradesh