Vedic Mantras Open Nevada Earth Day Celebrations

April 27, 2007

Source: Indolink

http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleS.php?id=042307105831

Nevada Earth Day 2007 celebrations here today opened with prayers from ancient Hindu Sanskrit scriptures.

Starting with Shanti Mantra in Sanskrit, Rajan Zed, Director of Interfaith Relations of Hindu Temple of Northern Nevada and a Hindu chaplain, read "Prithvi Sukta" (hymn to earth) from Atharva-Veda (composed around 1200 BCE), invoking the Goddess Earth.

He also prayed from Bhagavad-Gita (composed around 500 BCE), where Krishna is quoted as saying, "The brightness of the sun, which lights up the world, the brightness of the moon and of fire—these are my glory. With a drop of my energy I enter the earth and support all creatures. Through the moon, the vessel of life-giving fluid, I nourish all plants."

We may believe in different religions, yet we share the same home—our Earth. We must learn to happily progress or miserably perish together. For man can live individually but can only survive collectively, Zed said quoting ancient Hindu scriptures.

O Goddess Earth, please forgive us as we walk on you this day, Zed added.