WASHINGTON: Washington State House of Representatives in capital Olympia opened its March 6, 2019, session with Hindu prayers, containing verses from the world’s oldest existing scripture.
Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, delivered the invocation from ancient Sanskrit scriptures. He then read the English interpretation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.
Zed also recited from Rig Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, and from the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord). 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.
Speaker Pro Tempore John Lovick presided when Zed read this Hindu invocation wearing saffron colored attire, a ruddraksh mala (rosary), and traditional sandal paste tilak (religious mark) on the forehead.
Hinduism, the oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.1 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
With Frank Chopp as Speaker, the Washington House of Representatives has 98 members. Washington, also called the “The Evergreen State”, is known for Mount Rainier, apples, wine, higher life expectancy, extensive ferry system among others. Jay Inslee is the Governor.
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