Raja Vir Singh Ju Deo, also known as Bir Singh Dev, was a Bundela Rajput chief and the ruler of the kingdom of Orchha in the historic Bundelkhand region of modern Madhya Pradesh. He was a vassal of the imperial Mughal Empire.[1] and ruled between the year 1605 and either 1626[2] or 1627.[3]
Vir Singh Deo assassinated the Mughal chronicler and court historian Abul Fazl who was returning from Deccan in a plot contrived by the Mughal Prince Salim later Jahangir.[4] He is also credited to have built the Jhansi Fort.
Deo was among the Rajput rulers of his era who sponsored temples in the Brajmandal area that comprised Vrindavan and Mathura.[5] In addition, the Phool Bagh gardens, and the Lakshmi temple were all built by Deo.[citation needed] His mausoleum is located in Orchha, and features both Hindu and Mughal architecture.[citation needed]
Vir Singh Deo was succeeded by Jhujhar Singh, the first-born son of the senior of his three queens.[6]
Deo was patron to the poet Keshavdas, who wrote the 1607 hagiographic work Virsimdevcarit (Deeds of Vir Singh Deo).[7]