Prabhu Narayan Singh was the Maharaja of the princely state of Benares, (Royal House of Benares), currently known as Varanasi or Benaras, during the British rule in India. He ruled over the territory from the year 1889 to 1931. 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 East India Company for his loyal services during the great revolt of 1857, also known as the Indian Mutiny. He succeeded to the provinces under the royal family in the year 1889. Singh maintained good relations with the British government and the British Empire recognized the region under his rule as a princely state in the year 1911.
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 Idar. 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)
