Today the Idaho Legislature is scheduled to make uncharacteristic spiritual history. For the first time, the Senate will open with a Hindu mantra. It's one shot against those who stereotype us as closed-minded Neanderthals. More importantly, it's a chance to learn about one of the world's oldest religions.

What is a "mantra?" Put simply, a word or phrase repeated throughout a meditation, prayer, or song. Mantras are not just used by the world's 1 billion Hindus (3 million in the U.S.) to connect with the divine. Other spiritual traditions, such as Buddhists and naturists, say mantras.

The term is also used generally; quite apart from any particular religion, yoga teachers sometimes use mantras to help with relaxation. It can be helpful in basic meditation, to center thoughts upon present time, and to push away the day's mental clutter.

Today's historic invocation, led by Universal Society of Hinduism President Rajan Zed (who approached the Legislature with the offer to say the mantras), will contain verses from "Rig-Veda," the oldest Hindu scripture still in common use. Zed travels worldwide and holds international honors for his work for peace and religious tolerance.

Rig Veda is one of several vedic texts which include hymns and theological inspiration, as well as legal, scientific, philosophical, social, astronomical, and historical references. "Veda" simply means wisdom or vision. The vedas are considered the earliest literary record of the Indo-Aryan civilization and are the most sacred books in India.

Is Rig Veda the Hindu "Bible?" No; in fact Hinduism has no one text, nor can we even call it one religion. It defies such labels, more of a complex set of cultural-spiritual traditions than one religion, dating back up to 10 millennia, depending upon where historians draw the line.

Hinduism does not have any one founder, nor one text to which controversies can be referred for resolution. These provide inspiration and guidance, not canon law. In addition to the mystical, Hindu texts span centuries and include treatises on science, engineering, medicine, and ways of living ("dharma"), as well as metaphysics. Consequently, it does not require adherents to accept any one idea. It is thus cultural more than creedal, its histories contemporaneous with the local peoples who develop its associated faiths.

Contrary to popular misconception, Hinduism is not polytheistic. Those who attach the divine to a being, rather than the simple sum of presence in all life and reality, might be more accurately seen as believing in many incarnations of the same being - i.e., one god by many names (Brahman, Vishnu, Shiva) and roles (Parvati/maternal, Saraswati/knowledge and arts, Ganesh/intellect). In fact, Hinduism's diverse tradition has room for atheists and agnostics too. The Hindu conception of the divine is relatively unlimiting; adherents are free to choose the form of divine which best guides individual spiritual growth.

Today Mr. Zed will pray/chant in ancient Sanskrit (the root language of many Indo-European languages), then in English. He plans to start and end the prayer - which will also include verses from other texts - with "Om," the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work. The mantras, to include passages from other ancient texts, will urge the senators to keep the welfare of others always in mind.

"Lead us from the unreal to the real, lead us from darkness to light, lead us from death to immortality." - from Brahadaranyakopanishad, written approximately one millennium B.C.E.

Sholeh Patrick, J.D., is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.