Carson City, NV…Special Session of Nevada State Assembly, convened by Governor Steve Sisolak, opened with ancient Hindu mantras on November 12, containing verses from world’s oldest extant scripture. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed delivered the invocation from ancient Sanskrit scriptures remotely before Nevada State Assembly in capital Carson City. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English interpretation of the prayers. 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.

Zed, a global Hindu and interfaith leader, has been bestowed with World Interfaith Leader Award. Zed is Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, on the Advisory Board of The Interfaith Peace Project, etc. He has been panelist for “On Faith”, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced by The Washington Post; and produces a weekly multi-faith panel “Faith Forum” in Reno Gazette-Journal for over ten years.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.2 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

Governor convened this Special Session for redistricting of districts for Representatives in Congress, State Senators, State Assemblymembers, Board of Regents; and adjustment to filing period for judicial candidates.