Local Hindu Chaplain Rajan Zed continues to make what I consider positive news. Here's what went on in Reno after his U.S. Senate opening prayer (see previous post).


Nevada clergy, drawn from various religions, today came together in support of fellow Nevadan chaplain Rajan Zed, whose historic first Hindu prayer in United States (US) Senate in Washington DC on July 12 faced protest shouts from visitors gallery.

Catholic, Protestant, Latter Day Saints, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Bahai clergy today honored him with a grand reception here, where various political, government, community, and student leaders were also present. He was garlanded by Reverend Gene Savoy Jr., President of Nevada Clergy Association, and was presented with a plaque by Rabbi Myra Soifer of local Temple Sinai on behalf of Interfaith Community of Northern Nevada, which said, "…The interfaith clergy and leaders of northern Nevada proudly recognize and honor this unprecedented achievement…"

The atmosphere was filled with love, unity and togetherness where clergy with seriously different traditions mingled with each other over spicy East Indian food and laughed in unison.

Robert M. Larkin, Commissioner and Chairman of Washoe County Commission, presented him a Resolution on behalf of Washoe County recognizing and commending for his dedication to citizens of Washoe County. Michael Poehlman, Reno Police Chief, speaking on the occasion, said that it was honor to have Rajan Zed in the community for his selfless service in bringing communities together.

Reverend Gene Savoy Jr., President of Nevada Clergy Association, which organized this reception, said, "With this gesture, we want to send the word of love and mutual respect from Nevada. We are proud of Rajan for his message of peace, brotherhood, selflessness and unity, which he delivered in the US Senate. He created a national milestone by reciting the first Hindu prayer in US Senate on July 12 since its formation in 1789."

Shanti Shanti, the only Sanskrit rock band in the world, delivered a Sanskrit number on the occasion in his honor (Sansk rit is considered a sacred language, the language of the gods, by Hindus), while Roya Galata sang a Bahai prayer song.

John Auer, Pastor of Reno First United Methodist Church, speaking on the occasion, said, "Historic moments in this joint planetary journey—such as offering of the first Hindu invocation ever in the United States Senate—help to fill in a vital bit more of the new reality pictured from faraway spaces. Thank you Rajan for taking another humble bold step on the way."

Nicholas F. Frey, a leader of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, remarked about Zed, "Thank you for enlarging this spirit of respect and appreciation for differences which unites us."

Jay Hull, Senior Pastor of local Covenant Presbyterian Church, congratulated Zed on praying before the Senate, while Ismail Ozdemir, President of Sierra Foundation, an interfaith and intercultural dialogue organization, said, "Prayer in the Senate is a good sign which gives us hope."

Reverend Charles Durante, Pastor, and Sister Marie McGloin, both of Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Community of Carson City; Claire Earl, Stake President of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Dr. Tom Butler, Pastor of Sparks United Methodist Church; Abdul Barghouthi, Imam of Northern Nevada Muslim Center; Reverend William Bartlett, Assistant Priest of Reno Buddhist Church Eikyoji; Susan Lisagor, Regional Representative of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; Michael Kearl Bolingbroke, Director of Nevada Institute of Religion; Sean Savoy and Robert Petrovich of the International Community of Christ; William Barrett, a retired Senior Presbyterian Pastor; Diego Martin of Reno Hispanic Church; Swami Pooja Saraswati, a Hindu monk; Patricia Richard from University of Nevada-Reno President's Office; etc., participated in congratulating Zed for the first Hindu prayer in US Senate.

Rajan Zed stated on the occasion, "More inclusive understanding of religion is needed. Bhagavad-Gita says—Whatever form (of the Divine) any devotee with faith wishes to worship, I make that faith of his steady. The challenge is for us all to learn to live together with our philosophical differences, not only in peace but in some sort of trust and mutual loyalty. Existence of different faiths is positively willed by God, as a sign of God's bountifulness. We were all looking for the truth."

Luke Cameron Barrett, a student of local Truckee Meadows Community College, who is a devout Presbyterian, when asked why he was attending the reception honoring a Hindu chaplain, he remarked, "All people have more in common than they have in conflict. Dialogue helps us overcome the prejudices, caricatures, and stereotypes that are handed down from one generation to the next."

History was created on July 12 when Rajan Zed opened US Senate session with Gayatri Mantra from Rig-Veda , the oldest Hindu text composed around 1,500 BCE. He sprinkled few drops of water around the podium from Ganges river of India, which is considered holy in Hinduism and is used in the prayers, before the start of the Senate prayer. Three protesters in the visitors' gallery tried to disrupt the prayer and were arrested.

Zed's prayer included recitations from Brahadaranyakopanisad and Tattiriya Upanisad. Reading from third chapter of Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), the famous philosophical and spiritual poem often considered the epitome of Hinduism, he urged Senators to strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world, performing their duties with the welfare of others always in mind, because by devotion to selfless work one attains the supreme goal of life. May they work carefully and wisely, guided by compassion, and without thought for themselves, he added.

City of Reno issued a proclamation to Zed during the City Council meeting and presented him with a plaque, while Reno Police Chief, Michael Poehlman, gave him with "Chief's Certificate of Commendation" to recognize his good works in "promoting peace and tranquility for all, regardless of race or faith" and to commend him for continuing his work in promoting interfaith dialogue. Various other organizations in India and US are planning to honor him.

According to reports, people in India were thrilled to get the news of first Hindu prayer in US Senate where it mostly received front-page display. There are reports of schoolchildren praying, fireworks, religious recitations, etc., at some places in India. People of Fazilka, a town of southwestern Punjab in India, where he worked as Public Relations Officer for State Government about 31 years ago, has decided to honor him when he visits next. Shiva Vishnu Temple of Lanham, Maryland, invited and honored Zed on July 12 evening after the Senate feat.

This historic prayer and the shouting protest to it made unprecedented rounds of the Internet. On You Tube, the roughly 90-second C-Span video clip of his praying in the Senate has been one of the "top favorites" with just one posting (among many) having 229, 744 views. A United Kingdom marketing firm declared it one among the "Top 5 Viral Videos". Google search brought 120, 000 results and 1,571 blogs besides English, were also in Dutch, French, Italian, and Spanish. Offices of the Senate Chaplain and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reportedly received hundreds of protest calls.

When Zed delivered the first Hindu prayer in Nevada State Assembly and Nevada State Senate in March and May last, many clergy from various Christian denominations attended the prayers as a gesture of support for him.

About thirteen percent of the world's population is Hindu. Currently there are about 800 Hindu religious centers in the United States of America, concentrated in California, New York, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, and New Jersey. Hinduism in North America began in 1830s with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau studying Hindu scriptures like Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita. Vivekananda made a strong impression at World's Parliament of Religion in Chicago in 1893 and he then founded Vedanta Society, Protap Chunder Mozoomdar of Brahmo Samaj delivered his first American address on September 02, 1883 in Concord, Massachusetts.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has no datable beginning but some scholars put it around 3,000 BCE. It has no founder, no one authoritative figure, no one deity worshipped by all, and no single prophet or holy book. One of its scriptures, Mahabharata, is the longest poem ever written, comprising over 100,000 couplets.

Rajan Zed, besides being Director of Public Affairs and Interfaith Relations of Hindu Temple of Northern Nevada, is also Public Relations Officer of India Association of Northern Nevada, affiliated with World Congress of Faiths-London, listed in "Who's Who in America" 2006, volunteers as a chaplain in various hospitals of northwestern Nevada and nearby California, and is active in interfaith dialogue in the region. He lives in Reno with wife Shipa Zed, a community volunteer; son Navgeet Zed, recipient of Nevada Peacemaker of the Year award; and daughter Palkin Zed, an accomplished author of two published books.