Vibhuti Narayan Singh

Pandit Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh डॉ विभूति नारायण सिंह् (1927–2000) was the popular King of Benares, a holy city located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He was the last king of the Kingdom of Kashi.

Childhood

Vibhuti Narayan Singh was born on November 5, 1927. He was eight years old when adopted by Maharaja Aditya Narain Singh, Kashi Naresh, King of Kashi. Maharaja Aditya Narayan Singh died in 1938, and Vibhuti Narayan Singh was proclaimed King of Kashi. Since Vibhuti Narayan Singh was a minor at that time, a working committee was formed to look after the Kingdom.

Education

Vibhuti Narayan Singh studied at Mayo College, Ajmer. He received his Master's degree in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He studied Sanskrit grammar with the famous grammarian Vagish Shastri of Varanasi. He was a scholar of Sanskrit, Veda and Purana.^[1]

Kingship

On becoming an adult, Vibhuti Narayan Singh took actual charge of the Kingship in 1947. Ramnagar fort was his residence. A popular king, Vibhuti Narayan Singh had a keen interest in cultural activities. His ancestors started plays based on epic stories. He explored many plays/dramas on the religious stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Under his prominent guidance these remained popular for decades in the streets of Benares. All people of Benares chanted ‘Har Har Mahadev’ whenever he passed through the streets. His kingdom was dissolved and merged into India on 15 October 1948, but the people of Varanasi gave him the same respect normally accorded to a king.

Contribution

After independence of India, he became Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. He was awarded D.Litt. from Banaras Hindu University. Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh establish Vishwa Sanskrit Pratisthanam for the upliftment of Sanskrit research under the guidance of Vagish Shastri. He established Akhil Bhartiya Kashiraj Nyas which published several books on oriental studies. He established Kashi Raj trust which also runs the museum comprising exhibits like palanquins, costumes, swords, sabres etc. On January 28, 1983 the Vishwanath Temple was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust with Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh as president.^[2]

Vibhuti Narayan Singh was the last Naresh to see kingship after Benares was ceded to the Union of India. He died in the year 2000.^[3]

Cultural devotion

Vibhuti Narayan Singh was a very keen connoisseur of epic plays. He devoted himself in these activities which were celebrated in different parts of Benares which includes Ramnagar, Chetganj, Nati Imli, Tulsi Ghat, Dara Nagar, Chet Singh Palace among other.

Ram Leela

Ram Lila is a popular enactment of the mythological epic, Ramayana. Ram Leela celebration forms an integral part of the cultural life of the Hindi-speaking belt of North India. Under outstanding guidance of Kashi Naresh, unique Ram Leela is enacted in the most traditional style. This special Ram Leela of Ramnagar, Varanasi lasts for almost one month.^[4] Over a million pilgrims arrive annually for the vast processions and performances organized by Kashi Naresh.^[5]

Generally, the Ram Leela is enacted on a single stage but in Ramnagar almost the whole town is transformed into a vast Ram Leela ground. Permanent structures are built and spaces designated to represent the main locations of the story such as Ashok Vatika, Lanka etc. at different locations in the town. The whole audience moves along with the performers with every episode, to the next location.

Bharat Milap

Bharat Milap is celebrated to commemorate Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his reunion with his brother, Bharat. This festival was performed in the presence of Kashi Naresh Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh which held in the day following Dussehra. The place is full of citizens who gather in the streets to see the procession of Lord Ram. Bharat Milap is one of the greatest attractions of Varanasi city.

Nakkataiyya

Nakkatayya (slitting of nose) is an episode from the Ramayana. The Nakkatayya Leela is held at Chetganj, Varanasi and is attended by large number of people from all parts of Varanasi city and nearby towns in the presence of Kashi Naresh. Nakkatayya re-enacts a story from Ramayana in which Surpanakha (sister of Ravana), comes to entice Rama and then Lakshman. Lakshman, the younger brother of Ram, gets angry and slits Suparnakha's nose and she goes back crying.

Nag Nathaiya

The Nag Nathaiya festival of Varanasi is held at the Tulsi Ghat. Lord Krishna jumps into River Ganges for Nag Nathan. The Nag Nathaiya festival is famous as Nag Nathaiya Leela. The Nag Nathaiya festival is held during the month of Nov-Dec and a large number of people gather to see the re-enactment. Nag Nathaiya festival is a part of the Krishna Leela ceremony, a mythological tradition involving depiction of a famous episode in the life of lord Krishna. The Kashi Naresh views this episode from the royal Boat. The actors are awarded by him. This Barat was usually inaugurated by Kashi Naresh Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh.

References

1. ^ Baldev Upadhyaya Kashi ki Panditya Parampara, Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan, Varanasi.
2. ^ Official website of Varanasi
3. ^ Kashi ki Aatma, Dainik Aaj, 31.12.2000
4. ^ Fairs & Festivals
5. ^ Banham, Martin (second edition, 1995). The Cambridge Guide to Theatre. Cambridge University Press. p. 1247. ISBN 978-0521434379. 

Persondata
Name	Singh, Vibhuti Narayan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1927
Place of birth
Date of death	2000
Place of death