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| Narayan dynasty | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag (1740–1947) | |
| Country | Banaras State |
| Founded | 1709 |
| Founder | Mansa Ram |
| Current head | Anant Narayan Singh |
| Final ruler | Vibhuti Narayan Singh |
| Titles | Raja of Banaras |
| Estate(s) | Ramnagar Fort |
| Deposition | 1947 |
The Narayan dynasty was the ruling family of Benares. After seceding from Awadh, Benares emerged as a kingdom of its own, ruled by Maharaja Balwant Singh in the 18th century. Since then, the family has ruled Benares. They belonged to the Bhumihar Brahmin community.[1][2] In 1911, Benares became a full-fledged princely state of British India and the Narayan dynasty ruled it as British vassals until they acceded to independent India in 1947.[3]
Even today, the Kashi Naresh, the titular ruler of the dynasty, is deeply revered by the people of Benares. He was Benares's religious head and the people of Benares consider him to have been ordained the throne of Kashi by Lord Shiva. He was also the chief cultural patron and an essential part of all religious celebrations.[4]
- ^ Lethbridge, Roper (1893). The golden book of India, a genealogical and biographical dictionary of the ruling princes, chiefs, nobles, and other personages, titled or decorated, of the Indian empire. Robarts – University of Toronto. London Macmillan. pp. 66, 493.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Bayly 1983 489 at p 18was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Swati Mitra 2002, pp. 124–126.
- ^ Swati Mitra 2002, p. 126.