Lord Hanuman stands tall at Delaware, USA

The East India Company (EIC) was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the Mughals of India and the East Indies, and later with Qing China. The company ended up seizing control of large parts of the Indian subcontinent (and briefly Afghanistan), colonised parts of Southeast Asia, and colonised Hong Kong after the First Opium War.  Travelling as merchants they became rulers and colonized many parts of the World.  There was another – the Dutch West India Company,  a chartered company (known as the "GWC") of Dutch merchants as well as foreign investors.  In  1621, it was granted a charter for a trade monopoly in the Dutch West Indies by the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands and given jurisdiction over Dutch participation in the Atlantic slave trade, Brazil, the Caribbean, and North America.

Hockessin  is a census-designated place (CDP) in New Castle County, Delaware, United States.  Delaware is one of the 50 states of the United States, in the Mid-Atlantic region. The state takes its name from Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor.  Delaware occupies the northeastern portion of the Delmarva Peninsula and some islands and territory within the Delaware River.  Before its coastline was explored by Europeans in the 16th century, Delaware was inhabited by several groups of Native Americans, including the Lenape in the north and Nanticoke in the south. It was initially colonized by Dutch traders at Zwaanendael, near the present town of Lewes, in 1631.  Delaware was one of the 13 colonies participating in the American Revolution. In Dec 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, and has since been known as "The First State".  The history of Delaware as a political entity dates back to the early colonization of North America by European-American settlers.  

The son of Vayu  [Pavana puthra] – Hanumar is the epitome of great virtues ~  a great character – a warrior, mightily powerful, whose body was as hard as a diamond, whose speed equalled those of fastest flying eagles, who possessed great wisdom, who could organize a group of roaming ones, who can jump hundreds of miles, yet who remained at the feet of his Master, totally committed thinking of their welfare alone – unassuming, yet capable of telling the right things at the right moment – that is Pavana Puthra Hanuman – Aanjaneya, who is called ‘thiruvadi’ – bearer of Lord Rama – who carried Rama on his shoulders during the war in which the demon was killed. The very thought of Sri Hanuman brings to mind ~ his unparalleled devotion for Lord Ram and unrivalled physical strength.

Hanumantha vahanam at Thiruvallikkeni

Lord Hanuman is everywhere – on mountains, big temples, street corners and more ~ Sri Anjaneya jumped over the Sea, met Sitadevi delivering her the signet ring ‘kanaiyazhi’ of Lord Sri Rama -  Hanuman has crossed the seas with eases – but this travel is different !!! 

Tall Aanjaneyar on the way to holy Thirumala

Back home, the  Hanuman Janmabhoomi Trust at Hampi is planning the ‘World’s’ tallest statue of Hanuman, which will stand at 215 feet at his birthplace of Kishkinda, which is believed to be Hampi. This trust has been closely following in the footsteps of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, which has been formed to construct Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. When the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust was formed on Feb 5, 2020, following a Supreme Court direction, the same day Karnataka Hanuman Janmabhoomi Teerthakshetra Trust too was constituted for the overall development of Kishkinda Pampakshetra at Hampi. The trust, headed by Govindananda Saraswathi Swamy, holds processions in and around Kishkinda on Shivarathri day and on other days of importance.  Trust sources said that Hampi, which is already a tourist centre, will also be turned into a pilgrimage centre. “It will equal the grandeur of Ayodhya after the Ram temple is built.

Sri Ananjaneyar @ Thiruvallikkeni

The US has got its tallest Lord Hanuman statue in Hockessin, Delaware. The 25-feet tall statue, which has been made in Telangana's Warangal, was shipped to the US in January. It is the tallest statue of a Hindu god in that country and the second tallest religious statue in the state after Our Lady Queen of Peace statue at Holy Spirit Church in New Castle. Patibanda Sharma, President, Hindu Temple of Delaware Association said, “It weighs around 45 tonnes. It has been shipped from Warangal, Telangana to Delaware.”  According to reports, the statue has been carved from a solid block of black granite and it took one year to complete.

"Once the statue is made according to a prescribed process by an artisan and is delivered to the temple, the temple priests normally conduct a 10 day, a 5 to 10-day rituals, mostly involving fire offerings and other rituals. And also the community is invited to bond with the statue," Delaware Public Media quoted Patibanda Sarma, president of Hindu Temple Association in Hockessin.  

The statue is being erected at a cost of  $100,000 [approx. 76 lakhs]  for construction and logistics. According to agency reports, the statue has been carved out by almost 12 artisans.  While no gathering will be allowed near the statue in light of COVID-19 scare, the authorities have already carried out the Yantra Pratishtha and Prana Prathishtha has been done. Titled "The Hanuman Project," more than 300 families, temple devotees and resident priest participated in the ten-day-long Sthapana. The statue was shipped from Hyderabad to New York by ship. It was transported by flatbed truck to Delaware, to the largest temple in the state. A priest from Bengaluru performed several rituals including purification of the deity.

"We all believe that with the moorty coming to Delaware, Lord Hanuman will bring all the good things like he bought the Sanjeevani. So that was the main central focus for all devotees and the priest," Nagraj Bhattar, the priest from Bengaluru was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.  American Senator Chris Coons, New Castle County executive Matt Myer and Lt Governor of Delaware Bethany Hall-Long extended their support to the Indian community after the installation of the statue was done, agencies reported.

Jai Hanuman

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan [S. Sampathkumar]

18.6.2020.

Delaware Hanumar pics from twitter