HH Maharajadhiraj Sri Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh - Indenpendent Ruler of Kashi.Ruled from 1889 - 1931

Lt. Colonel HH Maharajadhiraj Kashi Naresh Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, 

Maharaja of Benaras, GCSI, GCIE, KCIE.

He was born on 26th November 1855 and was adopted by his uncle Raja Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh, who received the title of Maharaja from the British. Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh was honoured by being appointed as Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) in 1892; Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) in 1898 and Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI) in the 1921 New Year Honours. It was given for the services provided by him in World War I.

Titles of Prabhu Narayan Singh 

Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh of the princely state of Benares held numerous titles and styles through out his reign over the princely state of Benares. These are mentioned below- 

* Maharaj Prabhu Narayan Singh (1855- 1889)

* His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sri Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Kashi Naresh, Maharaja of Benares (1889- 1891) 

* His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sri Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Kashi Naresh, Maharaja of Benares, KCIE (1891- 1898) 

* His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sri Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Kashi Naresh, Maharaja of Benares, GCIE (1898- 1919) 

* Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sri Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Kashi Naresh, Maharaja of Benares, GCIE (1919- 1921) 
* Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sri Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Kashi Naresh, Maharaja of Benares, GCSI, GCIE (1921- 1931) 

Honours of Prabhu Narayan Singh 
Prabhu Narayan Singh was honoured several times, which are mentioned as follows- 
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire- GCIE (1898) and KCIE (1891) 
* Delhi Durbar Gold Medal (1903) 
* Delhi Durbar Gold Medal (1911) 
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India- GCSI (1921) 
* Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II of Belgium (1926) 

Such was the repute of this Bhumihar Brahmin Maharaja that the English had to borrow one of his elephants named as Laxman for the Delhi Durbar of 1903. it is said that Lord Curzon himself used that elephant to arrive at the Durbar. below is the below portrait - 

The below photo of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England with the then Maharaja of Benaras, Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh ~ 25th Jan 1961