Chaitra Shuddha Trayodashi
Rajan Zed
Nevada (USA): Sanskrit mantras from ancient Hindu scriptures opened the Nevada State Assembly session here today. After sprinkling Gangajal (holy water brought from river Ganga in India) around the podium, acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed started and ended the prayer with “Om”, the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.
Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, recited from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BCE, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures.
Legislators and others, including many teenagers who filled the visitors gallery, stood respectfully in prayer mode with heads bowed down during the prayer. Adina and Kurt Karst, who came from Minden to listen to the prayer, described it as “wonderful”.
After Sanskrit delivery, Zed read the English translation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages. Reciting from Brahadaranyakopanishad, Zed said, “Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya”, which he then translated as “Lead us from the unreal to the Real, from darkness to Light, and from death to Immortality.” Reciting from Bhagavad-Gita, he urged legislators to keep the welfare of others always in mind. Concluding lines were “Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti”, which he translated as “Peace, Peace, Peace be unto all”.
Source: Forum For Hindu Awackening
