Boise City Council had its first Hindu invocation

Nija vaishakh Krushna Trayodashi, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

From Our Correspondent

City Council of Boise, one of America’s top places to live, opened its official meeting with Hindu mantras on June eight, reportedly for the first time since its incorporation in 1866.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed delivered this opening prayer from ancient Sanskrit scriptures. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English translation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.

Council members, city employees and public stood quietly in prayer mode with heads bowed down during the prayer. Wearing saffron colored attire, a ruddraksh mala (rosary), and traditional sandalpaste tilak (religious mark) on the forehead, Zed said before the actual prayer: “This is a day of honor for us when wisdom from ancient Sanskrit scriptures is being read in this great hall of democracy of great city of Boise.” Zed sprinkled few drops of sacred water from river Ganga in India around the podium before the prayer. Mayor David H. Bieter thanked Zed.

Rajan Zed, who is the President of Universal Society of Hinduism, 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, 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 councilors to keep the welfare of others always in mind and act selflessly.

Rajan Zed is one of the panelists for “On Faith”, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com. He has been awarded “World Interfaith Leader Award” by National Association of Interchurch and Interfaith Families.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

Idaho’s capital and most populous city Boise has received recognition as most secure place to live, one of the hottest cities for entrepreneurs, one of the best places for business and careers, etc. According to Mayor Bieter: Boise consistently lands on national "best places" lists for families, businesses and recreation year after year.

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