New Delhi: Amid several claims and theories about 17th century Mughal monument ‘Taj Mahal’, the Indian government has made it clear that there is no substantial evidence to prove that the historic ‘monument of love’ was a Hindu temple.
Replying to a query about claims of evidence that the Taj Mahal, built in Agra by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, was originally a temple, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said on Monday in the Lower House of the Parliament that “the government has not found any evidence which can suggest that Taj Mahal was a Hindu temple of Shiva.”
In a written reply on a declaratory suit filed in an Agra court, requesting that the Taj Mahal be declared a Hindu temple, with right to worship for Hindus, Sharma said government was aware of the suit.
On a query about claims of evidence of the building being Hindu temple, Sharma replied in the negative. He added that so far the government has not observed any effect on tourism because of the controversy.
The Archaeological Survey of India had earlier dismissed claims that the monument was a Shiva temple.
The minister’s reply came a few days after a lawsuit, claiming that the Taj Mahal was originally a Shiva temple, was filed by a group of lawyers from Agra.
Earlier in March this year, a civil court in Agra had dismissed another lawsuit claiming that Taj Mahal was a Hindu temple and its ownership should be transferred to the community. The petition was filed in the civil court by one Hari Shankar Jain and five others over ownership of Taj.
Jain had claimed that there was enough evidence to prove that Taj Mahal was a Shiva temple, dedicated to Agreshwar Mahadev.
Designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1983, Taj Mahal attracts around three million visitors a year.
