Some interesting facts about the Taj Mahalat Agra having been built at the site of an erstwhile Shiva Temple (the Teho Mahalaya). This slide contains pictures which are old and groggy but made an interesting presentation many years back.

1. THE TAJ MAHAL OR THE TEJO MEHALAYA ?

6. The Evidence Much of the Taj is hidden from public view. Here we will explain our point of view using some pictures provided by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Many of the photographs are from during the British Rule because after independence most of the photographed regions are not accessible to the public anymore.

7. 1. Five Stories of the seven are sealed. They contain critical evidence 2. They should not have been identical if only one was to be a mosque.

8. massive octagonal well with palatial apartments along its seven stories. This was the traditional treasury well of the Hindu temple palace Had the Taj been a mausoleum this octagonal multistoried well would have been superfluous.

9. The lotus flower cap on the head of the dome is a Hindu feature. Muslim domes are bald.

10. The dome of the Taj Mahal bearing a trident pinnacle made of a non-rusting eight-metal Hindu alloy. The pinnacle served as a lightning deflector too.

11. Islamic Icons are almost always complete circles leaving a little opening for a star. The coconut, the bent mango leaves under it and the supporting Kalash (water pot) are exclusive Hindu motifs.

12. The apex of the lofty entrance arch on all four sides of the Taj Mahal bears this red lotus and white trident--indicating that the building originated as a Hindu temple. The Koranic lettering forming the middle strip was grafted after Shahjahan seized the building from Jaipur state's Hindu ruler.

13. Every ancient Hindu mansion had a basement. Excavation to reach the basement chamber should start under this door.

14. These corridors at the approach of the Taj Mahal are typically Hindu. They may be seen in any ancient Hindu capital

15. This Naqqar Khana alias Music House in the Taj Mahal garden is an incongruity if the Taj Mahal were an Islamic tomb. Who would then provide a band house for a dead Mumtaz? Contrarily Hindu temples and palaces have a music house because morning and evening Hindu chores begin to the sweet strains of sacred music.

16. Upper floor are kept locked and barred since Shahjahan's time. The floor and the marble walls of such upper floor rooms can be seen in the picture to have been stripped of its marble panels. Shahjahan used that uprooted marble from the upper floor for constructing graves and engraving the Koran

17. Muslim Graves are designed to be hidden from public view. Here Mumtaz has two graves, one visible and the other hidden (underground). The famous Shiva temple in Ujjain also has an underground chamber for one of its Shiva-lingams.

18. This is the Dhatura flower essential for Hindu Shiva worship.

19. Doesn’t this look familiar to “Om”. While perambulating around the central chamber one may see such 'OM' designs.

20. One of the 22 rooms in the secret storey underneath the marble plinth of the Taj Mahal. If those doorways are opened, important evidence concealed inside by Shahjahan may come to light.

21. A corner of one of the 22 rooms in the secret storey immediately below the marble platform of the Taj Mahal. The ventilator at the left, meant for air and light from the riverside, has been crudely walled up by Shahjahan. He did not bother even to plaster them. Had Shahjahan built the Taj as a mausoleum what was the purpose of the 22 rooms?

22. Crudely sealed up ventilator. Sealed by Shahjahan with unplastered bricks

23. One of the 22 locked rooms in the secret storey beneath the marble platform of the Taj Mahal. The rooms may be seen door within door in a row. So this definitely was a palace – infact a temple palace At present they only peep into the grave chamber and walk away.

24. Hindu design is painted on the ceiling of some of the 22 locked rooms in the secret storey below the marble platform of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Had Shahjahan built the Taj Mahal he would not have kept such elaborately painted rooms sealed and barred to the public. Even now one can enter these rooms only if one can influence the archaeology department to remove the locks.

25. Shree P. N. Sharma of Green Park, New Delhi who peeped through an aperture in these chambers in 1934 A.D. saw a pillared hall with images carved on the pillars. Many such doorways of chambers in secret stories underneath the Taj Mahal have been sealed with brick and lime.

26. Burharpur. This building is one such ancient Hindu royal palace captured by the Moghuls. Mumtaz died here during her 14th delivery around 1630 A.D. while she and Shahjahan were camping here.