While moving around Taj Mahal...

Taj Mahal is one among 'New seven wonders of the World’, voted by millions of admirers globally. Many years ago UNESCO has given special status to Taj Mahal among the World Heritage Sites describing it as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”.

July 31, 2008 witnessed a landmark ceremony at Taj Mahal. People offered 250 meters long cloth at the mausoleum of Emperor Shah Jahan on the occasion of his 353rd death anniversary. August 8, ’08 (8-8-8) signifies in my life that has driven me to post this article on Taj Mahal to highlight outstanding relationship between wife and husband.

I had three unique opportunities viewing Taj Mahal and spend time at this architectural marvel signifying love. All those three occasions were exclusive and overwhelming experiences for me.

- Gorgeous Taj Mahal appearing just before dawn on a mild foggy morning is a splendid view. First an outline sketch with hazy appearance... slowly turning into a clear image as if I am watching artist’s work on a canvass.

- Graceful Taj Mahal seen before me during bright day light and slowly fading away through mild orange light of dusk is an eventful experience.

- Taj Mahal... the marble beauty and her special appearance on full moon light is a spectacular show exquisitely experienced.

Every time I visited Taj, apart from appreciating it’s architectural beauty, a significant thought surrounded my mind was all about great intrinsic yet most graceful relationship, that might have prevailed between the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his Queen Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Bano Begum). That special bondage might have strongly motivated him to build such a magnificent masterpiece to keep up a promise given to his beloved queen during her last breath. I believe the bondage might be beyond all worldly relations but a profound intimacy and unconditional love emerging from their heart through deep understanding developed between wife and husband. The Queen Mumtaj might have showered close intimacy and true affection that left deep impressions on Emperor’s heart for ever. Such relationship so carefully nurtured over a period of time was a pure human bondage bridging hearts of wife and husband. Such relationship attains special significance of intrinsic love in family life. Personal feelings of happiness, sorrows, etc., if shared among wife and husband are so significant that such perfect bondage formed is inseparable even if they are apart due to any reason.

Cultures might differ, lifestyles might change but, Taj Mahal will always stay in the hearts of people all over the world signifying true love.

-NagVani