History was created when Rajan Zed, Director of Interfaith Relations of Hindu Temple of Northern Nevada, Public Relations Officer of India Association of Northern Nevada, and a Hindu chaplain, read ancient Hindu prayer/blessing in Sanskrit at the opening of the Nevada State Senate session here today.

This is the first time any Hindu prayer is delivered in the Nevada State Senate since its formation in 1864, says Pastor Albert Tilstra, Chaplain Coordinator for Nevada Legislature.

Wearing saffron colored garb, ruddraksh mala (rosary), and traditional sandal paste marks on the forehead, Zed started with first mantra of Hinduism in Sanskrit (said to be the language of the gods and root language of all Indo-European languages), which was the first hymn of Rig-Veda, dated from around 1,500 BCE, considered the oldest holy book still in common use in the world. "I open my prayer with an invocation to the divine-wherever it may be and however we may conceive it", he added.

Keeping with the Legislature tradition of offering inspiration, reflection, and encouragement, he read the next prayer from Tattiriya Upanishad , composed around 400 BCE, reciting again in Sanskrit (Om saha naavavatu, Saha nau bhunaktu, Saha viiryan karavaavahai, Tejasvi naavadhiitamastu, Maa vidvishhaavahai), which roughly translates as:

May we be protected together.
May we be nourished together.
May we work together with great vigor.
May our study be enlightening.
May no obstacle arise between us.

The next part of the prayer was from Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), the famous philosophical and spiritual poem often considered the epitome of Hinduism dated around third century BCE, which was about duties, action, selfless work, welfare of others, compassion, etc. He concluded reciting the last mantra of Rig Veda, which was about unity. First and last words of his prayer were OM, the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude a religious work. The whole prayer will be included in the Daily Journal of the Senate, which is a permanent public record.

At the opening of the Nevada Senate session, after President of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Brian K. Krolicki, introduced Rajan Zed and he started Hindu prayers, all Senators stood up and listened intently while standing. "This day of May 07, 2007, is an illustrious day for all Nevadans and memorable day for us when opening prayers from ancient Hindu scriptures are being read in this grand hall of democracy," Zed said during the prayer.

Besides people from the area Hindu community; ministers/priests from various Christian denominations like Presbyterian, Episcopal, United Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist; and activists from Satyachetana International and World Peace and Divine Mission also attended the prayers as a gesture of support.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has no datable beginning but some scholars put it around 3,000 BCE. It has no founder, no one authoritative figure, no one deity worshipped by all, and no single prophet or holy book. One of its scriptures, Mahabharata, which dates around third century BCE, is the longest poem ever written, comprising of over 100, 000 couplets.

Rajan Zed, affiliated with World Congress of Faiths-London and listed in "Who's Who in America" 2006, is active in interfaith dialogue in the region. He lives in Reno, Nevada, with wife Shipa Zed, a community volunteer; son Navgeet Zed, a youth activist; and daughter Palkin Zed, an accomplished author of two published books.

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