Texas gets tallest Hanuman statue outside India. What you need to know

A striking 90-foot-tall bronze statue of Lord Hanuman was recently unveiled in US’ Texas.

Dubbed the ‘Statue of Union,’ the striking new landmark, is visible from miles around as it is now the third tallest sculpture in the US. The unveiling of this majestic statue represents “a new milestone in the cultural and spiritual landscape of America,” organisers said.

Here’s all we know about it

1. The ‘Statue of Union,’ is located at Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, Texas. The website, named after the sculpture, says that the statue “is about creating a spiritual epicenter where hearts find solace, minds find peace, and souls find a path to transcendence.”

2. Regarding the choice of name for the statue, the website said, “The Statue of Union will be North America’s tallest statue of Lord Hanuman, an embodiment of strength, devotion, and selfless service. Hanuman united Sri Rama with Sita and hence the name, Statue of Union.”

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3. The colossal statue is one of the tallest in the US, trailing only behind the Statue of Liberty (151 feet) and the Pegasus and Dragon in Florida (110 feet). It replaced the Our Lady of the Rockies statue as the third tallest in the US, which stands at 88.6 feet.

The third tallest statue in the US is now located in Sugar Land, TX, standing at 90 feet tall.

Located at Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, the ‘Statue of Union’ depicting Hindu god Hanuman was recently inaugurated, believed to represent “strength and hope.”pic.twitter.com/Nuzu2JUavN

— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) August 21, 2024

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4. According to the statement issued by the organiser, the statue is built on the visions of His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, a Padma Bhushan awardee and esteemed Vedic scholar. “He envisioned the project as a spiritual epicentre for North America,” the organiser added.

5.  The statue was unveiled during a grand three-day Prana Prathishta ceremony held from August 15 to 18. The event featured a helicopter showering flowers on the statue, sacred water sprinkling, and a 72-foot-long garland draped around Lord Hanuman’s neck, all while thousands of devotees chanted the names of Shri Ram and Hanuman in unison.

6. As per the organisers’ statement, “The rituals in the ceremony were led by Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji and overseen by a multitude of Vedic priests and scholars, and were a powerful display of devotion and spirituality.”

7. Indian mythologist and writer Devdutt Pattanaik suggested that the Hanuman statue, with both arms raised, is inspired by the Thai Buddha’s gesture of “do not fight.” On X, Pattanaik shared a photo of the sculpture and remarked, “Thank you guys - a shift from those rather inauspicious (angry) images promoted by Breaking Bharat Bullies.” However, this theory has been challenged by many social media users.

8. One user responded, “It is Abhaya mudra, by Buddha, to calm the sea associated with the flooding of Neranyjara River. You are interpreting to suit your agenda. Charming." Another commented, “lol. Our mythologist doesn’t know the difference between Abhaya mudra and the do not fight gesture. Without cultural context, one could say Hanuman was sculpted with a high five gesture.”

10. According to Financial Express, a 25-foot-tall statue of Lord Hanuman, previously the tallest in the US, was installed in Delaware in June 2020. Weighing an impressive 45 tonnes, it was shipped from Hyderabad to New York by sea before being installed in Hockessin, New Castle County, Delaware.

Patibanda Sharma, President of the Hindu Temple of Delaware Association, had told ANI, “It has been shipped from Warangal, Telangana to Delaware."

With input from agencies