From: c4sg@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca
Subject: The Truth behind the Taj Mahal
Summary: Taj Mahal is a Hindu Temple
Keywords: Taj Mahal, Hindu, temple
Organization: University of New Brunswick
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 17:08:50 GMT


The Tajmahal at Agra attracts many  visitors  all  the  year
around  from  all over the world because of its elegance and
grandeur. All history books,  encyclopaedias  and  newspaper
articles  have been blundering and blindly assuming that the
Tajmahal was built  as  a  Muslim  mausoleum  by  the  Mogul
emperor  Shahjahan  over the body of one of his wives Mumtaz
Mahal sometime between 1631 and 1653 A.D. The falsity of the
Shahjahan  legend  reigned unchallenged for 350 years, until
Mr P. N. Oak exploded the myth about 25 years ago.

The outstanding white marble  building  complex,  considered
the  most  exquisite architechtural edifice in the world, is
without doubt, a former Hindu Rajput Palace Temple. What  is
so  striking  about  the  whole Taj complex is that it is of
such a stupendous scale that it positively lacks  any  sense
as  a  burial  place.  The  name Taj Mahal or Tejo Mahalay -
meaning a crown residence - is  not  remotely  muslim.   The
deception  revealed  by  P.N. Oak is truely astonishing. The
structure contains over 350 rooms and guest suites, most  of
which have been walled up. Fourteen basement rooms, adjuncts
of a palace, filled in with bricks and sand, while many bal-
conies, corridors have been closed off.  For the convenience
of the dead, there are pleasure pavilions,  stables,  guards
quarters,  a sacred cow pen and a four storeyed well. A sub-
terranean escape tunnel to the fort ensures a quick exit for
the corpses in the event of invaders. The octagonal style is
representative of many Hindu constructions,  having  special
religious  significance  by  acknowledging the gods who rule
the eight compass directions.   Similarly,  the  four  round
marble  towers are not minarets but meaningful as four Shiva
symbols. These four served as watch towers and when  lit  up
at  night,  created  an elegant spectacle. Two centotaphs in
the central chamber under the dome have replaced the looting
of  the  gem-studded  peacock  throne, gold canopy and solid
gold railing, while the silver doors  and  other  adornments
were  also  added  to  the  Mogul's plunder.  Further vulgar
defacing was indulged by  religious  graffiti  in  tasteless
abandon throughout the complex.

The death and burial of Arjumand Begum (alias Mumtaz  Mahal)
took place at Burhanpur, and six months later the corpse was
exhumed and brought to Agra for reburial.  If,  as  claimed,
the  Taj  took  ten to twenty years to construct, why uproot
the body so soon and where  was  this  kept  for  this  long
period  ?  The  answer  ofcourse, is in the already existing
Tajmahal alias Tejomahalay. Also, it is rather curious  that
nothing  is  mentioned  in chronicles like Badshahnama which
give a  clue  to  the  designers,  supervisors  or  material
purchases  of  such  a  unique and expensive project. Carbon
dating of architrave timber by a sceptical American  Profes-
sor,  along with some other scarce recorded clues, show con-
clusively that the Tajmahal originated  as  a  Shiva  Temple
Palace and having been constructed about 1155 A.D.

If research exposing the Tajmahal being a  Hindu  Temple  is
known,  then  why  do  professional  historians, architects,
writers and newspapers reiterate the Muslim  origin  of  the
historic construction ? The Dept. of Archaeology, Government
of India, instead of probing into the  matter  by  employing
its  own Professors and Archaeologists, plays to the tune of
its political bosses and is in no  mood  to  re-examine  the
authenticity of the Tajmahal. 

Following is the summery of Mr P. N. Oak's astonishing disc-
overy. For detailed studies, please refer to:


"Tajmahal - The Story of the Temple Vandalized"

by  P. N. Oak 

Publisher: A. Ghosh (Publisher)
           5720, W. Little York #216
           Houston, Texas 77091

           Price : US $ 13.50 (approximately).

Newsgroups: soc.history