International   

Senate session opens with Hindu prayer

Washington: For the first time in its 218-year history, the American Senate on Friday began its session with the recitation of a Hindu prayer, but only after police removed three shouting protesters from visitors’ gallery.

Rajan Zed, Director of Public Affairs and Interfaith Relations of Hindu Temple in Northern Nevada, made history by becoming the first Hindu to deliver the prayer to start off the session. “We meditate on the transcendental glory of the Deity Supreme, who is inside the heart of the Earth, inside the life of the sky and inside the soul of the heaven.

May He stimulate and illuminate our minds,” Mr. Zed, who was born in India, said and ending with “Peace, peace, peace be unto all.”

However, the prayer was marred by protests by three persons who objected to someone other than a Christian delivering the prayer. Capitol Police was summoned to remove them. According to a media report, a male protester took the view “we are Christians and patriots”.

It has been pointed out that for several days the Mississippi-based American Family Association has urged its members to object to the prayer because Mr. Zed would be “seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god.” However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada defended his decision to invite the Indian priest to come and deliver the opening prayer. “If people have any misunderstanding about Indians and Hindus,” Mr. Reid said, “all they have to do is think of Gandhi,” a man “who gave his life for peace”.

“I think it speaks well of our country that someone representing the faith of about a billion people comes here and can speak in communication with our heavenly Father regarding peace,” Mr. Reid said. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

U.N. team to visit Iran’s nuclear facility
North Korea proposes military talks with U.S.
Tamil people are disillusioned, says LTTE
26 killed in Nepal landslip
BBC apologises to Queen over footage
Senate session opens with Hindu prayer
Call for “multi-polar world”
Treasure boat seized
John Howard sees no abuse
Mahatma’s letters auctioned

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu