BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Houston

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Houston
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Location in Texas
Coordinates:
Name
Proper name: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Location
Country: United States
State: Texas
Location: Stafford
Architecture and culture
Primary deity: Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Architectural styles: North Indian / Shilpa Shastras
History
Creator: Pramukh Swami Maharaj / BAPS

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Houston is a mandir or Hindu temple in Stafford, Texas, USA. It was the first traditional mandir of stone and marble to be constructed in the United States.[1]

The mandir was created entirely according to ancient Hindu architectural manuscripts known as the Shilpa Shastras, but also meets all modern regulations of today. Opened on July 24, 2004 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the present spiritual guru of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), it was constructed in 16 months starting from the day its first stone was laid.

The 25,620 sq ft (2,380 m2) mandir is constructed entirely of marble from Italy and limestone from Turkey. There is no iron or steel anywhere in the structure. The stone that makes up the temple was shipped to India where it was hand-carved with traditional Vedic deities and motifs. Approximately 33,000 individually marked pieces were then shipped to Houston and assembled like a giant three dimensional jigsaw.

The mandir was created by BAPS, an international Hindu organisation belonging to the Swaminarayan faith of Hinduism.

References