Maharana Raj Singh Award - (Instituted in 1980-81)
1652 - 1680 CE when Maharana Raj Singh I ruled was a poignant time not only in the history of Mewar but in the history of India. He was a contemporary of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maharaja Chhatrasalji of Bundelkhand and Vir Durgadas Rathore. Opposed to the systematic destruction of Hinduism in general, these giants of men individually stood up in their respective kingdoms to defend their mother land against the tyranny of Aurangzeb.
Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was bent upon mutilating idols and destroying Hindu temples all over India. The priests of Shrinathji temple from Giriraj Mountain, Jatipura near Mathura and Shree Dwarkadhishji temple from Gokul near Vrindavan wanted to escape annihilation at the hands of Aurangzeb. They therefore decided to hide their respective personal Deities. After being refused shelter by several Hindu rulers for fear of inevitable persecution, they finally came to Udaipur, Maharana Raj Singh I gladly and willingly assured them of absolute protection in Udaipur, Mewar. He provided Shrinathji with a Jagir at Nathdwara and Shree Dwarkadhishji with a Jagir at Kankroli. This enabled the priests to continue uninterrupted worship of their deities by receiving revenue from their respective Jagir. By this act of devotion, courage and without fear of the consequence of retaliation, Maharana Raj Singh I saved the Vaishnava worshippers of these deities from extinction. His contribution in upholding and protecting Hinduism at this time was exemplary and with far reaching implications.
Although being a worshipper of Lord Shiva and being a disciple of the Nagda Brahmins who were Gurus to the family he accepted the priests of Shree Dwarkadhishji as his Guru as well and this practice is adhered to by the Mewar family to this day. It is pertinent to observe that this action of Maharana Raj Singh I was a very bold and unique commitment given the petty religious rigidity of the times.
Maharana Raj Singh Award is awarded in commemoration of the impact of the phenomenal role played by Maharana Raj Singh I during his life time.
Maharana Raj Singh Award is a city of Udaipur Award. This award was instituted to honour deserving students of universities based within the municipal limits of Udaipur and also students from those colleges who are affiliated to these universities, but are located outside Udaipur, for distinguished achievements in (i) Games and Sports (ii) Cultural, literary, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities conducted by a recognised body.
This Annual Udaipur Award to each candidate consists of: