[4] The mandir is the largest of its kind in Texas[5][dubious – discuss] and was constructed according to guidelines outlined in ancient Hindu scriptures.

The temple is a type of ‘Shikarbaddha’ mandir, built according to principles laid out in the Shilpa Shastras, Hindu texts prescribing standards of sacred architecture.

The central shrine holds the murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, with Gunatitanand Swami to his left, together worshipped as Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj.

Similarly, different shrines hold murtis of other Hindu deities such as Radha Krishna, Shivji Parvatiji, Sitji Ramji, Hanumanji, Ganapatiji and the lineage of BAPS gurus who are Swaminarayan's spiritual successors.

During major Hindu festivals, youths are given the opportunity to showcase these learnings in the weekly assemblies through singing devotional hymns, performing traditional dances and delivering spiritual discourses and speeches.

[10] Sports tournaments are held to promote physical well-being and teamwork and to encourage youths to build camaraderie.

In 1977, after Pramukh Swami Maharaj's first visit to Houston, a small group of devotees started gathering in homes to hold spiritual assemblies.

An assembly of 350 devotees gathered at Alief Hastings High School during Pramukh Swami's visit in July 1980.

The newly built mandir was situated on a five-acre plot, consisting of an 8,000 square foot assembly hall.

[11] Shipped to Houston in 150 containers, the marble pieces were fitted together in tongue-and-groove fashion like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle.

[11] The detail in the columns and walls include carvings of deities, dancers, musicians, elephants, horses, flowers and geometric designs.

On 24 July, a shobha yatra (colorful procession) of all the murtis took place along a seven-mile route through the streets of Houston.

In May 2021, a lawsuit was filed against BAPS by several volunteer artisans from India who were involved in the construction alleging that the temple administrators violated labor laws.

The lawsuit alleges that over 200 Indian men, mostly of the Dalit caste, were brought from India to the US and were subject to wage theft, forced labor, and human trafficking.

[15] As of July 2023, 12 of the plaintiffs have withdrawn from the lawsuit,[16] stating that they were coerced into making false charges against BAPS by a US based lawyer named Swati Sawant with threats of imprisonment, promises of US citizenship and large sums of money for them and their families[17][18][19] The dozen withdrawn plaintiffs stated that they have been offering service at BAPS temples in the US and India for many years and had "never experienced any pressure, any casteism or discrimination".

[20] Some news outlets characterized the trial as raising questions about the ability of US labor laws to account for certain forms of religious volunteerism.

[24] BAPS Charities held its 13th annual health fair in the Stafford mandir complex in April 2013.

[25] 100 healthcare professionals offered services in the areas of pediatrics, gynecology, cardiology, ophthalmology, dentistry and orthopedics.