A towering 90-foot statue of Hanuman, a Hindu monkey deity, has been erected at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, Texas, near Houston. The massive sculpture was officially raised on August 15 and now stands as the third tallest statue in the continental United States, according to local NBC affiliate KCEN.
The statue, officially named the "Statue of Union," ranks behind only two other monumental sculptures in terms of height. The 151-foot Statue of Liberty in New York holds the top position, while the 110-foot Pegasus and Dragon statue in Hallandale Beach, Florida, claims second place. This placement makes the Texas installation a significant addition to America's landscape of towering monuments.
In Hindu tradition, Hanuman represents an immortal being celebrated for his unwavering devotion to the Hindu god Rama and his embodiment of virtues such as self-control. Temple officials emphasized the symbolic importance of the deity in their community. "Hanuman is a symbol of uniting communities, uniting people behind a goal," explained Vijay Sreenarasimhaiah, the Hindu temple's vice president. "He's an example of a good spiritual leader because he brings people together."
The creation and installation of the statue involved an international effort spanning multiple countries. The design came from Sri Chinnajeeyar Swamiji, who is known by the title "His Holiness," and the conceptual work was completed in India. The actual manufacturing of the statue's components took place in China, after which the pieces were shipped to the United States for final assembly at the temple site.
Temple President Prasad Gadiraju revealed that the statue's dimensions were carefully chosen for their spiritual significance. "90 is a very significant number. It's an auspicious number," he stated, indicating that the height was selected based on religious and cultural considerations rather than purely aesthetic ones.
The installation has drawn attention from various religious communities and commentators. Some Roman Catholic observers have noted that the Hindu statue now surpasses Our Lady of the Rockies, a sculpture of the Blessed Mother located in Montana, which previously held the third-place position among America's tallest statues. LifeSite News specifically reported on this change in rankings.
Unlike museum artifacts or cultural displays, this statue serves as an active religious monument where Hindu worshippers conduct ceremonies and prayers. The temple functions as a place of worship where community members gather to venerate the deity as part of their regular religious practices.
Critical voices have emerged regarding the statue's installation, with some citing religious concerns based on biblical commandments. References to the Second Commandment from Exodus 20:4-6 have been invoked by Christian commentators, along with passages from Deuteronomy 32:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 10:19-20, which address the worship of idols and foreign gods.
Some critics have connected the statue's presence to broader immigration and labor issues, specifically mentioning H-1B visa policies and the estimated five million Hindus who have immigrated to the United States. These commentators have raised concerns about cultural and religious changes in American communities, linking demographic shifts to what they perceive as challenges to traditional American religious values.
The statue's completion represents a significant milestone for the Hindu community in Texas and stands as a testament to the growing religious diversity in the American landscape. The Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple now hosts one of the most prominent Hindu religious monuments in the country, marking a notable development in the intersection of immigration, religious freedom, and cultural expression in modern America.
