Agency report
 
Washington, Jul 13: For the first time in its history, the 218-year US Senate opened its session on Thursday with recitation of Hindu prayers.

Hindu priest Rajan Zed, director of public affairs and Interfaith relations of Hindu Temple in Northern Nevada, recited the prayers.

This is the first time since the Senate's inception in 1789 that a Hindu prayer was said in the House and showed recognition of the growing influence of the Indian-American community. All its sessions open with a prayer generally recited by its chaplain.

Zed the first Hindu to offer the Senate prayer began: "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."

As the Senate prepared for another day of debate over the Iraq war, Zed closed with, "Peace, peace, peace be unto all."

Zed, who was born in India, was invited by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat. Speaking in the chamber shortly after the prayer, Reid defended the choice and linked it to the war debate.

However, the prayer was marred by protests by a handful of persons, one of whom shouted "we are Christians and patriots."