The Taj Mahal: "Crown of the Palace"

"Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones." Sir Edwin Arnold

One of the Wonders of the World, and a favorite backdrop for Instagramers performing yoga poses in various degrees of accuracy. While the building is instantly recognizable to many people, its history is lesser known, but no less fascinating. Perhaps you’d be more likely to strike a pose in front of this architectural wonder when you learn that it was built for a wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal. Or perhaps mountain pose doesn’t seem so appealing to you when you learn that it’s her tomb.

That’s right: the Taj Mahal is not a temple. It’s not a palace, and it’s not a public building. It’s a mausoleum. Pretty spectacular for the final resting place of one singular person, eh?

But Mumtaz Mahal, “jewel of the palace,” was not just anyone. She was the favorite wife of Shah Jahan. He ruled the Mughal Empire from 1628 till his death in 1658.

There’s a lot to digest here, especially for those of us who are more familiar with Western history. The Taj Mahal is the perfect starting point for exposure to non-Western history and art. This post will explore the following and bring to light what makes the Taj Mahal so entrancing:

-Who were the Mughals, and where was their empire?

-What was the relationship of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal?

-What makes the Taj Mahal so special, apart from its evident beauty?

THE MUGHALS

Though not a household name, the Mughals are some of history’s most interesting players, and their long-lived empire. Many tend to confuse them with the Mongols. The confusion is not wholly unfounded; “Mughal” sounds and looks awfully similar to “Mongol.” No coincidence here—“Mughal” is the Persian form of “Mongol.” Indeed, the first Mughal emperor, Babur, traced descent from Genghis Khan, and the Mughals had roots in Central Asia, primarily Persia. Babur came to power in 1526, thus the Mughal Empire was born. The "Great Mughal" period, when the empire was at its height and greatest expansion, lasted until 1707. From that point forward, the whole empire progressively declined as a result of the British East India Company establishing permanent footholds across the Indian subcontinent. The empire continued to shrink until its ultimate end in 1857.

The historied Mughal Empire is a treasure-trove for art historians—their art and architecture is an enthralling blend of Central Asian Islamic aesthetics and indigenous Indian styles. Mughal emperors directed huge building projects intended to glorify themselves, and they did not disappoint. Yet equally significant were their logistical and cultural facilities—a sophisticated tax collection system, the emphasis on religious tolerance, and their philosophies on theology and politics.

SHAH JAHAN AND THE “JEWEL OF THE PALACE”

Rumor had it that 16-year-old Shah Jahan was exploring the marketplace when he came across a young woman working one of the stalls. Enthralled by her beauty, he inquired about her wares. Though she knew full well who he was, the young woman teased Shah Jahan, telling him that he couldn’t afford what she was selling. This, of course, only served to further his interest in her, and he planned to take the young woman as a wife. He sought the help of fortune tellers, who said the most auspicious time for their marriage would be in four years. 

Indeed, the two were married four years later, and the young woman came to be known as Mumtaz Mahal, “the jewel of the palace.”

Though Shah Jahan had multiple wives and concubines, as was commonly practiced in Mughal India, Mumtaz Mahal remained his favorite. She gave birth to fourteen children in fourteen years. She died in 1631 giving birth to their fourteenth child. Shah Jahan, devastated by her death, commenced one of the world’s greatest building projects—the Taj Mahal. 

THE TAJ MAHAL: "CROWN OF THE PALACE"

We might think the Taj Mahal is set apart from other comparable building projects of the time because of the fact that it was intended to be the final resting place of one single person. However, this was hardly uncommon for rulers of Mughal India, and indeed the layout of the structure does not divert from that of other Mughal tombs. Thus, the Taj Mahal is not necessarily a unique structure, apart from the fact that most people can identify it by name.

This, though, certainly doesn't stop the Taj Mahal from being a landmark of beauty and considered one of the Wonders of the World. Sometimes, there is something about a work of art or architecture that no words can describe. Somehow, we are filled with a sense of wonder that we cannot explain, and perhaps it is this feeling the Taj Mahal instills in us that make it so special.

Beyond the wonder we feel when looking at the Taj Mahal, there are truly impressive architectural feats we can explore. The structure of Taj Mahal, as well as the surrounding complex, are perfectly symmetrical, representative of peace and harmony for faithful Muslims after death (see ground plan below). Essentially, the layout represents Paradise on earth; known as a charbagh in Islamic studies, the quadrilateral layout of the four gardens, dissected by a river, symbolizes Paradise as described in the Qur’an. Islamic tombs often take on this plan, though to varying degrees of scale. Directly in the center of the building lays Mumtaz Mahal’s cenotaph--an empty, sarcophagus-like monument. She herself is buried in a crypt beneath the mausoleum complex.

The materials and methods used to construct  Mumtaz Mahal’s tomb were diverse not only in medium, but also in origin. Craftsmen were employed from all corners of the empire to  construct and decorate the building--from architects and designers to stone cutters and laborers. The white marble used as building blocks was transported by elephant 353 miles from Jodhpur to Agra, the Mughal capital, while other stones, including precious and semi-precious, were imported from Russia, China, and as far away as Egypt. 

The white marble was inlaid with colorful stones to create verses from the Qur’an and floral patterns. This inlay technique is usually referred to as pietra dura in European art, but the Taj Mahal’s inlay has one exception--not only were the precious stones inlaid,, the negative white space was carved away so that the designs stand in relief (see image below). Such a process requires an increased level of skill on the artisan’s part, not to mention it’s far more time consuming.

Shah Jahan told the architects and builders of the Taj Mahal that it was the most beautiful building on earth. Legend has it that he cut off their hands to prevent them from building anything else that could rival its beauty.

Remember how we said that the Taj Mahal was the tomb for one person? Well, that certainly was the intention. However, Shah Jahan’s son refused to build his father his own mausoleum because the Taj Mahal was so incredibly costly. Thus, Shah Jahan was interred in the same crypt as his beloved wife, and his cenotaph is placed next to hers inside the mausoleum. The offset cenotaph of Shah Jahan is the only asymmetrical aspect of the entire complex.