Benares State: Difference between revisions

Benares State वाराणसी
Princely State
unknown–1948
Flag
Area
• 1892	2,266 km2 (875 sq mi)
Population
• 1892	115,773
History
• Established	unknown
• Accession to the Union of India	1948
Succeeded by India

Varanasi, capital of Benares State

Benares (Template:Lang-hi) was a princely state in what is today India during the British Raj. On 15 October 1948 Benares' last ruler signed the accession to the Indian Union.

Its roots go back to the Kingdom of Kashi, which was an independent Brahmin - ( Bhumihar brahmin) state until 1194. It became a British territory in 1775, and a state in 1911. It is the site of Ramnagar Fort and its museum, which are the repository of the history of the kings of Varanasi and, since the 18th century, has been the home of the Kashi Naresh. Even today the Kashi Naresh is deeply revered by the people of Varanasi. He is a religious leader and the people of Varanasi consider him an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He is also the chief cultural patron and an essential part of all religious celebrations. The ruling family claims descent from the God Shiva and benefits greatly from pilgrimages to Benares.

History

The Kingdom of Kashi was founded by Khsetravridha, the son of Ayus, of the Somavansa dynasty of Pratishthana. It lost independence in 1194 and was eventually ceded by the Nawab of Oudh to the British Raj in 1775, who recognized Benares as a family dominion. Benares became a state in 1911. It was given the privilege of 13-gun salute.

The governor of Benares gave most of the area currently known as Varanasi to Mansa Ram, a zamindar of Utaria. Balwant Singh, the ruler of Utaria in 1737, received the territories of Jaunpur, Varanasi and Chunar in 1740 from the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah of Delhi. The Kingdom of Benaras started in this way under the Mughal dynasty. Other places under the kingship of Kashi Naresh were Chandauli, Gyanpur, Chakia, Latifshah, Mirzapur, Nandeshwar, Mint House and Vindhyachal.

With the decline of the Mughal Empire, the military strengthened their sway in the area south of Avadh and in the fertile rice growing areas of Benares, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ghazipur, Ballia and Bihar and on the fringes of Bengal. The strong clan organisation on which they rested, brought success to the lesser Hindu princes. There were as many as 100,000 men backing the power of the Benares rajas in what later became the districts of Benares, Gorakhpur and Azamgarh. This proved a decisive advantage when the dynasty faced a rival and the nominal suzerain, the Nawab of Awadh, in the 1750s and the 1760s. An exhausting guerrilla war, waged by the Benares ruler against the Avadh camp, using his troops, forced the Nawab to withdraw his main force.

According to Orthodox traditions, no one has seen Kashi Naresh eat food, and none of the kings have travelled abroad, in keeping with strict rules. Kashi Naresh has played host to a list of dignitaries which includesKing Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Nepal, King Birendra Bir Birkram Shah Dev, Nepal Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Indira Gandhi, Queen Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, President Kocheril Raman Narayanan and his Burmese wife.

Rulers

Rajas

• 1740 - 19 Aug 1770 Balwant Singh (b. 1711 - d. 1770)
• 19 Aug 1770 - 14 Sep 1781 Chait Singh (b. 17.. - d. 1810)
• 14 Sep 1781 - 12 Sep 1795 Mahipat Narayan Singh (b. 1756 - d. 1795)
• 12 Sep 1795 - 4 Apr 1835 Udit Narayan Singh (b. 1770 - d. 1835)
• 4 Apr 1835 - 13 Jun 1889 Ishvari Prasad Narayan Singh (b. 1822 - d. 1889) (personal style Maharaja Bahadur from 11 Aug 1859) from 1 Jan 1877, Sir Ishvari Prasad Narayan Singh
• 13 Jun 1889 - 1 Apr 1911 Prabhu Narayan Singh (b. 1855 - d. 1931) (personal style Maharaja Bahadur from 23 Sep 1889) from 1 Jan 1891, Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh

Maharaja Bahadurs

• 1 Apr 1911 - 4 Aug 1931 Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh (s.a.)
• 4 Aug 1931 - 5 Apr 1939 Aditya Narayan Singh (b. 1874 - d. 1939)

(from 3 Jun 1933, Sir Aditya Narayan Singh)

• 5 Apr 1939 - 15 Aug 1947 Vibhuti Narayan Singh (b. 1927 - d. 2000)
• 5 Apr 1939 - 11 Jul 1947 .... -Regent

Kashi Naresh

Main article: Narayan dynasty

The Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kashi) is believed to be a descendent of Lord Shiva. During the religious occasion of Shivratri, the Kashi Naresh is the chief officiating priest and no other priest is allowed entry into the garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum. Only after he performs his religious offerings may anyone else be allowed to enter.

The residential palace of the Naresh is the Ramnagar Fort at Ramnagar near Varanasi, which is next to the river Ganges.

On January 28, 1983, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust, with the late Vibhuti Narayan Singh, then Kashi Naresh, as President, and an executive committee with the Divisional Commissioner as Chairman.

History of Ramnagar

The Ramnagar Fort was built by Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant Singh with creamy chunar sandstone in the eighteenth century. It is a typically Mughal style of architecture with carved balconies, open courtyards, and picturesque pavilions.

Ram Leela at Ramnagar

When the Dussehra festivities are inaugurated with a colourful pageant, the Kashi Naresh rides an elephant at the head of the procession. Then, resplendent in silk and brocade, he inaugurates the month-long folk theatre of Ramlila at Ramnagar.

The Ramlila is a cycle of plays which recounts the epic story of Lord Rama, as told in Ramcharitmanas, the version of the Ramayana written by Tulsidas. The plays, sponsored by the Maharaja, are performed in Ramnagar every evening for 31 days. On the last day the festivities reach a crescendo as Rama vanquishes the demon king Ravana. Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh started this tradition of staging the Ramleela at Ramnagar in the mid-nineteenth century.

Over a million pilgrims arrive annually for the vast processions and performances organized by the Kashi Naresh.

All India Kashi raj Trust

Serious work on the Puranas began when the All India Kashiraj Trust was formed under the patronage and guidance of Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh, the Maharaja of Kashi, which, in addition to producing critical editions of the Puranas, also published the journal Puranam.

Saraswati Bhawan at Ramnagar Fort

A rare collection of manuscripts, especially religious writings, is housed in Saraswati Bhawan. It includes a precious handwritten manuscript by Goswami Tulsidas. There are also many books illustrated in the Mughal miniature style, with beautifully designed covers.

Vyasa Temple at Ramnagar

According to a popular Puranic story, when Vyasa failed to receive alms in Varanasi, he put a curse on the city. Soon after, at a house where Parvati and Shiva had taken human form as householders, Vyasa was so pleased with the alms he received that he forgot his curse. However, because of Vyasa's bad temper Shiva banished him from Varanasi. Resolving to remain nearby, Vyasa took up residence on the other side of the Ganges, where his temple may still be seen at Ramnagar.

Vyasa Kasi-Additional Information and the connected Episode regarding banishment of Sage Vyasa fron Kashi,( based on Skanda Purana, Chapter on Kasi Khanda)

Vyasa-Kasi – Location and significance :  Vyas Kasi, the name by which it is called by the pilgrims  to Kasi through ages, is called Ramnagar,  now a daysI.- Vyasa temple is located in Ramnagar at the opposite side of Varanasi on the bank of the river Ganga.”1 The temple is at a distance of19 K.M by road from Kasi. Once upon a time the whole area was covered by a forest of Badari trees.( Badari is callel’ Bel’ in Hindi and’ Jujube’  in English). Badari is a thorny bush- like tree which gives small sweet and sourly fruits.  Since Vyasa lived among the Badari trees, he was also called ‘BaadarayanaI’ ( a person wh moved about  among badari bushes )2.  People who go on pilgrimage to Kasi will not fail to visit Vyasa Kasi, which is across the river Gang directly facing Kashi. They travel through boats that  ply on the river.   But when once they reach Vyasa- Kasi they finish their tour of the place very quickly and return to Kasi.  Nobody makes a night halt at this place.
                      Sage Vyasa who  had to live in this forest along with his disciples some 2000-2500 years ago is also called by other names such as – Veda Vyas, Krishna Dwaipayana, Paarasarya( son of Rishi Parasar) and Saatyavateya ( son of mother Satyavati- a fisher woman) as he was banished from the city of Kasi by Lord Viswanath, the reigning deity of Kasi himself. An interesting episode is narrated in this connection in the Kasi-Khanda of SKandaPurana.The detailsof the episode regarding the banishment of Sage Vyasa from Kashi are as follows-.

CONTENTS 1. Vyasa- Kasi –Location and significanc 2. Vyasa’s declaration in the Naimisharanya 3. Vyasa’s visit to and declaration at Kasi 4. Punishment meted out to Vyas 5. . Vyas’s repentence and worship of Shiva 6. Vyasa gets no food for two days 7 Vyasa’s curses the citizens of Kasi 8 Invitation by Mother Visalakshi 9 Interrogation of Sage Vyasa by the old couple 10 Banishment of Vyasa from Kashi 11 Concession given to Vyasa 12 References

Sage Vyasa who is also called Vyasa  Mahamuni was a great scholar of his times. He is Credited to have gathered a host of great scholars and classified the Vedas, which were lying as a Conglomeration of Richas ( mantras)  of  different categories. He classified all these mantras  into       four  Vedas-- Rig Veda, Yajur veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda.  He is also credited to have written 18 Puranas and the great epic Maha Bharata.  He was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu (who is also called Lord Narayana).  He is also known by several names-Veda Vyasa, Sri Krishna Dwaipayana,  Paarasarya ( son of Rishi Paraasar), and  Saatyavateya ( son of a fisher woman named  Satyavati) He used to travel  from one hermitage to the other during his travels to holy places, along with his 10,000 disciples.

Vyasa’s declaration in Naimisharanya.

                                During one of his journeys it so happened that Vyasa was travelling through the famous Naimisharanya .  (Located in  Sitapur  district of Uttar Pradesh and is about 50 K.M. from the state capital Lucknow ). At that time a group of great sages were discussing about various religious and theological issues. When Vyasa,   along with his 10,000 disciples entered the conference, he enquired   about   what they were discussing. The sages gave due respect to him and told him that they were discussing about the relative merits of worshipping Lord Vishnu   and Lord Maheswara. They said that according to some, Lord Vishnu is more amenable to worship( of his devotees)  than Lord Shiva. But according to the majority Lord Viswanatha (Lord Shiva) is the only God who can be pleased  easily, and is the only God who grants all wishes of the devotees without a second thought about the propriety of making such a wish by the devotee. They asked Vyasa Muni to express his opinion on the subject.
                                  Vyasa   Muni who is a staunch devotee of Lord Narayana (Lord Vishnu) raised his right hand and told them –“   Oh great sages listen to me carefully, Lord Vishnu is the only God who has been hailed as the supreme deity in the Vedas, the epics   Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and the eighteen Puranas.  He is the only God who is the root cause of Creation, sustenance and destruction. He is the ‘ Adi Purusha’, ( the first Male).  So he alone is competent to award salvation. It is not Lord Shiva or any other God. “  
                                   All the sages were surprised after listening to the   above statement.  They replied – “Oh great scholar you know everything. There is nobody who  is  more  knowledgeable  than t you. But we will appreciate your statement if you could kindly make the above declaration in front of Lord Visweswara  the presiding deity of Kasi and the scholars of Kasi.    Sage Vyasa agreed to do so and asked everybody   to follow him to Kasi.
Sage Vyasa’s visit and declaration at Kasi :
                                       Sage Vyasa reached the holy city of Kasi along with his disciples and many sages of the forest. He took his holy bath in the river Ganga and directly went to the temple of Lord Bindu Madhava( Lord Vishnu) and worshipped  him as- the Lord who has 1000 heads and giver of happiness” , Afterwards he entertained the Lord with songs,  and dance accompanied by musical instruments. Then he raised his right hand and declared that Lord Madhava is the only God who is competent to award Salvation.

Punishment meted out to Sage Vyasa

As he was making the above declaration his hand became numb and remained stationery in the same position and he lost his voice too.  Lord Madhava appeared before him immediately and admonished   him – “Oh, Vyasa you have made a great blunder. Don’t you know that there is only one Supreme lord  of the Universe, and  nobody  else ?  I became a  ‘’Chakri’ ( possessor of  the invincible  disc that can cut anything or anybody to pieces), and  the  husband of Goddess Lakshmi  and also  the  protector of the three worlds,  only by the grace of the true Lord of the Universe -Lord Shiva ? Please worship Lord Shiva if you want to live peacefully and attain alvation”.  Then Vyasa signaled to Lord Madhava  to touch his  throat   which had stopped producing any sound , because of the wrath of Nandi ( the great bull  which is the vehicle on which Lord Shiva travels). Lord Bindu Madhava helped him in regaining his voice and restoring the movement of his hand.

Vyasa’s repentence and worship of God Shiva

Then sage Vyasa  started taking bath daily  in the holy river Ganga  , and t  reciting  hymns daily  to the effect  that ‘’ Lingeswara’ is  the only Lord and  Manikarnika  is the best of the Ghats ( river bank  from where devotees can come down and take bath in a river). He wrote the famous hymn called Shivashtakam  during this period ( Kasi Khandam-Chapter-95).  He spent a few days teaching his disciples about   the great power of Lord Shiva,  in addition to teaching  usual lessons on the Vedas.
Vyasa gets no food for two days :       One day Lord Shiva wanted to test the devotion of Vyasa and his love of the city of Kasi.  He asked his wife Annapurna, who was also called Visalakshi during those days, to ensure that sage Vyasa and his disciples do not get any alms from the households of Varanasi.  Goddess Annapurna entered the heart of every house wife and ensured that sage Vyasa or his disciples are not given any alms under one pretext or other. So Vyasa and his disciples had to remain hungry for the whole day.  Same thing happened during the second day also. Sage Vyasa was surprised that he and his students could not receive even a morsel of food for two days continuously in the sacred city of Kasi, whereas the disciples of other sages are getting plenty of food. He sent his disciples to find out whether anybody was stopping the house-wives from giving alms to them. They went out and made enquiries but found that nobody was stopping the women from giving alms and also that everybody was rich enough and living happily. They also found that all the people are virtuous and following the path of Dharma and all are devotees of Lord Visweswara (Shiva ). They reported the matter to the great sage and told him that that they could not   find out the reason why they were not   given any alms.

Sage Vyasa curses the citizens of Kasi : Sage Vyasa came to the conclusion that the citizens of Kasi have deliberately insulted him and there by neglected their Dharma as natives of a holy pilgrim centre like Kasi. He became mad with rage and he said – “This holy city of Kasi is the centre of all branches of knowledge, it is the house of the Goddess of wealth and prosperity and it is the place where every resident is assured of Salvation after death. That is why perhaps these people have become proud and arrogant.” Saying these words Vyasa began to curse the residents of Kasi – “ “These people of Kasi should be deprived of all Knowledge for three generations, they should be deprived of wealth and riches for three generations, and also they should be deprived of Salvation for three generations”.

                 After delivering the above curse the great Sage again went out seeking  alms along with his disciples.  But he did not get any alms on the third day also.  Then he threw down the earthen pot which he uses to collect alms so fast that it broke down into several pieces.  After that he began to return to his hermitage being helpless.

Invitation by Mother Visalakshi . While Sage Vyasa was returning to his hermitage along with his students, an elderly - house wife, with a bright golden face and wide eyes appeared from a house nearby, with her golden anklets studded with gems, sounding pleasantly. She called for the sage addressing him as a ‘samyami ‘(a person who has gained perfect control over his senses and emotions) and requested him to come near her. When the great sage approached her She told him–

                 “Oh great Sage my husband is very old.  He does not take any food until he feeds a guest every day.  But unfortunately no guest has arrived to-day to our house, asking for food. He is sitting hungry in the house. Could you please accept my invitation and come as a guest to our house? “   Sage Vyasa was surprised very much and told the elderly woman – “Mother, nobody in Kasi cared to look at our faces to-day.  I am happy that you have   invited me to your house for lunch.  But I am not alone, and I cannot eat without providing food for my ten thousand disciples.  They are also starving for the last two days.” Then the great old lady asked Vyasa to come with his entire disciples without any delay. Sage Vyasa and his students arrived at her house happily, washed their hands and feet and sat for lunch.  They could not control their pleasure after looking at various dishes served before them and enjoyed the appetizing sweet smell of the dishes. They enjoyed the food and ate to their stomachs full.  After finishing their lunch they washed their hands and feet, blessed the old lady and her husband and stated their journey back to the hermitage.

Interrogation of Sage Vyasa by the old couple:

                        When sage Vyasa was about to leave the house of  the old lady, She  asked him to wait and clear certain doubts that are lurking in the mind of her Fy after the new moon day and on every Shiva Ratri day (which comes sometime around the new moon day- once in a month.”
               The great merciful mother looked at her husband and accorded necessary permission to sage Vyasa .  When  the ancient couple disappeared. Sage Vyasa left Kasi immediately, by crossing over the river  Gangar and reached the  East bank of the river. There he established his Ashram in a forest of thorny bushes  which are called Badari ( Sanskrit)‘  trees. It seems that he spent the rest of his life looking always  towards Kashi and  scolding his misfortune.  The place where sage Vyasa  settled  after  his departure from Kasi  was  called Vyasa Kasi. 

References: 1. www.greatertelugu.com/telugu books-SkandaPuranaSkanda Purana 2. www.varanasi.org.in-Vyasa/ temple at Ramnaga 3. Ibid 4. www.yabaluri.org