Narayan dynasty
| Narayan dynasty | |
|---|---|
Flag (1740–1947) | |
| Country | Banaras State |
| Founded | 1709 |
| Founder | Raja Mansa Ram Singh |
| Current head | H.H Maharaja Anant Narayan Singh Bahadur |
| Final ruler | Vibhuti Narayan Singh |
| Titles | Maharaja of Banaras |
| Deposition | 1948 |
The Narayan dynasty was the ruling family of Benares. Raja Mansaram Singh of Narayan Dynasty had again acquired the kingdom of his ancestors. After seceding from Awadh, Benares emerged as a kingdom of its own, ruled by Maharaja Balwant Singh in year - 1740 AD during the 18th century. Since then, the family ruled Benaras they Belongs to Bhumihar community. 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.
Even today, the Kashi Naresh, the titular ruler of the dynasty, is deeply revered by the people of Benares. He is Benares's religious head and the people of Benares consider him to have been ordained the throne of Kashi by Shiva. He is also the chief cultural patron and an essential part of all religious celebrations.