History, Timing, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Houston, Texas, America
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a conventional Hindu temple. The temple is located in Houston, Texas (The USA). It was constructed by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The temple is the biggest of its type in Texas. It was constructed following the guidelines designed in olden Hindu scriptures. The temple ground acquires over 22 acres of land. Apart from the temple, there is a Haveli which is the aesthetic center where the weekly gatherings are held. There is an Understanding Hinduism Exhibition built in the temple compound. It helps the visitors to get profound knowledge about Hinduism.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited Houston for the first time in 1977. After that, a small group of residents started meeting in each other’s homes to hold spiritual congregations. Eventually, the congregations started to hold large community halls to involve more people. In July 1980, a gathering of 350 followers was arranged at Alief Hastings High School when Pramukh Swami visited there. The gathering of people continued to grow bigger by the year 1985. So, it needed a bigger space, which resulted in choosing a site to construct a temple. The place was selected in Stafford, Fort Bend Country. The groundbreaking ritual was performed in 1986. The newly made temple was placed on a five-acre plot with an 8000-square-foot assembly hall. Pramukh Swami inaugurated the temple in 1988.
Two years later, the mass gathering of people started to plan the building of a new Shikarbaddha temple. They wanted the temple to construct just beside the current temple. In September 2000, Pramukh Swami conducted the stone-laying ritual for this new temple. 4 years later, in July 2004, Pramukh Swami formally inaugurated the temple.
BAPS Swaminarayana Mandir Houston Architecture
The temple is made up of 33,000 units of marble and limestone. All of them have been hand-carved by 2400 craftsmen from India. The marble units were set up together in a three-dimensional puzzle form. The whole structure does not have a single piece of iron or steel in it. The temple is 125 feet long, 73 feet high, and 95 feet wide. The foot base covers an 11,500 square foot area, which is encircled by a 25,620 square foot deck. The walls and the pillars of the temple have fine carvings of gods and goddesses, musicians, dancers, animals, and flowers.
Diwali is the major festival celebrated in the Swaminarayan temple. The temple gets beautifully decorated with lights during the festival. People gathering here celebrates the festival for 3 days. They perform all the rituals and enjoy themselves a lot during these days. Apart from the Hindu residents, foreign people also visit the temple during Diwali. The traditional ceremonies of Dhanteras and Annakut are also performed during these days. People offer various types of food to the deity to perform Annakut. It is an interesting thing to watch for the visitors.
3 types of Aratis are performed regularly to show gratitude to the deity. The Shangar Arati starts at 7.30 am. It is the first Arati of the day. The Rajbhog Arati is performed at 11.15 am. The Sandhya Aarti is performed at 7.00 pm. It is the final Arati of the day.
Daily darshan time of BAPS Swaminarayana Temple, Houston
There are four different times for the visitors to enter the temple.
The morning darshan time is from 7.30 am to 10.30 am.
The next slot is from 11.30 am to 12 noon.
The afternoon time is from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm.
And the final darshan time is from 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
Visitors are not allowed for darshan apart from these time slots. .
One of the most renowned Hindu temples in the USA is the Swaminarayan temple of Texas. It is home to thousands of devotees. Every year visitors from different parts of the world come here to visit the temple.
How to BAPS Swaminarayana Temple, Houston, Texas, USA
There are many ways to reach the temple. While traveling from India, catch a flight to the William P, Hobby airport, or George Bush International Airport. Cab facilities are available outside of both airports to reach the temple. Train services are also available to reach Houston. .
