FAIRFIELD: Fairfield City Council in California (USA), incorporated in 1903, had its first historic Hindu invocation on October 15, containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture.
Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, delivered the invocation from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before the City Council. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English translation of the prayer.
Zed recited from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. He started and ended the prayer with “Om”, the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.
Reciting from Brahadaranyakopanishad, Rajan Zed said, “Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya”, which he then translated as “Lead me from the unreal to the Real, Lead me from darkness to Light, and Lead me from death to Immortality.”
Reciting from Bhagavad-Gita, he urged councilmembers to keep the welfare of others always in mind.
Councilmembers, city employees and public were seen standing in prayer mode with their heads bowed down during this invocation.
Zed presented a copy of prayerbook Srihanumanchalisa to Mayor Harry T. Price, who introduced Zed. “It is a historic moment of pride for the community when the prayers from ancient Sanskrit scriptures are being read in this great hall of democracy of this great city of Fairfield”, Zed stated before starting the invocation.
Located almost midway between San Francisco and Sacramento, Fairfield is known for its Jelly Belly jelly bean factory. Notable people associated with it include actor Pat Morita, football players Desmond Bishop and Steve Johnson, baseball prayer Brad Bergesen and chef Cat Cora. Rick Vaccaro and Sean Quinn are Vice-Mayor and City Manager respectively.
India Post News Service
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