Kingdom of Kashi

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Kingdom of Kashi is the name given to Kingdom of Maharaja of Kashi (Varanasi), also called as Kashi Naresh. After the independence of India, democracy was accepted as the way of governance and all executive powers were stripped off all kingdoms, and Kingdom of Kashi was no exception. Nonetheless, Kashi Naresh is still a very respected title in the local area. The fort of Kashi Naresh is situated in the east of Varanasi city, across river Gangaits name is Ramnagar, Varanasi. ^[1].Other fort of Kashi Naresh was Chet Singh Palace, near Shivala Ghat, Varanasi, where King Chet Singh Killed three British officers and more than 200 solders.^[2]

[edit] History

It is said that the Kashi Naresh is a descendent of the God Shiva. During the religious occasion of Shivratri, Kashi Naresh is the chief officiating priest and no other priest is allowed entry into the sanctum sanctorum (garbh-griham). It is only after he performs his religious offerings that anyone else is allowed to enter.

The Kingdom of Kashi was founded by Khsetravridha, son of Ayus, of the Somavansa dynasty of Pratishthana. It lost independance in 1194 and was eventually ceded by the Nawab of Oudh to the British in 1775 who recognized Benares as a family dominion. Benares acceded to the status of State in 1911. The ruling family claims descent from the god Shiva and benefited greatly from pilgrimage to Benares.

The governor of Benares gave most of the area currently known as Varanasi to Mansa Ram, a Gautam Bhumihar Brahmin zamindar of Utaria, in 1737 A.D. Balwant Singh, ruler of Utaria, later received territories of Jaunpur, Varanasi and Chunar in 1740 A.D. from Mughal Emperor of Delhi. Thus started the Kingdom of Benaras under the Mughal dynasty. Other places under the kingship of Kashi Naresh were Chandauli, Gyanpur, Chakia, Latifshah, Mirzapur, Nandeshwar, Mint House and Vindhyachal.

The kingdom was ceded by the Nawab of Oudh to the British raj in 1775, who recognized Benares as a family dominion. In 1911, it acceded to the status of State.^[3]

According to Orthodox Brahmin traditions, nobody has seen Kashi Naresh have his food, and none of the kings have travelled abroad in keeping with strict Brahmin rules.^[4] Kashi Naresh has played host to a list of dignitaries which includes Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Indira Gandhi, Queen Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama, President Kocheril Raman Narayanan and his Burmese wife.^[5]

[edit] Kashi Naresh

The residential place of Naresh is Ramangar Fort, which is next to river Ganga.^[6] Kashi Naresh holds the title of Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University.^[7] This title has as such no executive powers, and all decisions are taken by Vice-Chancellor instead.^{[citation needed]}

On January 28, 1983 the Kashi Vishwanath Temple was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust with Late Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh, then Kashi Naresh, as President and an executive committee with Divisional Commissioner as Chairman.^[8]

Following is the list of all rulers of Kashi:

List of Kashi Naresh	Start of rule	End of rule
Mansa Ram	1737	1740
Balwant Singh	1740	1770
Chait Singh	1770	1781
Mahip Narayan Singh	1781	1794
Udit Narayan Singh	1794	1835
Maharaja Shri ISHWARI PRASAD NARAYAN SINGH Bahadur	1835	1889
Lt.Col. HH Maharaja Shri Sir PRABHU NARAYAN SINGH Bahadur	1889	1931
Capt. HH Maharaja Shri Sir ADITYA NARAYAN SINGH	1931	1939
Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh	1939	1947

Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh was the last Naresh to see kingship after Benares was ceded to the Union of India on 15th of Oct 1948. After his death in 2000, his son Anant Narayan Singh is the Kashi Naresh responsible for upholding the traditional duties of a Kashi Naresh.