NEVADA: Both Nevada Senate and Assembly opened with Hindu invocations on Friday, April 17 containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture.
Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, delivered the opening prayers from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before the Nevada Senate and Assembly. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English translation of the prayers. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and is the root language of Indo-European languages.
Zed also recited from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita . Reciting from Brahadaranyakopanishad, he said, “Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya”, which means “Lead us from the unreal to the Real, Lead us from darkness to Light, and Lead us from death to immortality.”
Reciting from Bhagavad-Gita, he urged state Senators and Assembly-members to keep the welfare of others always in mind. Senators, Assembly-members, state employees and public were seen standing in prayer mode with their heads bowed down during these invocations.
Wearing saffron colored attire, a ruddraksh mala (rosary), and traditional sandalpaste tilak (religious mark) on the forehead, Zed sprinkled few drops of water from river Ganga of India, considered holy by Hindus, around the podium before the prayers. Zed presented a copy of Hanumanchalisa to Nevada Lieutenant Governor Mark A. Hutchison, who introduced and thanked Zed in the Senate.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
Nevada State Senate has 21 members while Nevada Assembly has 42 members. Nevada, largest gold producer and 7th largest state, was admitted to USA in 1864. Also called “Silver State”, Nevada is known for Las Vegas, Burning Man, Lake Tahoe, etc. Brian Sandoval is Governor.
Madhu Patel
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