Texas unveils world’s tallest statue of Hanumanji: What you should know

A remarkable 90-foot-tall bronze statue of Bhagwan Hanuman was recently unveiled in Texas, USA.

Called the ‘Statue of Union,’ this impressive new landmark is now the third tallest sculpture in the US, visible from miles away. The unveiling of this majestic statue marks “a new milestone in America’s cultural and spiritual landscape,” according to the organisers. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

The ‘Statue of Union’ is situated at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Mandir in Sugar Land, Texas. According to its dedicated website, the statue aims to create a spiritual hub where hearts find comfort, minds find tranquillity, and souls discover a path to transcendence.

The colossal statue ranks among the tallest in the US, standing just behind the Statue of Liberty (151 feet) and the Pegasus and Dragon in Florida (110 feet). It has surpassed the Our Lady of the Rockies statue, which is 88.6 feet tall, making it the third tallest statue in the US.

Regarding the statue’s name, the website explains, “The Statue of Union will be North America’s tallest statue of Bhagwan Hanuman, symbolising strength, devotion, and selfless service. Hanuman played a key role in uniting Sri Ram with Sita, which inspired the name, Statue of Union.”

The statue was unveiled during an elaborate three-day Prana Prathishta ceremony from August 15 to 18. The event included a helicopter showering the statue with flowers, sprinkling sacred water, and a 72-foot-long garland draped around Bhagwan Hanuman’s neck while thousands of devotees chanted the names of Sri Ram and Hanuman together.

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.”

According to a statement from the organiser, the statue was conceived based on the vision of His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, a Padma Bhushan awardee and respected Vedic scholar. “He envisioned the project as a spiritual center for North America,” the organiser noted.

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.”

One user replied, “This is the Abhaya mudra by Buddha, used to calm the sea associated with the flooding of the Neranyjara River. You’re interpreting it to fit your own agenda. Charming.” Another commenter added, “Haha. Our mythologist seems confused about the difference between the Abhaya mudra and a gesture indicating not to fight. Without the cultural context, one might mistakenly think Hanuman was sculpted giving a high-five.”

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