In March 2026, six legislative bodies in Arizona—including the City/Town Councils of Peoria, Payson, Youngtown, Parker, Huachuca, and the Gila County Board of Supervisors in Globe—will begin their meetings with Hindu prayers. Distinguished Hindu leader Rajan Zed will deliver invocations drawn from ancient Sanskrit scriptures, considered the world’s oldest continuous written tradition.
Zed, President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, will recite verses from the Rig-Veda, Upanishads, and Bhagavad-Gita. He will begin and conclude his prayers with “Om,” the mystical syllable symbolizing the universe, which traditionally opens and closes Hindu rituals. After reciting the Sanskrit verses, Zed will provide English interpretations so that participants can understand the meaning and significance of the prayers.
Among the verses, Zed will include lines from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, such as “Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya,” interpreted as “Lead us from the unreal to the real, Lead us from darkness to light, and Lead us from death to immortality.” From the Bhagavad-Gita, he will emphasize the importance of keeping the welfare of others in mind, encouraging council members and county supervisors to focus on service and ethical governance.
Rajan Zed, a globally recognized Hindu and interfaith leader, has received the World Interfaith Leader Award. He serves on advisory boards, acts as a religious advisor to multiple organizations, and leads interfaith panels and discussions in prominent media outlets, including USA TODAY Network and The Washington Post.
Hinduism, the world’s oldest and third-largest religion, has around 1.2 billion followers globally and 3.2 million adherents in the United States. The ultimate goal in Hindu practice is moksha, or spiritual liberation. By bringing these ancient prayers into legislative settings, Arizona councils and supervisors aim to foster reflection, ethical decision-making, and awareness of the greater good.
