Twitter
Advertisement

Taj Mahal is not a Shiva Temple but a tomb: Archaelogical Survey of India to Agra court

The ASI replied to claims that the Taj Mahal wasn't a tomb.

Latest News
article-main
Taj Mahal
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) told an Agra court that the Taj Mahal is a tomb and not a temple as claimed by several petitioners, reported Hindustan Times.

In a written statement, the ASI refused to accept the contention that the Taj Mahal was dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The court in April 2015 had admitted a lawsuit by six lawyers who claimed that the Taj was actually Tejo Mahalaya and Hindu followers should be allowed access inside to the premises of the monument to perform ‘darshan’ and ‘aarti’.

As of now, only Muslims are allowed to worship at the site, offering Friday prayers at the attached mosque. The next hearing is fixed on September 11.

The counsel representing the Union of India and ASI said that the petitioners had no locus in the matter and neither did they have right to worship there as the monument was Islamic.

The ASI also denied the existence of any temple within the Taj Mahal.

On August 10, the Central Information Commission had directed the Union culture ministry to clarify its stand on whether the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built by Shahjahan or a Shiva temple gifted to the Mughal emperor by a Rajput king.The question, forwarded as an alternative narrative of history by some claiming to be historians and the subject of various court cases, reached the CIC through an RTI plea and is now at the culture ministry's door.

 

 

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement