Hello, friends! The Taj Mahal. A symbol of love, an icon of India, and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. But for decades, a persistent theory has claimed that this magnificent structure is not what it seems. A petition was filed in the Allahabad High Court demanding that 22 locked rooms in the Taj Mahal be opened, suspecting they hide Hindu idols.
Is the Taj Mahal actually a captured Hindu temple named “Tejo Mahalaya”? Is there a massive historical cover-up?
This isn’t just a simple claim; it’s a theory that has reached the Supreme Court of India. To find the truth, we need to do what we always do: ignore the WhatsApp forwards and look at the evidence, history, and facts. Let’s begin our investigation.
The “Tejo Mahalaya” Theory: What Are the Claims?
This theory was most famously promoted by a writer named P.N. Oak in his 1989 book “Taj Mahal: The True Story.” The core claims are:
- It’s a Pre-existing Structure:Â The Taj Mahal wasn’t built by Shah Jahan but was a Hindu temple-palace complex belonging to a Rajput king, Raja Jai Singh, which was then seized by the Mughals.
- The Name is a Corruption:Â The name “Taj Mahal” is a distortion of “Tejo Mahalaya,” a supposed name for a Shiva temple.
- The Locked Rooms Hold Secrets:Â The 22 locked rooms in the basement contain Hindu idols, Sanskrit inscriptions, and other proof of its temple origins.
- Architectural & Scientific “Proof”:Â The theory claims that the architecture is not Islamic and that carbon dating of a piece of wood proves the structure is older than Shah Jahan’s reign.
These claims sound explosive. But what happens when we hold them up to scrutiny?
Fact-Check 1: The Mystery of the 22 Locked Rooms
This is the most sensational claim. Are these rooms hiding a secret history?
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the government body responsible for maintaining historical monuments, has answered this question multiple times in court and in public. These rooms are not a secret. They are the ‘tahkhana’ (basement cells) that are part of the original design.
- Why are they locked? They are locked for structural and security reasons, not to hide anything. Unrestricted tourist access could damage the foundations of the massive structure.
- What’s inside? The ASI has stated that these rooms are empty structural cells. They are periodically opened for conservation and repair work. In fact, the ASI recently released photos from inside these rooms to show they contain nothing but restored plasterwork and passages.
The Allahabad High Court dismissed the petition to open them, telling the petitioner not to make a “mockery of the PIL system” and to go study history first.
Fact-Check 2: Was it a Rajput Palace? The Land Deal
This claim has a grain of truth, which is cleverly twisted. Historical records, including Shah Jahan’s own court chronicle, the Badshahnama, confirm that the land where the Taj Mahal stands was acquired from the estate of Raja Jai Singh of Amber.
However, acquiring land is completely different from seizing a pre-built palace. The records clearly state that Shah Jahan exchanged this prime river-front land for four other havelis (mansions) in the city of Agra. This was a common practice. The Mughals built their grand monuments on the best pieces of land, often acquiring them from nobles through exchange or compensation.
The Badshahnama goes on to describe the 22-year-long construction of the mausoleum from the ground up, detailing the architects, materials, and workforce. There is zero historical mention of a grand temple-palace being converted.
Fact-Check 3: The Name “Tejo Mahalaya” and Carbon Dating
- The Name: There is absolutely no historical text, map, or document from before Shah Jahan’s time that mentions a building called “Tejo Mahalaya.” The name appears to be a modern invention. The name “Taj Mahal” is a logical progression from the name of the person it’s dedicated to—Mumtaz Mahal.
- Carbon Dating:Â P.N. Oak’s “scientific proof” came from a carbon dating test on a piece of wood from one of the doors. However, architectural historians have pointed out that doors and other wooden parts of ancient buildings are often repaired and replaced over centuries. Dating a single, replaceable piece of wood does not date a 4.5-lakh-ton marble structure.
What Do the Experts and the Courts Say?
This is the most important part. What do the official bodies and highest courts in the country say?
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The ASI has repeatedly filed affidavits in court stating in no uncertain terms that there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest the Taj Mahal was ever a temple. They have affirmed that it was built by Shah Jahan.
- The Supreme Court of India:Â In 2000, the Supreme Court dismissed P.N. Oak’s petition to declare the Taj Mahal a Hindu monument. In 2017, it again threw out a similar petition, with the bench famously asking the lawyers, “Do you think we are going to decide that the Taj was not built by the Mughals?”
Conclusion: History vs. Myth
When we examine the evidence, a clear picture emerges. The “Tejo Mahalaya” theory is not supported by historical records, archaeological findings, or judicial scrutiny. It is a classic example of historical revisionism, where a grain of truth (the land was from Jai Singh) is twisted into a grand conspiracy.
Why does this theory persist? It is often fueled by a political agenda that seeks to rewrite India’s syncretic past to fit a narrow, majoritarian narrative. Instead of celebrating our shared heritage, such controversies aim to create division.
The Taj Mahal is a testament to the incredible architectural and artistic achievements of its time. It is a part of Indian heritage, not the heritage of one community over another. Instead of getting trapped in manufactured controversies about locked rooms, perhaps our focus should be on solving the real problems our country faces today.
Thank you very much