Statue of Union

{{Infobox monument

|monument_name = Statue of Union

|native_name =

|image = File:Statue_of_Union.jpg

|caption = Statue of Union

|location = Sugar Land, Texas, United States

|designer =

|type = Statue

|material = Panchaloha

|length =

|width =

|height = {{convert|90|ft|m}}

|begin =

|complete =

|open = {{start date and age|2024|08|18}}

|dedicated_to = Hindu God Hanuman

|map_image =

|map_caption =

|map_width =

|coordinates = {{coord|29.6700|N|95.6182|W}}

|extra =

|website = {{URL|https://statueofunion.org/}}

}}

Statue of Union is a 90-foot (27 m) statue built in the likeness of the Hindu God Hanuman, that is located at Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, Texas, United States.{{Cite news |date=2024-08-21 |title=90-ft Hanuman Statue of Union unveiled in Texas, 3rd tallest in US |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/90-ft-hanuman-statue-of-union-unveiled-in-texas-3rd-tallest-in-us/articleshow/112663661.cms |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} It is the fourth-tallest statue in the United States after the Birth of the New World, the Statue of Liberty and the Pegasus and Dragon. The statue is named Statue of Union because Lord Hanuman reunited Sri Rama with Maa Sita in the Hindu epic Ramayana.{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=DC Web |date=2024-08-20 |title=90-Foot Hanuman Statue Unveiled in Houston, Third Largest in U.S. The statue has a posture of Hanuman blessing with both hands, called Abhaya Hanuman. |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/americas/90-foot-hanuman-statue-unveiled-in-houston-third-largest-in-us-1817659 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=www.deccanchronicle.com |language=en}} The statue symbolises “selflessness, devotion, and unity.”{{Cite web |title=Press Trust Of India |url=https://www.ptinews.com/story/national/90-foot-tall-hanuman-murti-becomes-new-landmark-in-texas/1757424 |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=www.ptinews.com}}

Construction

The Statue of Union was envisioned by an Indian spiritual leader Chinna Jeeyar Swami. He called the statue a spiritual epicenter for North America.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-22 |title=90-Foot-Tall Bronze Hanuman 'Statue Of Union' Unveiled In Texas |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/90-foot-tall-bronze-hanuman-murti-statue-of-union-unveiled-in-texas-article-112708277 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Times Now |language=en}} He also envisioned the Statue of Equality in Hyderabad, India.{{Cite web |last=Prasad |first=Sheetal |title=90-ft Lord Hanuman's 'Statue Of Union': Third Tallest in the US |url=https://news24online.com/world/lord-hanumans-90-foot-statue-third-tallest-in-the-us/319404/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=News24 |language=en}}

The statue is cast in bronze. It depicts Lord Hanuman in the upright position with both his palms facing forward. Its detailed craftsmanship includes his main weapon Gada with patterns around it. The base of the statue features detailed design of an elephant and flowers.{{Cite web |title=Grand 90-Foot-Tall Lord Hanuman Statue Unveiled In Houston; Check Pics |url=https://odishatv.in/webstories/national/grand-90-foot-tall-lord-hanuman-statue-unveiled-in-houston-check-pics-242054 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Odisha TV |language=en}}

The unveiling of the statue took place after a 3-day ceremony that happened between August 15 and 18, 2024. It started on August 15, overlapping with India's Independence Day celebrations. The prana pratishtha took place at precisely 9:09 AM on August 18, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Historic Inauguration of the Statue of Union: A Grand Celebration in Sugar Land {{!}} Indo American News |url=https://www.indoamerican-news.com/historic-inauguration-of-the-statue-of-union-a-grand-celebration-in-sugar-land/ |access-date=2024-09-04}} The ceremony featured flower showering from a helicopter, a sacred water sprinkling, and a 72-feet-long garland draped around Lord Hanuman’s neck.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-22 |title=Texas gets tallest Hanuman statue outside India. What you need to know |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/texas-gets-tallest-hanuman-statue-outside-india-what-you-need-to-know-13807215.html |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Firstpost |language=en-us}} The event was also accompanied by patriotic songs and the national anthems of India and the US, including Vande Mataram, Jana Gana Mana, and the Star-Spangled Banner.

Religious Contentions

Following the installation of the statue, media reported remarks by some, who described the statue as demonic (traditional thought in Christian Orthodoxy teaches that pagan gods are antithetical to the Christian God). {{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/huge-hindu-statue-texas-sparks-conservative-backlash-1942732|title=Huge half-monkey half-human statue in Texas sparks conservative backlash|first=Aila Slisco|last=Writer|date=August 21, 2024|website=Newsweek|accessdate=August 28, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-church-group-protests-against-90-foot-lord-hanuman-statue-in-us-calls-it-demon-god-753601|title=Watch | Church group protests against 90-foot Lord Hanuman statue in US, calls it 'demon god'|date=August 27, 2024|website=WION|accessdate=August 28, 2024}}