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.
Picture by: Debbie McCarthy