Plea In Allahabad High Court Seeks Constitution Of Fact-Finding Committee To Ascertain If Taj Mahal Is 'Tejo Mahalaya'

A petition has been filed before the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court seeking a direction to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to open the sealed doors of over 20 rooms inside the Taj Mahal premises so that the alleged controversy pertaining to the "history of Taj Mahal" can be put to rest. 

The petition filed by one Dr Rajneesh Singh seeks a direction to the government to constitute a fact-finding committee to study and publish the 'real History of Taj Mahal' and to put to rest the controversy surrounding it. 

The plea, filed through advocate Rudra Vikram Singh further contended that Groups have claimed that the Taj Mahal is an old Shiva Temple which was known as 'Tejo Mahalaya' and that this is supported by many historians as well.

"It is respectfully submitted that since many years one controversy is at peak which is related to the Taj Mahal @ Tadj Mahall @ Tejo Mahalay. Some Hindu Groups and reputable Sants are claiming this monument as old Shiv Temple supported by many historians and facts however many Historian believes it as Taj Mahal build up by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. Some people also believe that Tejo Mahalaya @ Taj Mahal appears to be one of the Jyotirling (Nagnatheshwar) i.e. the outstanding Siva Temples", the plea averred further. 

It was thus argued that due to these claims Hindus and Muslims have been fighting with each other that being a secular country it is 'our collective responsibility to end all such controversies and disputes which lead to any clash between the people of two religions'.

"It is said that Taj Mahal was named after the name of Shah Jahan's Wife Mumtaz Mahal however in many books the name of the wife of Shahjahan was described as Mumtaz-ul-Zamani not Mumtaj Mahal, also the fact that the construction of a mausoleum takes 22 years for completion is beyond the reality and totally an absurdity," the plea stated further. 

Enumerating further upon the purported history of the Taj Mahal, the petitioner submitted, 

"It is there in many History books that in 1212 AD, Raja Paramardi Dev had built Tejo Mahalaya temple palace (presently Taj Mahal). The temple was later inherited by Raja Maan Singh, the then Maharaja of Jaipur. After him, the property was held and managed by Raja Jai Singh but was annexed by Shah Jahan (in 1632) and later it was converted into memorial for the wife of ShahJahan."

The petitioner further averred that close to 22 rooms situated in the upper and lower portion of the four storied building of Taj Mahal are permanently locked and that historians like PN Oak and many Hindu worshippers believe that in those rooms lie the temple of Shiva. In a RTI, question were asked about the reason behind the locking those doors, hidden Rooms and in the Reply by Archeological Survey of India, Agra it was said that due to security reasons those doors are locked, the plea stated further. 

"..the Taj Mahal, is a mark of history of heritage and the glorious achievement of Indian Art and Archaeology, and has to be named and recognised in its true perspective and origin as a monument of world important must not be allowed to be the victim subject of an "Historical fraud" as an infringement of Indian tradition and heritage if the said monument is wrongly and falsely identifying and recognized as a mausoleum giving a go bye to its origin and actual creation as a Palace/Temple in redemption of fact and restoration of history", the plea averred further. 

Case Title: Dr Rajneesh Singh v Union of India and Ors