Nevada State Assembly in Carson City was invoked by a set of Hindu mantras, containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture and Sikh prayer.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed delivered the invocation from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before the Assembly. 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.  Sikh prayers were given by Teji Malik of Las Vegas.

Zed, who is 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, Rajan 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 assemblymembers to keep the welfare of others always in mind. Assemblymembers, employees, public and others present were seen standing in prayer mode with their heads bowed down during the invocation.  

Teji Malik, Las Vegas Sikh community spirtiual leader prayed in Punjabi that “We may belong to different faiths and religions, but our deeds should mainfest our lives towards all we are responsible for.”

Wearing saffron colored attire, a ruddraksh mala (rosary), and traditional sandalpaste tilak (religious mark) on the forehead, Zed sprinkled few drops of water from river Ganga of India, considered holy by Hindus, around the podium before the prayer. Zed presented a copy of a Hindu prayer booklet Srihanuman-Chalisa to Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick, who introduced Zed.

Rajan Zed with Nevada Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick before Hindu invocation

In the state of Nevada, Rajan Zed has already delivered Hindu prayers at City Councils of Las Vegas, Henderson, Sparks and Boulder City; in addition to Nevada Legislature, Clark County Board of Commissioners and Carson City Board of Supervisors.