Swami Hariram was a spiritual poet and classical musician. He is credited with a large body of devotional compositions, especially in the Dhrupad style . His work influenced both the classical music and the Bhakti movements of North India, especially those devoted to Krishna's consort Radha. Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu, Swami Haridas, Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya, Vitthalnath (Gusainji), and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu were his contemporaries.
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Legend
One of the stories about Hariram Vyas was told by the court pandit of Orcha. Coming to Vrindavan, Swami Hariram Vyas found the association of Hit Harivams Goswami and fell in love with Vrindavan and Radha Krishna. He decided to give up material life and stay in the Dham and do bhajan and so sent word to the king of Orcha. The king implored him to return to do his worldly duties at the court.
“What is better, acting for one’s own benefit or for the benefit of a great number of people in society?” The king challenged. “Is not your wish to remain in Vrindavan merely your own selfish desire?”
Hariram Vyas accepted the king’s logic, but his heart could not agree. He said, “You are right, but I will only go if my friend Hit Harivams Goswami, allows me to go, for it is from him that the desire to stay here has come.”
The king sent ministers to the Goswami and Harivans did indeed tell Hariram Vyas to tend to his worldly duties until they released him. This upset Hariram, who had become attached to his life of musical devotion, writing poetry and absorption in Radha and Krishna’s name, forms and pastimes. Devastated, he began to prepare to leave the Dham.
As one last act in the Dham, the tearful Hariram came to the Radha Vallabha temple that had already closed after the midday meal. There he saw a sweeper woman standing at the doorstep with a leaf plate of prasadam from Radha Vallabha. When Hariram saw her and the prasad, he immediately begged some of it from her, and she reluctantly ceded some of her touched food to the Brahmin.
The minister and envoys from Orcha were there waiting for Hariram to finish his prayers and get on their way, but when they saw him taking food from an outcaste woman, they concluded that he had lost his caste, and returned without him.
Songs
Songs based on the literature written by Shri Hariram Vyas were written around 504 years ago.