Press Release
CARSON CITY, NEVADA, March 20, 2007: Rajan Zed, Director of Public Affairs 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 Assembly session here. This is the first time any Hindu prayer is delivered in the Nevada State Legislature since its formation in 1864, says Pastor Albert Tilstra, Chaplain Coordinator for Nevada Legislature.
Wearing saffron-colored garb, a rudraksha mala (rosary), and traditional sandalpaste marks on the forehead, Zed started with “Gayatri Mantra” in Sanskrit (said to be the language of the Gods) from the Rig-Veda and dated from around 1,500 BCE, considered the oldest holy book still in common use in the world. Keeping with the Legislature tradition of offering inspiration, reflection, and encouragement, he read the next prayer from Brhadaranyakopanisad, composed around 400 BCE, reciting again in Sanskrit (Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya), which roughly translates as: “From the unreal lead me to the real, from the darkness lead me to light, from death lead me to immortality.” The last part of the prayer was from the Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), the famous philosophical and spiritual poem. He concluded by uttering “Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,” which translates as “Peace, Peace, Peace be unto all.” The whole prayer will be included in the Daily Journal of the Legislature, which is a permanent public record.