Hindu Prayer to Open United States Senate Session in July 2007

For the first time in its history, on July 12, 2007 the United States senate will open with a Hindu Prayer. Rajan Zed, a Hindu priest from Nevada, who had previously offered prayers to open sessions of the Nevada State Assembly in March and Nevada State Senate in May this year will become the first Hindu to deliver the opening prayer in U.S. Senate.

Jewish and Islamic leaders have earlier delivered opening prayer in the U.S. Senate apart from Protestant and Catholic priests. The senators recommend religious leaders from their home states to serve as guest chaplains.

Cnsnews reports

Zed, a U.S. citizen originally from India, said he has not finalized the prayer but that it will likely quote Hindu scriptures including the Rig Veda, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita.

He said he plans to start and end the prayers with ‘OM,’ the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.