Sanskrit mantras opened Sparks City Council in Nevada

[Vyom]

City Council of Sparks (Nevada, USA), incorporated in 1905, reverberated with Sanskrit mantras from ancient Hindu scriptures on February 13 afternoon.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed delivered invocation from Sanskrit scriptures before Sparks City Council on this day. 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.

Zed, who is the 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. Om was followed by Gayatri Mantra, considered the most sacred mantra in Hinduism.

City Council members, City employees, and public stood quietly in prayer mode with heads bowed down during the prayer. Rajan Zed was wearing saffron colored attire, a ruddraksh mala (rosary) and traditional sandalpaste tilak (religious mark) on the forehead.

Reciting from Bhagavad-Gita, Zed prayed to Lord so that public officials are "pure, efficient, impartial, selfless" in all the undertakings. Mayor Geno R. Martini introduced and thanked Zed.

Rajan Zed has been awarded "World Interfaith Leader Award" and is Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to New York headquartered Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, Director of Interfaith Relations of Nevada Clergy Association, Spiritual Advisor to National Association of Interchurch & Interfaith Families, etc.

Sparks, whose city slogan is "It's Happening Here", is a custom-made town, tailored ordered by the Southern Pacific Railway Company. Shaun Carey is the City Manager. Notable people associated with Sparks include: actress Jena Malone, political pundit Karl Rove, swimmer Brian Retterer, and cartoonist Brian Crane.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

Details of the picture attached: Just before the Hindu invocation, from left to right are—Councilmember Ed Lawson, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, Mayor Geno Martini, and Councilmembers Mike Carrigan and Ron Schmitt.

South Asia Mail

 

[Razor]

Can you tell me some of the mantra that were recited.

 

[sesha_maruthi27]

Nice, at last they have started realizing the greatness of VEDA and SANSKRIT..........

 

[Vyom]

Can you tell me some of the mantra that were recited.

No idea.

Nice, at last they have started realizing the greatness of VEDA and SANSKRIT..........

The trend is not new.

 

[balai_c]

Sometime back a similar incident of opening using vedic chants in Kentucky, US involved some sad incident where a republican Governor accused his opponent of Idolatry. Apparently, some Christians have some problem with Idolatry , including moorthipuja.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/11/post_30.php

 

[maomao]

Sometime back a similar incident of opening using vedic chants in Kentucky, US involved some sad incident where a republican Governor accused his opponent of Idolatry. Apparently, some Christians have some problem with Idolatry , including moorthipuja.

Hindu 'Idolatry' Issue in Kentucky Campaign | Talking Points Memo

Bro, lets not nag about this particular incident. We should be thankful to the US and it's citizens for giving Hinduism a platform; can you imagine this in a Muslim majority country? Let's not blame xians here!

P.S: You cannot construct a temple in the whole of Arabia you will be beheaded if you try, and even in pakistan and BD is becoming tough to maintain whatever places of worship we have!

 

[Poseidon]

P.S: You cannot construct a temple in the whole of Arabia you will be beheaded if you try, and even in pakistan and BD is becoming tough to maintain whatever places of worship we have!

I think there are some temples in Pakistan & BD.They are relatively more tolerant than Arabs.IN RSA you could be arrested for praying in a unislamic way.

 

[Vyom]

This is from 2010:

Alaska Senate, House of Reps open with Sanskrit shlokas

 

[balai_c]

Imagine if an event like this happened in India! A Hindu claiming that Hinduism is the SOLE path, and a christian artefect is insulting to India! Guess the reaction of the press worldwide.

 

[maomao]

I think there are some temples in Pakistan & BD.They are relatively more tolerant than Arabs.IN RSA you could be arrested for praying in a unislamic way.

I had clearly mentioned that it is becoming 'tough to maintain whatever places of worship Hindus have in pakistan and BD'....as Islamists have taken over most of these places which had been located at prime locations and this still continues, as survival for Hindus is the key issue rather than defending temples!

I never said there were no temples in pakistan and BD, how can that be possible when these paces where zenith/pinnacle of Dharmic faiths (once upon a time)!

 

[W.G.Ewald]

There are plenty of hippie flower children from the 60's who are now mayors and city council members. :-D

 

[Ray]

This is from 2010:

Alaska Senate, House of Reps open with Sanskrit shlokas

That could be dangerous.

Sarah Palim may start seeing India from her window!