“A VISION, A DREAM, A POEM, A WONDER”- TAJ MAHAL
One of the world’s most famous buildings, the Tajmahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631.
Its perfect proportion s exquisite craftsman ship has been described as “a vision, a dream, a poem, a wonder”. This sublime garden tomb, an image of the Islamic garden of paradise, cost nearly 41 million rupees. 500 kilos of gold. .about 20000 workers labored for 12 years to complete it in 1643.
It is widely believed that the Tajmahal was designed to represent an earthly replica of one of the houses of paradise. The Taj indeed manifests the wealth and luxury of Mughal art as seen in architecture and garden designing, painting, jewellery calligraphy, textiles and carpet-weaving and furniture.
SHAH JAHAN HISTORY
The scene of history shifts to Delhi again with Shah Jahan (of
the Taj Mahal fame), the son of Jahangir ascending the throne. Shah Jahan was the grand old emperor Akbar’s favorite grandson. In fact, at one time there was a genuine fear that the sovereign would name him, instead of his son, as the successor.
This was largely because Akbar regarded Jahangir as a bit of a bounder who whiled away his time with wine and women from a startlingly young age. One of the most famous movies in Indian cinematic history is Mughal-e-Azam (a must-see) which, if you take away the romantic trimmings, is all about Akbar saving Jahangir from his romantic excesses.
Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal, a wondrous monument built in dedication to love
, beauty, and life of Mumtaz Mahal, had succeeded in his lifetime his dire wish to
immortalize the name of Mumtaz Mahal, his third wife.
Such is the esteem of Mumtaz Mahal that she is known by one and all, who've ever heard of Taj Mahal.
Born in 1593 as Arjumand Banu Begum, she was the daughter of Abdul Hassan Asaf Khan
and a princess from the Persian nobility.
So enthralling was her beauty that Shah Jahan (then Prince Khurram) fell in love with her at the first sight.
It was in 1607 that she was betrothed to Prince Khurram and soon became the
unquestionable love of his life. Five years later in 1612, their marriage was solemnized and
from then on, started one of the most popular love stories of the world.
Although she was one of the three wives of Shah Jahan, she was his favorite. He even
bestowed her with the name Mumtaz Mahal meaning "Jewel of the Palace", and the highest
honor of the land - the royal seal, Mehr Uzaz.
MUMTAZ MAHAL HISTORY
Mumtaz Mahal had a very deep and loving marriage with Shah Jahan. Even during her lifetime, poets would extol her beauty, gracefulness and compassion. She was his trusted companion and traveled with him all over the Mughal Empire.
Although Mumtaz was one amongst the three wives Shah Jahan had had, other two being Akbarabadi Mahal and Kandahari Mahal, according to the official court chronicler Qazwini, the relationship with his other wives "had nothing more than the status of marriage.
The intimacy, deep affection, attention and favor which His Majesty had for the Cradle of Excellence (Mumtaz) exceeded by a thousand times what he felt for any other". It is believed that she was the perfect wife and portrayed no aspirations of political power. Apart from counseling and supporting her husband, and playing the role of a lovable wife to Emperor Shah Jahan, it is believed that she also watching elephants and combat fights performed for the court and even devoted some time to a riverside garden in Agra.
Year of Construction: 1631
Completed In: 1653
Time Taken: 22 years
Built By: Shah Jahan
Dedicated to: Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Bano Begum), the wife of Shah Jahan
Location: Agra (Uttar Pradesh), India
Building Type: Islamic tomb. Architecture: Mughal (Combination of Persian, Islamic and Indian architecture style) Architect: Ustad Ahmad LAHAURI.HISTORY OF TAJMAHAL
It's the history of Taj Mahal that adds a soul to its magnificence: a soul that is filled with
love, loss, remorse, and love again. Because if it was not for love, the world would have been
robbed of a fine example upon which people base their relationships.
An example of how
deeply a man loved his wife, that even after she remained but a memory, he made sure that
this memory would never fade away. It was at the age of 14 that he met Mumtaz and fell
in love with her. Five years later in the year 1612, they got married.
Mumtaz Mahal, an inseparable companion of Shah Jahan, died in 1631, while giving birth to
their 14th child. It was in the memory of his beloved wife that Shah Jahan built a
magnificent monument as a tribute to her, which we today know as the "Taj Mahal".
The construction of Taj Mahal started in the year 1631. Masons, stonecutters, inlayers,
carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the
whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran, and it took approximately 22
years to build what we see today.
An epitome of love, it made use of the services of 22,000 laborers and 1,000 elephants.
The monument was built entirely out of white marble, which was brought in from all over
India and central Asia. After an expenditure of approximately 32 million rupees (approx US
$68000), Taj Mahal was finally completed in the year 1653.
It was soon after the completion of Taj Mahal that Shah Jahan was deposed by his own son
Aurangzeb and was put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Shah Jahan, himself also,
lies entombed in this mausoleum along with his wife.
Moving further down the history, it was at the end of the 19th century that British
Viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a sweeping restoration project, which was completed in 1908,
as a measure to restore what was lost during the Indian rebellion of 1857:
Taj being blemished by British soldiers and government officials who also deprived the
monument of its immaculate beauty by chiseling out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls.
Also, the British style lawns that we see today adding on to the beauty of Taj were
remodeled around the same time.
Despite prevailing controversies, past and present threats from Indo-Pak war and
environmental pollution, this epitome of love continuous to shine and attract people from all over the world.
Taj Mahal, the magnificent monument that stands at the heart of India has a story that has been melting the hearts of millions of listeners since the time Taj has been visible.
A story, that although ended back in 1631, continues to live on in the form of Taj and is considered a living example of eternal love. It's the love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, two people from the course of history who set an example for the people living in present and the future to come. An English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold best describes it as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones.
TAJMAHAL ARCHITECTURE
Involvement of 22, 000 workers including masons, stonecutters, inlayers,
carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans called on
from all over the central Asia and Iran, and some 22 years later when a
monument with a unique blend of Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural
styles came into its own, it was a sight to behold! The grandeur of the structure then created was
such that even decades after its creation, it is still
regarded as one of the most arresting and
attention-grabbing manmade monuments of the
world. Not just Taj, even structures alongside it
add to the architectural beauty and artistic wonder
of the place. The entire Taj complex consists of five major constituents, namely Darwaza
(main gateway), Bageecha (gardens), Masjid (mosque), Naqqar Khana (rest house) and
Rauza (main mausoleum).
The Taj Mahal covers an area of 42 acres in total with the terrain gradually sloping from south to north, towards the river Yamuna in the form of descending terraces. The main gateway situated at the end of the long watercourse, decorated in calligraphy with verses from Holy Quran and a domed central chamber, was constructed from the period 1932 to 1938.
The original door of this massive sandstone gateway was made out of solid silver. It was constructed to serve the function of preventing the people from getting any glimpse of the tomb until they are right in the doorway itself.
With a vertical symmetry, the main gateway of Taj Mahal stands bordered with Arabic calligraphy of verses from the Quran, made up of black stone.
The main tomb of Taj Mahal stands on a square platform that was raised 50 meter above the riverbank and was leveled with dirt to reduce seepage from the river. The four minarets on each corner of this square are detached, facing the chamfered angles of the main and are deliberately kept at 137 feet to emphasize the beautiful and spherical dome that itself is 58 feet in diameter and 81 feet high. The western side of the main tomb has the mosque and on the eastern side is the Naqqar Khana (rest/guest house), both made in red sandstone. The two structures not only provide an architectural symmetry, but also make for an aesthetic color contrast. One can only marvel at the mosque and the rest house as despite being on the opposite ends, the two are mirror image of each other.
Out of the total area of 580 meter by 300 meter, the garden alone covers 300 meter by 300 meter. The immaculate symmetry with which this garden has been laid out can be experienced everywhere. The Islamic style architecture of this garden also has a well defined meaning that symbolizes spirituality and according to the Holy Quran, the lush green, well watered is a symbol of Paradise in Islam. The raised pathways divide each of the four quarters into 16 flowerbeds with around 400 plants in each bed. Even today, the garden boasts of being a tranquil and soothing region in the entire complex and is considered best place for taking snaps of the main tomb.
A shadowy burial crypt inside the Taj Mahal houses the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah
Jahan himself, who was buried there after he died. Above these tombs is the main chamber
that has the false tombs and perforated marble screens have been used to transmit light into
the burial chamber, typical of mausoleums of the Mughal.
Semi-precious stones are exquisitely inlaid in both the tombs. Calligraphic inscriptions of the ninety nine names of Allah can also be found on the sides of actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj has some wonderful specimens of polychrome inlay art both in the interior and exterior on the dados, on cenotaphs and on the marble jhajjhari (jali-screen) around them. Shah Jahan's tomb, which lies next to that of Mumtaz Mahal, was never planned and deranges the otherwise perfect symmetry of the Taj.
Many of you would have heard stories about
Taj coming alive under the full moon sky as if
descended right from some spiritual realm,
and that is exactly the case, no doubt! But
Taj Mahal is one paradise beauty personified!
That means, whether it's the soft pink color
at the break of dawn or the fiery yellow
color it reflects at the brink of dusk, it's a
sight to behold and is well worth a standalone experience; not to be compared with the
pristine white radiance with which it sparkles at night.What's more, while at night visitors are allowed only for half hour duration; they can take as much time as they want to adore the spectacular Taj, right from sunrise to sunset during the day. And there's so much to observe and marvel at that rest assured, even a whole day would seem to pass by in no time. Since there is no limit on the time you may spend at the Taj on a single visit, you may remain here the entire day and let your eyes soak the splendor of the Taj.
As majestically dazzling as it looks from the main gateway, with the glorious view of the mosque and the guest house on the sides and the main mausoleum in the centre with four minarets standing proud
at each corner, the insides of Taj Mahal are no less stunningly beautified either.
Rather, the painstakingly designed and richly carved
interiors brilliantly compliment the grandeur of the
entire structure with subtleness. With basic elements in Persian, the large white
marble structure that stands on the square plinth
consists of a symmetrical building with an arch shaped
doorway known as Iwan, which is adorned with exquisite calligraphy and is topped by a large
dome and a finial.
The angles of the tomb consist of semi-octagonal arched alcoves of equal size. Attached pilasters rising from the base of the tomb demark each of the porticos, on both the sides. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; as the actual graves are located at a much lower level.
Moving ahead, all the elements, architecture, furniture, and
decorations culminate together to create an eschatological
house for Mumtaz Mahal, and that of Shah Jahan. Formed with black marble inlaid in white,
the floor of the Taj is paved in a geometrical pattern consisting of octagonal stars
alternating with cruciform shapes. One of the longest echoes of any building in the world can
be heard in this perfectly designed hall of 24 feet to a side, with two tiers of eight
radiating niches. The natural and beautiful flowers like tulips, irises, daffodils, and narcissus filled in opulent vases appear here in basic tripartite arrangement rather than individual flowering plants of the pishtaq halls outside.
Another remarkable feature that surrounds the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan in the central chamber is the intricately carved marble screen or jali and is a delight to look at. The semi precious stones forming twining vines, fruits, and flowers inlaid delicately form the rest of the surfaces.
CALLIGRAPHY
The Taj Mahal always welcomes each of its visitors with an inscription, written in beautiful handwriting, on the great gate that reads "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you." It was Abdul Haq, who created this in 1609, and was bestowed with the title of 'Amanat Khan' by none other than Emperor Shah Jahan himself.
Along with spellbinding architecture and a picturesque
background, the calligraphy done is one of the
fantabulous ornamental decorations done on the
surface of Taj Mahal.
The calligraphy of the Taj Mahal mainly consists of the verses and passages from the holy book of Quran. It was done by inlaying jasper in the white marble panels
. These passages were inscribed by Amanat Khan in an illegible Thuluth script. A number of the panels also bear his signatures.
Black marble has been used to decorate both the south gateway and the main mausoleum
with Arabic inscriptions. The texts chosen refer broadly to the themes of judgment and fruitful paradisiacal rewards for the faithful.
The inscriptions over the gateway invite the reader to enter the paradise. And as one enters towards the main mausoleum, the tone of the inscriptions changes from paradisiacal to that of an impending doom that awaits the unbelievers on the Day of Judgment.
However, once inside the mausoleum, the tone of the inscriptions changes yet again from
judgment to paradisiacal. It is also believed that Amanat Khan even chose the passages for
the calligraphy of Taj Mahal, Agra.
Taj Mahal was built by emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz.
Taj is an Undoubted Master Piece in India .
However, in our continuous effort to get to the truth , we have recently acquired some very
important documents and information. There is evidence that the Taj Mahal was never built
by Shah Jahan. Some say the Taj Mahal pre-dates Shah Jahan by several centuries and was
originally built as a Hindu or Vedic temple/palace complex.
TAJ THE MYSTERIES……….
Shah Jahan merely acquired it from its previous owner, the Hindu King Jai Singh.
Fact Sheet by ASI :
The point to consider is how much more of India's
history has been distorted if the background of
such a grand building is so inaccurate.
These photographs are taken from an album that was found and then smuggled out of India.
On the back of each photo there is a stamp mark that says, "Archaeology Survey of India."
This signifies their authenticity and that they were the property of that institution. This
means a number of things: That the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI) has been
researching the evidence that proves the Taj Mahal and many other buildings were not of
Muslim origin, and that they know this information but remain silent about it.
Research:
It also shows that in spite of this evidence they refuse to open up further research that
would reveal the true nature and originality of the buildings, and lead to understanding
another part of the real history and glory of India.
Truth behind the Images:
These photos are black and white and were found in a simple photo album in India. Except
for old age and some water damage on some of them (creating white spots in areas), most
are still in relatively good condition. Each photograph was accompanied by a typed caption
taped in the album near the photo, each of which gives a very interesting explanation of the
subject and the Vedic influence recognized on the building and what it means. The captions
accompany the photos on the following pages just as they were written in the album, so the
style of English and the explanations are kept the same. They are obviously written from an
Indian perspective.
It is because of the manipulation of history by invaders that
The true greatness of India and Vedic culture has been stifled or hidden
. And it is time that people everywhere realize how numerous lies and false propaganda have
been passed around as if it were the truth in regard to India and its past, as well as its art,
archeology, and the wonder of its culture. India and its Vedic society was one of the
preeminent civilizations of the world, " Now, through the increasing amount of revealing
evidence that is being uncovered, that greatness of India's past and its contributions to the
world are gradually being recognized. It is because of this that it is now time to rewrite the
history of India.
TAJ MAHOLTSAV………………
Taj Mahotsav is being celebrated successfully since 1992 in Agra in the month of February for ten days, from 18th February to 27th February. Organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of India,Taj Mahotsav is mainly dedicated to the promotion of country's rich art and craft, culture, cuisine, dance and music. In fact, it serves as an acknowledgment to the craftsmen as well as the exponents of art, music and cuisine from all over the country.
A large number of Indian and foreign tourists coming to Agra join this festivity of multi facets. The venue of the festival of Taj Mahotsav is Shilpgram, which is a stone's throw away distance from Taj Mahal.
The festival starts with a procession, including bejeweled elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen. A major highlight of this festival is the availability of fabulous works of art and craft at the most authenticated prices that are not sky rocketed by high maintenance cost.
This procession is an effort to reconstruct the ones that were taken out during the time of the Mughals.
The crafts that are displayed in the festival have immense variety as over 400 legendary artisans from different parts of the country get an opportunity to showcase their talent.
The crafts include woodcarvings of Saharanpur, brass and other metal ware of Moradabad, handmade carpets of Badohi, blue pottery of Khurja, Chikan work of Lucknow, silk of Varanasi, pottery from Khurja, shawls and carpets from Kashmir/Gujarat, hand printing from Farrukhabad, wood/stone carvings from Tamil Nadu, bamboo/cane work from North East India, kantha stitch from West Bengal, and paper & mash work from South India. Additionally, visitors also get to witness some of the spectacular performances by artists from every nook and corner of the country. The folk dances are sure to engulf you in their charisma and keep you enthralled for a long time.
One of the major attractions of the Taj Mahal Mahotsav of Agra is the Food Festival, where you can get some of the oldest and the most typical delicacies from the interiors of Uttar Pradesh and rest of India like chole bhature, Indian samosa, poori sabji, gulab jamun, Lucknavi kebab, South Indian dosa, Amritsari naan, Hyderabadi biryani etc.
Throughout the Mahotsav, the visitors can experience the richness of folk, classical music, and dances from various regions of the country in the way they were performed centuries ago.
Moreover, it's got something for everyone in the family as when the adults are busy with the arts, crafts, and cultural shows, the children too can indulge themselves in delightful food and fun fair that forwards various rides including the splendid roller coaster or the smaller ones like merry-go-round or train rides.
Coming February, come and be a part of the festivity and you're sure to go home with feelings that'll have nostalgia running in every vein of your body in the time to come. And if this doesn't do it, the spectacular visit to the Taj Mahal will definitely do the needful.
വിപ്ലവ വീര്യമുതിരും വാനില് 
സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യത്തിന് പാതകള്തേടി 
