The Oklahoma Senate welcomed a new voice Monday for its chaplain of the day.
Sen. Gary Stanislawski announced to the chamber that as is their custom, they would open with a prayer. Not the Senate’s custom, however, is a Hindu prayer.
Rajan Zed’s Sanskrit and English invocation Monday was the first Hindu prayer in the body’s 110-year history. Zed asked lawmakers to consider the glory of the supreme being; always work with others’ welfare in mind; and pray for protection, knowledge and unity.
"Om, shanti, shanti, shanti. Peace, peace, peace be unto all. Om. Thank you," Zed concluded.
Hindu statesman Zed, from Reno, Nevada, was a guest of Sen. Stephanie Bice.
"His desire is to deliver an invocation in every state capitol across the country," said Senate President Mike Schulz. "It’s going to be part of what we’re calling Interfaith Week. We’re going to have several different pastors in that week to do the invocations."
Zed will also deliver invocations this week for the Oklahoma and Grady county boards of commissioners, and for the Enid City Council.
"Thank you, Oklahoma Senate, for the opportunity for prayers from ancient Sanskrit scriptures to be read in this great hall of democracy of the great state of Oklahoma," Zed said.
Hinduism is the oldest and third-largest religion in the world, with 1.1 billion adherents.
