While this rare example of the architecture of the Mughal Empire occupies a very special place among all Islamic works, it is not only used by Muslims; He is respected and loved by Christians, Jews and members of all other religions.
Moreover, the architect of this building is Muhammed Isa, the master of the architectural works of the Ottoman Empire that influenced the whole world, and the student of Mimar Sinan, who spread his reputation as far as India.
Shah Cihan, whose name means “king of the world”, crossed paths with 16-year-old Ercüment Banu Begüm when he was still a prince.
According to the poets of the palace, Ercüment Banu was so beautiful that even the Moon could not compete with her beauty, she was hiding her face. Shah Cihan was almost taken aback by this beauty. Ercüment Banu Begüm would become his third and only wife in 1612, and after his marriage, the Shah would give him the name Mümtaz Mahal, which means “the ornament of the palace, the chosen one”.
Mumtaz Mahal, aside from her beauty, was both intelligent and compassionate. In time, besides being his wife, he became a person whom Shah Cihan consulted on every issue with his intelligence.
Shah Cihan was so confident in himself that it is said in many sources that he gave him an important signing authority. Besides, he won the hearts of all the people with his loyalty and compassion. He clothed the needy, fed them and collected money. As in daily life, he was always with his wife Shah Cihan during the expedition.
Mumtaz Mahal, who was pregnant with her 14th child in 1631, in the third year of Shah Jahan’s reign, gave birth to a healthy baby inside the tent on 16 June 1631. Although everything seemed normal, it suddenly went bad. Shah Cihan, who was on the expedition, immediately went to his wife’s condition as soon as he heard about it.
Despite all the efforts of the doctors, Mumtaz Mahal breathed her last in the arms of the Shah at the age of 38, just one day after giving birth. According to the records, it is said that the Shah experienced deep pain at this unexpected death and went to his tent and cried nonstop for 8 days.
He had aged 8 years in 8 days.
When Shah Cihan appeared, those who saw the whites in his hair and the lines on his face were quite surprising. 8 days had passed like 8 years. Putting aside his pain, he continued his expeditions without slowing down, but he had only one thought in mind: he would have such a tomb built for his wife, whom he loved very much, that those who looked at this one-of-a-kind tomb would understand his love for his wife at first sight.
In December 1631, Mumtaz Mahal’s body was buried in a field in Agra, where the Taj Mahal would be built. Immediately afterwards, work began on the Taj Mahal, which is used to mean the “crown of the region”.
About 2000 models were shown to the Shah until he decided on his current state.
The golden age of the Mughal Empire was under Shah Jahan. Therefore, all the necessary expenses were not spared for the Taj Mahal, the construction of which began in 1632. The work was wanted to represent heaven on earth. Those who saw this structure should have felt the Shah’s great love in the depths of their hearts. No expense was spared for this.
In today’s money, the Shah spent about $1,062,834,098 for this monument.
A team of architects and about 20,000 workers from different countries had gathered.
In the construction, a structure reflecting the Indo-Islamic and Timurid architectural traditions was preferred. The building and its surroundings of the Taj Mahal show that it is a Mughal work in the architectural sense. The dome, which has a height of 82 meters from the ground, was built by Isa Efendi, a student of Mimar Sinan. The work has 4 minarets made of white marble.
The entire Surah Yasin was written by Ottoman calligrapher Settar Efendi on all four sides of the monument.
The work takes on different colors depending on the reflection of the light during the day.
It turns a sweet pink at sunrise, white in the afternoon, and golden at sunset. It is said that these color transitions represent the mood of Mumtaz Mahal.
Shah Cihan, who had the idea of having a tomb built for himself right in front of the work that was completed in 1652, was soon overthrown by his son Alemgir on the grounds that he had lost his mind and imprisoned him in Agra Castle. Shah, who spent the last years of his life watching the Taj Mahal from a tiny window, was buried right next to the love of his life, Mümtaz Mahal.
After learning that the Shah, who immortalized his love by leaving such a beautiful work to the world, symbolizes his love with the Taj Mahal, it is no longer possible to look at the work with the same eye.
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