Welcome to the third part of our investigate whether Taj Mahal was built by Shahjahan or was it a Shiva temple that was usurped from the King of Japiur to create the tomb of Mutaz. We have gone through 31 pieces of evidence that hold Taj Mahal as Tejo Mahalaya or the temple of Lord Shiva. But there are more evidences to back this claim:
Architectural Evidence
32. Many well known Western authorities on architecture have gone through the Taj Mahal and they feel it is built in Hindu temple style. Havell points in the building point out to the fact that ground plan is in accordance with the Hindu Chandi Seva Temple in Java.
33. A central dome with cupolas in each of its four corners is an universal feature of the Hindu temples.
There are four marble pillars at the plinth which are Hindu styled. These were used as lamp towers during night and watch towers during the day. Such design is used to demarcate holy Hindu precincts.
Some Inconsistencies
34. There is a Nakkar Khana or Drun House which is located at some distance from the mosque. A drum house is not required in any mosque but it is needed in a temple during the morning and evening prayers.
35. There are embossed patterns on the cenotaph chamber wall. These patterns are of conch shell and the Hindu letter “OM”. There are also octagonally laid marble lattices that depict pink lotuses. The lotus, conch shell and OM are all sacred motifs for Hindus and are found in Hindu temples.
There are evidences that sanctum sanctorum of Taj Mahal had silver doors, gold railings and nets of pearl and gems stuffed into a marble lattice. It was the greed of wealth that made Shahjahan usurp this property.
36. In the marble flooring surrounding Mumtaz’s cenotaph there are tiny mosaic patches. These patches prove that there were gold railings embedded onto the floor.
37. There is a chain of lamps which hangs over Mumtaz’s centotaph. Holy water pitcher from which water drips onto a Shivalinga is the immediate picture you would get.
38. It is this Hindu tradition that provided the basis behind a story that every full moon Shahjahan’s love tear drops on Mumtaz’s tomb on the full moon day in the winter season.
Treasury Well
39. Between the mosque and the drum house there is a octagonal multi-storied well with a flight of stairs. Such wells are customary of Hindu temples where all the treasures were kept hidden. The wells had spiralling steps, thus no intruder could rob wealth from the temples. Such a well seems out of place in a mosque.
Unknown Burial Date
40. If the Taj Mahal was really built as wonder burial spot for Mumtaz history would have recorded this date. There is no mention of Mumtaz’s burial anywhere.
41. The date of Mumtaz’s death is also unknown. In Shahjahan’s royal harem comprising of 500 women it was difficult to keep track of deaths of women. It seems Mumtaz’s was so insignificant that no one bothered to note her death date down.
Baseless Love Story
42. There is no basis to the love story of Shahjahan and Mumtaz. It is learned that Shahjahan married Mumtaz’s sister after her death. So where was the fabled love?
Cost
43. In order to build the Taj Mahal scholars feel about 4-91.7 million rupees would have spent. But strangely there is no mention of such a huge expenditure in any of Shahjahan’s court records.
44. About twenty thousand workers were employed by Shahjahan for 22 years to build the Taj Mahal. If this was true there would be some documents to keep a track of their wages and pay.
Some Other Records
45. In the description of the gardens surrounding the Taj Mahal it is mentioned that there were plants of Ketaki, Jui, Jai, Mulashree, Bel, Harshringar and Champa. All these leaves and flowers are used to worship Hindu deities. What were these plants doing in a Muslim mosque?
46. Most of the Hindu temples are built on the river banks or sea beaches. Taj Mahal is built along the River Yamuna.
47. Taj Mahal has identical entrance arches on all the four sides. This is a building style popular among the Hindus.
References of Taj Mahal Before Shahjahan
48. Babur has referred to Taj Mahal in his memoirs. He mentions of Taj as a place captured by Ibrahim Lodi. He describes the building as having a central octagonal chamber and pillars on four sides. Such a reference was given by Babur about 100 years before Shahjahan was born.
49. If Taj Mahal had been specially built for Mumtaz it should not have other graves. But there are a number of graves in the eastern and southern pavilions.
50. Research shows that Mumtaz died in Burhanpur which was about 600 miles from Agra and her grave remains intact there. Building Mumtaz’s cenotaph was just a ploy to cover up the Hindu Shiva emblems.
Though there are many more evidences sited by P.N. Oak but I could compile only 50 most evident ones.
do some thing for justice
It is such a beautiful building that has more splendid character of being a place of worship than that of a burial place. All the evidence presented does indeed suggest that it was originally built as a Hindu temple. It makes sense that there was a major cover-up in order to strip away it’s treasure.