The document examines the ongoing historical debate regarding the origin of the Taj Mahal, focusing on two primary perspectives. The first is the mainstream historical narrative, which states that the monument was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who passed away in 1631. Built between 1632 and 1653, this structure represents the culmination of Mughal architecture by blending Persian, Islamic, and Indian traditions using white marble, symmetry, a central dome, and a charbagh garden layout. This conventional view is strongly supported by contemporary Mughal court chronicles, historical documents, and institutions like the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The second perspective is the alternative "Tejo Mahalaya" theory, which proposes that the monument was originally a pre-existing Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva before being modified or repurposed during the Mughal period. This theory was popularized starting in the mid-20th century by P. N. Oak through various publications—such as The Taj Mahal was a Rajput Palace (1965) and Taj Mahal: The True Story (1989)—which utilized linguistic analysis, architectural observations, and selective interpretations of Persian chronicles. However, mainstream historians and academic institutions widely criticize this theory, and legal efforts to formally recognize it, such as a Public Interest Litigation filed by Oak in the Supreme Court in 2000, have been dismissed.