27-584: Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh (5 November 1927 – 25 December 2000) was the king of Benares , a city considered holy, located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh . He was the last Bhumihar king of the Kingdom of Kashi . Vibhuti Narayan Singh was born on 5 November 1927. He was adopted in June 1934 by Maharaja Aditya Narayan Singh (1874–1939), the King of Benares . The day after
54-722: A colourful pageant, the Kashi Naresh rides an elephant at the head of the procession. Then, resplendent in silk and brocade, he inaugurates the month-long folk theatre of Ramlila at Ramnagar . The Ramlila is a cycle of plays which recounts the epic story of Lord Rama , as told in Ramcharitmanas , the version of the Ramayana written by Tulsidas . The plays, sponsored by the Maharaja, are performed in Ramnagar every evening for 31 days. On
81-543: A decisive advantage when the dynasty faced a rival and the nominal suzerain, the Nawab of Oudh , in the 1750s and the 1760s. An exhausting guerrilla war , waged by the Benares ruler against the Oudh camp, using his troops, forced the Nawab to withdraw his main force .This victory further strengthened the control over his domains. Benares became a princely state in 1911. It was given
108-502: A population of 245,817, out of which males were 131,534 and females were 114,283. The population in the age range of 0–6 years was 29,619. The effective literacy rate of the population 7 years and above was 77.85 per cent. As of 2001 India census Vindyachal and Mirzapur were together considered a single census entity: a municipal board tagged as ' Mirzapur-cum-Vindhyachal '. It had a population of 205,264, of which males were 109,872 and females 95,392. The population between 0 to 6 years
135-586: A time, the whole area was covered by a forest of Badari trees. (Badari is called 'Bel' or 'ber' in Hindi, and 'Jujube' in English). Badari is a thorny bush- like tree which gives small sweet and sour fruits. Since Vyasa lived among the Badari trees, he was also called 'Baadarayana' (a person who moved among the badari bushes). People who go on pilgrimage to Kasi does not fail to visit Vyasa Kasi. They travel through boats that ply on
162-577: Is a renowned religious city dedicated to the goddess Vindhyavasini (daughter of Yashoda - Nanda ). Vindhyavasini is believed to be the instant bestower of benediction. The Vindhyavasini Devi Temple is situated 8 km from Mirzapur, on the banks of the holy river Ganga. It is one of the most revered Siddhapeeths of Vindhyavasini. The temple is visited by a large number of people daily. Big congregations are held during Navratras in Chaitra (April) and Ashwin (October) months. Kajali competitions are held in
189-568: The Mughal Empire 's disintegration. His descendants ruled the area around Benares after liberation from Awadh and later as feudatories of East India Company . In 1910, Benares became a full-fledged state of India . The state was merged in India after India's independence in 1947, but even today the Kashi Naresh (the titular ruler) is highly respected by the people of Varanasi . The Ruler of Benaras
216-566: The Benares zamindari became Banaras State, thus Balwant Singh of the Narayan dynasty gained control of the territories and declared himself Maharaja of Benares in 1740. The strong clan organization on which they rested, brought success to the lesser known Hindu princes. There were as many as 100,000 Bhumihar Brahmin clansmen backing the power of the Benares rajas in what later became the districts of Benares , Gorakhpur and Azamgarh . This proved
243-474: The Maharaja of Kashi , which, in addition to producing critical editions of the Puranas , also published the journal Puranam . Vyasa Kasi, the name by which the temple is called by the people on pilgrimage to Kasi, through ages, is located near Ramnagar. A temple for Sage Vyasa is located here facing Kasi on the opposite side of the river Ganga. The temple is at a distance of 19 km by road from Kasi. Once upon
270-513: The Maharaja's death on 4 April 1939, Vibhuti Narayan Singh was appointed his successor to the Narayan dynasty . Singh studied at Mayo College , Ajmer . He received his master's degree in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi, where he studied with the famous grammarian, Vagish Shastri . He was a scholar of Sanskrit, Veda and Purana . On 28 January 1983 the Vishwanath Temple
297-561: The accession to the Indian Union. The earliest rulers of the later princely state of Benares were originally Zamindars for the Awadh province of the Mughal Empire who later became independent state . Most of the area currently known as Varanasi was acquired by Mansa Ram, a zamindar of Utaria . Balwant Singh, the ruler of Utaria in 1737, took over the Jagirs of Jaunpur (except Bayalasi which
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#1732851999445324-506: The city of Varanasi. Balwant Singh expelled Fazl Ali from present-day Ghazipur and Ballia , and added it to his domains. Between 1775 and 1795, the British gradually took over administration of most of the state, leaving the rajas to directly administer two separate areas – an eastern portion, corresponding to present-day Bhadohi district, and a southern portion, comprising present-day Chakia tehsil of Chandauli district. These two areas made up
351-529: The last day the festivities reach a crescendo as Rama vanquishes the demon king Ravana . Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh started this tradition of staging the Ramleela at Ramnagar in the mid-nineteenth century. Over a million pilgrims arrive annually for the vast processions and performances organized by the Kashi Naresh. From 1737, the state included most of present-day Bhadohi , Chandauli , Jaunpur , Mirzapur , Sonbhadra , and Varanasi districts, including
378-575: The month of Jyestha (June). The temple is situated just 2 km from the Kali Khoh. Currently, the whole Vindhyavasini temple complex is being renovated at a big level in the name of Government controlled project 'Vindhya Corridor'. There are several temples of other deities in the vicinity, the most famous ones being Ashtabhuja Devi Temple and Kalikhoh Temple. There is parikrama (circumambulation) which constitutes: As per provisional data of 2011 census, Mirzapur -cum-Vindyachal urban agglomeration had
405-578: The other side of the Ganges, where his temple may still be seen at Ramnagar. The rulers of the state carried the title "Maharaja Bahadur" 25°16′55″N 82°57′23″E / 25.282°N 82.9563°E / 25.282; 82.9563 Vindhyachal Vindhyachal pronunciation is a city in Mirzapur district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh . The city is a Hindu pilgrimage site having
432-612: The outskirts of the city to build the campus of Banaras Hindu University . On 28 January 1983, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust, with the late Vibhuti Narayan Singh , then Kashi Naresh , as president, and an executive committee with the Divisional Commissioner as chairman. When the Dussehra festivities are inaugurated with
459-569: The princely state of Benares from 1911 to 1948. The rajas retained certain revenues from rents, and certain administrative rights, in the rest of the territory, which the British administered as Benares Division , part of the United Provinces . The rajas made their main residence in Ramnagar. Serious work on the Puranas began when the All India Kashiraj Trust was formed under the patronage and guidance of Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh ,
486-570: The privilege of the 13-gun salute. The residential palace of the Naresh is the Ramnagar Fort at Ramnagar near Varanasi, which is next to the river Ganges . The Ramnagar Fort was built by Maharaja Balwant Singh with creamy chunar sandstone in the eighteenth century. It is a typically Mughal style of architecture with carved balconies, open courtyards, and picturesque pavilions. Kashi Naresh donated over 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) of land on
513-450: The river Ganga. But when once they reach Vyasa-Kasi, they finish their tour of the place very quickly and return to Kasi before Sunset. Nobody makes a night halt at this place. Sage Vyasa, who had to live in this forest along with his disciples some 2000–2500 years ago, is also called by other names such as – Veda Vyasa, Krishna Dwaipayana, Paarasarya (son of Rishi Parasara) and Satyavateya (son of mother Satyavati). He had to live there as he
540-564: The temple of Vindhyavasini , who according to Markandeya Purana , had incarnated to kill the demon Mahishasura . A detailed description has been given in the ' Durga Saptashati ' chapter of the Markandeya Purana. The river Ganga flows through this city. The Indian Standard Time (IST) line passes through the Vindhyachal railway station. Vindhyachal is located at a distance of 70 km from Varanasi and 85 km from Prayagraj . It
567-400: The town are Ashtbhuja temple, Sita Kund, Kali Khoh, Budeh Nath temple, Narad Ghat, Gerua talab, Motiya talab, Lal Bhairav and Kal Bhairav temples, Ekdant Ganesh, Sapta Sarovar, Sakshi Gopal temple, Goraksha-kund, Matsyendra kund, Tarkeshwar Nath temple, Kankali Devi temple, Shivashiv Samooh Awadhoot Ashram and Bhairav kund. Mirzapur is the closest railhead. Vindhyachal has regular bus services to
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#1732851999445594-501: Was 28,666. The crude literacy rate was 62.9% and the effective literacy rate was 72.1%. Vindhyachal, a Shakti Peeth, is a centre of pilgrimage in Mirzapur district , Uttar Pradesh. The Vindhyavasini Devi temple located here is a major draw and is thronged by hundreds of devotees during the Navratris of Chaitra and Ashwin months to invoke the blessings of the Goddess. Other sacred places in
621-538: Was banished from the city of Kasi by Lord Viswanath, the reigning deity of Kasi.According to a popular Puranic story, when Vyasa failed to receive alms in Varanasi , he put a curse on the city. Soon after, at a house where Parvati and Shiva had taken human form as householders, Vyasa was so pleased with the alms he received that he forgot his curse. However, because of Vyasa's bad temper Shiva banished him from Varanasi. Resolving to remain nearby, Vyasa took up residence on
648-624: Was cremated with state honours at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi. Benares State Banaras State , initially known as Banaras kingdom or Kashi Kingdom , was a kingdom and later princely state under the Narayan Dynasty in what is today Uttar Pradesh , India. The state was founded by the Gautam Bhumihar Brahmin zamindar , Balwant Singh , who assumed the title of "Raja of Benares" in mid 18th century, taking advantage of
675-519: Was ruled independently by Zamindar of Purenw ), Varanasi , and Chunar , in 1737 from the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah of Delhi . The Kingdom of Benaras started in this way during the Mughal dynasty. Other places under the kingship of Kashi Naresh were Chandauli , Gyanpur , Chakia , Latifshah, Mirzapur , Nandeshwar, Mint House and Vindhyachal . As the Mughal suzerainty weakened,
702-800: Was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust of which Singh was president. In 1947, under his leadership, the Shree Kashi Naresh Education Trust laid the foundation of the Kashi Naresh Government Post Graduate College (KNPG), in the Gyanpur of Bhadohi district (U.P). An intermediate college is named after him in Gyanpur and another in Surajpur at Mau district in Uttar Pradesh. Singh died on 25 December 2000. His body
729-403: Was the state's religious head and the people of Benares considered him to have been ordained the throne of Kashi by Lord Shiva (making him Kashi Naresh by proxy). He was also the chief cultural patron and an essential part of all religious celebrations. In 1948, the 88th ruler of Kashi Sir Vibhuti Narayan Singh accepted the request of the first Indian Prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and signed
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