Taj Mahal is one of the most disputed architectural wonders in India, with much debate being held on the monument's alleged origin as a Shiva temple ever since a book 'Taj Mahal: The True Story' by P N Oak raised this issue.

According to the proponents of this theory, 'Tejomahalay', the Shiva Temple built by Raja Jai Singh, is said to have stood at the exact spot where the Taj Mahal now stands, and the temple's building was allegedly appropriated by Shah Jahan to bury his wife Mumtaz in the 'Sanctum Sanctorum' of the temple, after Raja Jai Singh removed the Shivalingam from the temple and made a new temple elsewhere.

A largely forbidden idea for history buffs and the tourism industry alike, this theory routinely pops up at various courts of the country, with petitioners demanding that the Archaeological Survey of India and Central Government declare the 'truth' about the Taj Mahal.

WHAT IS THE 'TRUTH' ABOUT TAJ MAHAL?

Answering a similar court case by some Lucknow based lawyers in the Agra Civil Court, the Central Government again filed an affidavit on 24th August 2017, claiming that the Taj Mahal had been constructed by Shah Jahan and there was no proofs of any temples having existed at the place. The affidavit has also referred to a judgment of the Supreme Court that no matters pertaining to the Taj Mahal can be heard at the local or high court level.

Talking to India Today, an ASI official said that this writ had been filed in the Agra Civil Court on 8th April 2015 by Lucknow based Hari Shankar Jain and his 5 friends, making the ASI and Central Government as respondents. The writ asserted citing some alleged 'proofs' that the Taj Mahal is actually TejoMahalaya. Now, with the ASI and Central Government denying this assertion made by the petitioners, the lawyer of the petitioners has filed an objection to this reply. The next date for hearing has been set at 11th September.

According to the available information, the Central Information Commission has also asked the Central Government to clarify whether the Taj Mahal had been constructed by Shah Jahan or was it a temple which had been given to Shah Jahan by Rajput Kings as a gift.

OFFICIALS TO STUDY SPOTS ON TAJ MAHAL'S SURFACE

Meanwhile, the ASI has appointed two officials at the Taj Mahal who will study the reason for the black spots being seen on the Taj Mahal's surface, as pointed out by Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber Secretary Vishal Sharma through India Today earlier. ASI Official A K Bhatnagar said that these spots are probably due to the feces of insects being deposited on a large scale on the marble surface. He said that the scrapings of these black spots will be tested in the laboratory to find out the reason for this spotting. Only then the work of applying Fuller's Earth mud packs will be resumed at the main dome of the monument.

Bhatnagar said that for this purpose, the Central Industrial Security Force has also been asked to shut down the lights it had installed at the Taj Mahal a few months earlier to enhance security as in the monsoon season, insects get attracted to these lights in large numbers and then sit on the marble surface of the monument, which could be causing these black spots.

In 2016 too, the Taj Mahal had faced a similar infestation of insects, which left green spots on the monument surface. All these spots are at a very high altitude, where nobody can reach without climbing gear, making it difficult to clean them.

Social activist Amir opined that these frequent disputes over the Taj Mahal's origins as a temple or as a tomb create a bad impression of India in the international community and the Supreme Court should settle this issue once, so that it does not come up again and again through people who are only seeking publicity for themselves.

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