Taj Mahal Survey Petition: History, ASI Stand & Tejo Mahalaya Debate

Subject: GS 1: Art & Culture

Context: Recently, the Allahabad High Court has sought responses from the Union Government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on a petition challenging an Agra trial court’s refusal to order a survey of the Taj Mahal. 

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Key Highlights

• Petition: The plea seeks a declaration that the Taj Mahal is the ‘Tejo Mahalaya’ temple and requests a court-monitored survey, including photography and videography.
• High Court Proceedings: The Allahabad High Court has issued notices to the Centre and the ASI, seeking their response on the maintainability and merits of the petition.
• ASI’s Stand: The ASI has consistently maintained that the Taj Mahal is a 17th-century Mughal mausoleum, citing historical records, inscriptions, architectural evidence and construction techniques such as pietra dura, which were unavailable in pre-medieval India.

Historical & Archaeological Position

• Construction: Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1653 as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begum).
• Architect: Traditionally attributed to Ustad Ahmad Lahori.

History of Contested Authorship

• Early Alternative Claims: During the 17th–19th centuries, some European writers incorrectly attributed the Taj Mahal’s design to architects such as Geronimo Veroneo, Muhammad Effendi, and Austin de Bordeaux; these claims were later disproved by historians.
• P.N. Oak’s Theory: In 1965, P.N. Oak claimed the Taj Mahal was originally a Rajput palace, later revising his claim in 1989 to describe it as the “Tejo Mahalaya” Shiva temple. 
  • His assertions lacked credible historical or archaeological evidence.
• Judicial Rejection: The Supreme Court (2000) dismissed P.N. Oak’s petition, terming the allegations as baseless. 
  • Similar claims were also rejected by the Allahabad High Court (2005) and Agra Trial Court (2015).

About Taj Mahal

• Location: Situated on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
• UNESCO Recognition: Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1983) as an outstanding masterpiece of Mughal architecture and a monument of exceptional universal value.
• Protection Status: Declared a Monument of National Importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.
• • Conserved and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Key Features of the Taj Mahal

• Architectural Style: Finest example of Mughal architecture, blending Persian, Timurid, Islamic and Indian architectural traditions.
• Building Material: Constructed primarily from white Makrana marble.
• Charbagh Layout: Designed around a Persian-style Charbagh (four-part) garden, symbolising paradise.
• Central Dome: Features a prominent double dome surrounded by four smaller domed structures.
• Minarets: Four slightly outward-leaning minarets at the corners enhance symmetry and provide structural safety during earthquakes.
• Pietra Dura: Decorated with intricate pietra dura (stone inlay) work using semi-precious stones.
• Calligraphy: Contains elegant Quranic calligraphy, primarily executed by Amanat Khan Shirazi.
• Symmetry: Renowned for its near-perfect geometrical symmetry in design and layout.
• Complex: Includes the main mausoleum, mosque, jawab (guest building), gateway, gardens and reflecting pools.

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