City Council of Rochester (New Hampshire), reportedly for the first time since its incorporation in 1891, will start its day with Hindu mantras on February two, containing verses from worlds oldest extant scripture.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will deliver the invocation from ancient Sanskrit scriptures remotely before the City Council of Rochester, largest city in the seacoast region. After Sanskrit delivery, he then will 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, will recite fromRig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use; besides lines fromUpanishadsandBhagavad-Gita(Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. He plans to start and end the prayer with Om, the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.

Reciting fromBrahadaranyakopanishad, Rajan Zed plans to say Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya; which he will then interpret as Lead us from the unreal to the real, Lead us from darkness to light, and Lead us from death to immortality. Reciting fromBhagavad-Gita, he proposes to urge councilmembers and others present to keep the welfare of others always in mind.

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 a Gannett publication for over nine 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.

Rochester, known as the Lilac City, serves as a gateway to the Lakes Region, the White Mountains, and the Seacoast; and Cocheco River flows through it. Mission Statement of the City of Rochester includes contributing to a sense of community and the overall quality of life. Caroline McCarley and Blaine Cox are Mayor and City Manager respectively.

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Hindu prayer to open Rochester Council in New Hampshire for the 1st time in 130 years - NewsPatrolling