Houston | A 90-foot-tall bronze murti of the god Hanuman unveiled near here, symbolizing “a new milestone in the cultural and spiritual landscape of America,” is the newest landmark in Texas visible for miles and the third-tallest sculpture in the United States.

The “Statue of Union,” as it is also called, is one of the tallest statues in the world and has several other special features: It is the tallest Hanuman murti outside India, the tallest in Texas and the third tallest statue in the United States, surpassed only by the Statue of Liberty in New York (46 meters) and the Pegasus and Dragon statue in Hallandale Beach, Florida (33 meters), organizers said.

The Hanuman Murti “Statue of Unity,” unveiled during a grand Prana Prathishta Mahotsavam ceremony from August 15 to 18 at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, about 22 miles away, symbolizes “selflessness, devotion and unity,” organizers said, adding that the murti was named to “honor Hanuman’s pivotal role in the reunion of Lord Ram and Sita.” “This impressive structure is the result of the visionary efforts of His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, a Padma Bhushan awardee and renowned Vedic scholar, who conceived the project as a spiritual epicenter for North America,” organizers said in a statement.

The celebrations began on August 15, coinciding with India’s Independence Day, and culminated in the grand Pran Prathistha ceremony on August 18. “The rituals, led by Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji and supervised by a host of Vedic priests and scholars, were a striking display of devotion and spirituality,” the statement said.