02-24-2008, 07:22 AM
Washington State senate opens with Vedic chants
Silicon Valley (PTI): Vedic mantras filled the Washington State Senate chamber as it opened its session with a Hindu prayer for the first time.
Saffron-clad Rajan Zed, prominent Hindu chaplain, spoke in Sanskrit and English and recited "Om" as lawmakers listened on Friday.
Washington was the latest of six Western state senates that Zed has opened in Hindu prayer, each reportedly for the first time, in the past eight months.
Zed had also opened the US Senate session with Hindu prayers in July that drew protests from the gallery. He had sought permission in August to open Washington State Senate with Hindu prayers and was allowed, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported.
Zed, 54, who was born in India and handles public relations for the Hindu Temple of Northern Nevada, declined to elaborate about his purpose.
"Everyone can use prayer," he said. Later, he issued a statement decribing Friday as "a great day for Washington and historic day of honour for us (Hindus)."
Zed sounds as if he's "kind of on a mission," Brian Dirks, spokesman for Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, said. "That's fine with us. We certainly welcome diversity in prayer requests."
Prayers should not last longer than two minutes, refer to specific legislation or require participation. Clergy are not required to submit the prayer texts for approval.
Zed's prayer, which ran nearly four minutes, included portions of the Rig-Veda, the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.
Zed has recited prayers to the state senates in Nevada, California, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. He is scheduled to pray before lawmakers in Oregon on Tuesday and in Arizona next month.