page_title: Narayan dynasty
section_title: Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh
hierarchical_section_title: Narayan dynasty / Rajas of Benares: (1770–1939) / Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh
caption_attribution_description: Maharaja of Benares and Suite, 1870s
context_page_description: The Narayan dynasty was the ruling family of Benares. After the disintegration of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century, the family ruled Benares as tributories of the Nawab of Awadh and the East India Company. 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 1948.
  Even today the Kashi Naresh, the titular ruler of the dynasty, is deeply revered by the people of Benares. He is the religious head and the people of Benares consider him the incarnation of Lord Shiva. He is also the chief cultural patron and an essential part of all religious celebrations.
context_section_description: His Highness Maharaja Bahadur Sri Sir Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh, GCSI (1822-13 June 1889) succeeded his uncle upon the latter's death in 1835, becoming the first of his line to be granted the title of Maharaja. Ascending the throne at the age of 13, during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 he remained neutral to revolt. As a reward, he was promoted to the rank of Maharaja Bahadur in 1859. In 1867, he was granted a personal 13-gun salute; a decade later he was knighted with the GCSI, becoming Sir Ishwari. He eventually became a member of the Viceroy's Legislative Council and in the crowning achievement of his reign, restored all the family lands that had been lost to them for over a century. Given the title of His Highness in 1889, H H Maharaja Sir Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh died several months later, aged 67 and was succeeded by his nephew, Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur.
caption: Maharaja of Benares & Suite, 1870s
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