California Senate opened with Hindu prayer for first time

Washington, Aug 29 (UNI) California State Senate heard its first Hindu opening prayer in its 157 years history, when Hindu chaplain, Rajan Zed, recited Gayatri and other ancient Sanskrit mantras.

Starting with "Om", he read from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BC.

He also delivered from Brahadaranyakopnisad, Taittiriya Upanisad, and Bhagavad-Gita, all ancient Hindu scriptures.

He ended the prayer with last mantra of Rig-Veda, "samani va akutih", before concluding with "Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti", which he then translated as "Peace, Peace, Peace be unto all".

Before starting the prayer, he sprinkled Gangajal (holy water from river Ganga in India) on the podium, which is traditional in Hindu worship.

Wearing saffron colored attire, a ruddraksh mala (rosary), and traditional sandalpaste tilak (religious mark) on the forehead, Zed, after reciting the original lines in Sanskrit, then read the English translation of the verses.

UNI