>A massive new statue has been unveiled in the United States, with the gargantuan construct not honoring a famous American or historical figure but rather a polytheistic group’s god with the head of a monkey. >The “Statue of Union” was inaugurated Aug. 18 at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Hindu Temple in Sugar Land, Texas. >It depicts the Hindu god Lord Hanuman, one of the religion’s countless deities. Hanuman, a god of strength, devotion and selfless service, is most often depicted with the head and tail of a monkey. >The monument stands exactly 89.7 feet tall, making it the third-tallest statue in the United States, according to the “Statue of Union” website. . . Earlier this year, while the statue was still under construction, the Houston-area Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple found itself embroiled in controversy and thrown into a massive legal battle. >In a lawsuit filed April 1, Fort Bend County resident Vijay Cheruvu claimed his 11-year-old son was branded on the shoulders by the temple in the course of a fervent religious ceremony. He seeks more than $1 million in damages. . . [Archive](https://archive.today/yV6FT)