By reading the opening prayer in the Senate on July 30, Zed drew attention to his mission of promoting understanding among diverse faiths in America.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who has read a record 312 Hindu invocations in legislative bodies in 44 US states and Canada, delivered the opening prayer in the United States Senate in Washington, DC for the second time on July 30.
The first time Zed, President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, opened the US Senate in July 2007 was a landmark. He became the first Hindu chaplain to receive that honor on the invitation of the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Unfortunately, three Christian protesters interrupted Zed, an incident reported widely by the media.
This time, wearing saffron robes, a rudraksha rosary, and a religious mark on his forehead, Rajan Zed gave a profound message for humanity, translating verses from the Vedic scriptures into English.
“We meditate on the transcendental glory of the deity supreme who is inside the heart of the Earth, inside the life of the sky, inside the soul of heaven. May he stimulate and illuminate our minds, lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality. Let us strive to constantly serve the welfare of the world. Through devotion to the selfless, one attains the supreme goal of life,” he said as recorded by C-Span, the official Congressional channel.
Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto praised Rajan Zed, noting his historic 2007 Hindu prayer in the U.S. Senate and spiritual leadership for two decades.
Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto recognized guest chaplain Rajan Zed in her welcome speech, highlighting his significant contributions. “Mr. Zed is a religious leader of the Hindu community in Reno, Nevada, and has taken up causes from all over the world.” She went on to say that he is an active member of the Nevada Interfaith Association.
Rajan Zed has earned world renown for his pioneering efforts in interfaith dialogue and promoting religious inclusivity, fostering understanding and respect among diverse faith traditions. For his continued endeavors over two decades, he has been bestowed with the World Interfaith Leader Award. He is also on the Advisory Board of The Interfaith Peace Project, among other honors.
He has been a panelist for ‘On Faith’, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion by The Washington Post, and has produced a weekly multi-faith panel, ‘Faith Forum,’ in a Gannett publication for over 13 years.
Hinduism, the oldest and third-largest religion in the world, has about 1.2 billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in the USA.
Pictures: Screengrabs from C-Span videos.
