Royal House of Benares - The Last Maharaja 1939-1947-1971-2000

The Last Maharaja 1939-1947-1971-2000

Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh, as he was to be known was born on 5 November 1927, the great-nephew of the second wife of Maharaja Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh. In 1934, when he was six years old, he was adopted by his distant cousin, Maharaja Sir Aditya Narayan Singh of Benares, becoming heir apparent and receiving a new name,Maharaj kumar Vibhuti Narayan Singh. Five years later, the old Maharaja died, and Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh became Maharaja under a regency until he succeeded to the throne in his own right as Maharaja on 11 July 1947-a month before India's independence. On 15 August,Maharaja Vibuti Narayan signed the Instrument of Accession to India. On 15 October 1947, he merged Benares into the new Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. With that,Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh's short reign officially came to an end, although he would maintain his titles for many more years.

A deeply religious and scholarly Pandit,Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh strictly adhered to orthodox Hindu customs. Despite the official decision of the Indira Gandhi government to abolish the titles of the Indian monarchs on 28 December 1971, he remained deeply respected for the remainder of his life. A distinguished scholar of Sanskrit, Purana and the Vedas, he also presided over a number of scholastic, religious and charitable institutions, including a term from 1992 until his death as Chancellor of Benares Hindu University, and took part in public religious ceremonies in the City of Benares. At his death on Christmas Day, 2000, aged 73, he had only 4 issues 3 daughters and a son,1.Maharaj Kumari Shri Vishnu Priya,2.Maharaj Kumari Shri Har Priya,3.Maharaj Kumari Shri Krishna Priya and the youngest being Maharaj Anant Narayan Singh who succeeded him and he has two son 1.kunwar Aniruddh Narayan Singh and 2.Praddyumna Narayan Singh