The Arka flower blooms in the Rajasthani Desert after the monsoon rains. It opens its intricate dark petals, to reveal a green centre, which on the Arka Ring is set with a glowing emerald. To enhance the traditional Vedic properties of the ring, the emerald is set so as to touch the skin below. This is the favourite of Lord Shiva's flowers, and is often used by the people of Jaipur - where this ring is crafted - to venerate him.
The word 'arka' comes from Sanskrit and connects to the concepts of the sun, crystals, wisdom, lightning, fire, and worship. Arka also relates to life force, symbolising a step in the connection between the various large and small cosmoses in which we live. The 22-karat gold of the Arka ring has been hand-etched, and then poured with hot enamel, by hand, in the pink city of Jaipur.
