KOCHI: ‘The Essence of Aum’ by Kerala Lalithakala Akademi chairman K A Francis has bagged the first Pranavakshar Puraskar instituted by the Haridwar-based Gangamayya Trust. The award consisting of Rs 25,001 in cash and a citation will be given away at the Upanishad Yagna being organised in connection with the observation of the Samadhi Week of Swami Abhedananda Guru at Haridwar on October 23. The book deals with the primal sound ‘AUM’ and explains what the Upanishads and the sages have said about it. The author also explains that the genesis of creation lies in Aum. Author of several books and specialist in tantric painting, Francis also won a gold medal for Landscape Painting from the Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi in 2000.