வட கரோலினாவில் திட்டமிடப்பட்ட முருகன் கோயில், ‘மிக உயரமான இந்து சிலை’ குறித்து வெள்ளை கிறிஸ்தவ மேலாதிக்கக் குழப்பத்தைத் தூண்டுகிறது, இந்தியாவில் ராட்சத இயேசு சிலைகள் சவால் செய்யப்படாமல் நிற்கின்றன.
A planned Murugan temple in North Carolina has become the latest target of online Hinduphobic attacks, weeks after similar controversies erupted over Hindu religious symbols and statues in the United States.
The temple project, initiated in 2018 by a Tamil Hindu community organization, aims to build a sprawling complex in Moncure, North Carolina, featuring the world’s tallest statue of Lord Murugan, along with a Tamil cultural museum, library, and temple. According to the official website, the complex will span more than 130 acres.
Whites Decry Hindu Deity Statues
White journalist who claims to be an “independent” journo Stephen Horn triggered controversy with a viral post on social media, claiming that “Hindus have acquired over a hundred acres for a massive temple complex in the rural town of Moncure, NC The Tamils plan to build the world’s largest statute of their “warrior god” Murugan, which would be taller than the Statue of Liberty”
Horn added,“However, the “Carolina Murugan Temple” site appears to still be largely undeveloped while the organization attempts to fundraise the millions and millions of dollars required with events such as a fundraiser today selling “blessed” Sarees”
His post drew amplified reactions from some conservative Christian zealot circles.
Matt Van Swol, a former nuclear scientist with the U.S. Department of Energy, wrote, “HOLY CRAP!!! Hindus in North Carolina have acquired over 130 acres of residential land and are CURRENTLY building a MASSIVE temple with plans for a 155-foot statue of Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war. The statue will be taller than the Statue of Liberty… WHAT?!!!!!!!”
Texas Republican leader Alexander Duncan, who had earlier described Lord Hanuman as a “false god”, commented that such temples were “not what the Founding Fathers envisioned when they wrote the First Amendment.” So much for religious freedom in the US!
He even shared a verse from the Bible to underscore his point. He wrote, “Those who worship idols are disgraced—all who brag about their worthless gods—for every god must bow to him.” Psalm 97:7″
Hindus Call Out Hypocrisy
The wave of online criticism follows similar anti-Hindu sentiment expressed last year over the 90-foot Panchaloha Hanuman statue in Texas, which drew protests from church groups that branded the deity “demonic.” The Hanuman statue, built on private property, had faced demonstrations by local Christian groups in 2024.
Christian Land Holdings and Humungous Statues in India
Observers have noted the contrast between Western criticism of Hindu religious expressions abroad and the widespread Christian symbolism in India, where the Catholic Church is estimated to be the second-largest landowner after the Indian government, holding over seven crore hectares (17.29 crore acres) valued at roughly ₹20,000 crore.
India is home to over 28,000 churches and numerous Christian statues, several of which are far larger than the Texas Hanuman statue. These include:
Pune, Maharashtra – A bronze statue of Jesus Christ unveiled at the World Peace Dome, MIT World Peace University, in November 2022, alongside 54 other statues within the 263-foot-high dome.
Ambala, Haryana – A 5.5-foot statue at the 1848 Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, one of the oldest in the region.
Ramanagara, Karnataka – A 114-foot-tall Jesus statue under construction in Kanakapura, initiated in 2020 by Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar.
Bengaluru, Karnataka – A 35-foot statue at Mount Olive, Gethsemane Garden, Hennur Bande, made of reinforced cement and fibre, completed for ₹65 lakh.
Mumbai, Maharashtra – The statue near Infant Jesus Chapel in Malad West, which became famous in 2016 for “seeping water.”
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – A 10-meter (33-foot) statue made of fibre, wax, and resin, with eyes that glow in the dark.
Velankanni, Tamil Nadu – The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue at the Our Lady of Vailankanni Church, a major Catholic pilgrimage site.
Mumbai, Maharashtra – The Jesus statue at Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra, one of the oldest Catholic churches in India.
Vizhinjam, Tamil Nadu – A 33-foot-tall statue of Jesus with arms spanning 33 feet, totaling 90 feet in height with its base.
Assolna, Goa – The Cristo Rei monument, constructed in 1934, inspired by a similar statue in Karachi.
Altinho, Goa – A statue of Jesus Christ outside the Bishop’s Palace in Panaji.
Hyderabad, Telangana – A statue inside St. Joseph’s Cathedral, dating back to the early 19th century.
Mysore, Karnataka – Saint Philomena’s Cathedral, with twin spires 175 feet tall and a 54-foot statue of the saint.
Kolkata, West Bengal – A bronze statue of Mother Teresa unveiled at the Archbishop House on her 106th birth anniversary.
Thiruvalla, Kerala – The “Healing Christ,” a 368 cm-tall (12 ft) tri-metal sculpture at Believers Church Medical College Hospital, the largest of its kind globally.
In addition to these, Christian icons and statues of Jesus, Mary, and various saints are visible in public spaces and along roadsides across India, where they stand without opposition.
Hindus have pointed out that the backlash against projects such as the planned Murugan temple in North Carolina highlights a clear inconsistency in how religious freedom is perceived in the West. It is noteworthy that Christian communities face no resistance when constructing large monuments in India or other parts of the world, yet similar Hindu initiatives abroad are often met with criticism and mistrust – Christian religious symbols are readily accepted as expressions of faith, while Hindu symbols are frequently portrayed as contentious.
(Source: Times of India)
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