Here is the Rajanaka Puraskar Award, complete with a hand-carved frame and my design of the Goddess and her consort etched onto the medallion.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_902,h_1024/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319909/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc.jpg?_i=AA 902w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_264,h_300/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319909/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc.jpg?_i=AA 264w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_768,h_871/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319909/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc.jpg?_i=AA 768w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_1354,h_1536/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319909/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc.jpg?_i=AA 1354w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_600,h_681/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319909/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc.jpg?_i=AA 600w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319909/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-1_3725907bc.jpg?_i=AA 1440w)
![🔱](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t44/1.5/16/1f531.png)
The degree of Rajanaka is an honorary name that was given by the kings of Kashmir to individuals who made extraordinary contributions in various fields like philosophy, poetry, and music.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_905,h_1024/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320029/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-6_3728de12d/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-6_3728de12d.jpg?_i=AA 905w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_265,h_300/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320029/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-6_3728de12d/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-6_3728de12d.jpg?_i=AA 265w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_768,h_869/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320029/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-6_3728de12d/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-6_3728de12d.jpg?_i=AA 768w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_600,h_679/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320029/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-6_3728de12d/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-6_3728de12d.jpg?_i=AA 600w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320029/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-6_3728de12d/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-6_3728de12d.jpg?_i=AA 936w)
![🔱](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t44/1.5/16/1f531.png)
This award is being revived after hundreds of years by the Abhinavagupta Institute of Advanced Studies in Kerala. It was presented in a lovely ceremony by India’s Vice President, Srila Sri Jagdeep Dhankar, to two eminent scholars: Dr. Mark Dyczkowski and Prof. Navjeevan Rastogi.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_905,h_1024/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319949/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-3/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-3.jpg?_i=AA 905w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_265,h_300/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319949/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-3/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-3.jpg?_i=AA 265w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_768,h_869/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319949/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-3/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-3.jpg?_i=AA 768w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_600,h_679/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319949/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-3/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-3.jpg?_i=AA 600w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1711319949/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-3/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-3.jpg?_i=AA 936w)
![🔱](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t44/1.5/16/1f531.png)
The design of the medallion portrays goddess Para Vac (‘Transcendental Speech’ AKA Saraswati) drawn in the Kerala Mural style, seated on her consort, Sri Bhairava (AKA Lord Shiva) in a style evocative of ancient Kashmir.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_905,h_1024/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320031/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-2_37272a3b8/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-2_37272a3b8.jpg?_i=AA 905w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_265,h_300/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320031/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-2_37272a3b8/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-2_37272a3b8.jpg?_i=AA 265w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_768,h_869/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320031/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-2_37272a3b8/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-2_37272a3b8.jpg?_i=AA 768w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_600,h_679/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320031/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-2_37272a3b8/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-2_37272a3b8.jpg?_i=AA 600w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320031/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-2_37272a3b8/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-2_37272a3b8.jpg?_i=AA 977w)
![🔱](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t44/1.5/16/1f531.png)
One of the goals of the institution is to deepen the ancient relationship between Kashmir and Kerala’s spiritual traditions. This is reflected in the design of the award. I feel deeply grateful to my client, Dr. R. Ramanand, Director of Abhinavagupta Institute, for selecting me as the artist.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_902,h_1024/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320089/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc.jpg?_i=AA 902w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_264,h_300/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320089/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc.jpg?_i=AA 264w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_768,h_871/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320089/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc.jpg?_i=AA 768w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_1354,h_1536/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320089/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc.jpg?_i=AA 1354w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/w_600,h_681/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320089/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc.jpg?_i=AA 600w, https://res.cloudinary.com/firefly-web-services/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1711320089/OESA/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc/Rajanaka-Puraskar-Award-7_37295d3fc.jpg?_i=AA 1440w)
![🔱](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t44/1.5/16/1f531.png)
The digital artwork is available for pre-order through my webstore: https://oneearthsacredarts.com/product/rajanaka-award-open-edition-print