Love at the Taj Mahal

Imagine someone that you love, someone who has been the love of your life since you were both nineteen years old, is about to pass away. This person looks into your eyes, and with her dying breath asks you for three promises.

one of the Seven Wonders of the World

No, I am not writing a soap opera, or a movie script, I am telling the tale that created one of the seven wonders of the world: the Taj Mahal.

millions visit here each year

Our tour guide Luv told us this story as we reached Agra the other day. This city of 2 million people is just 250 km from Delhi and home to the most beautiful building I have ever seen.

Taj as seen through the north gate

Agra was home to Shah Jahan, the 17th century noble who ruled much of present-day India and Pakistan. He and his wife Muntaz could not bear to be apart, and so, when it came time to lead his troops into southern India, she accompanied him riding atop an elephant. Now, I’ve ridden an elephant for a short distance, and it makes riding an Indian bus seem like a Mercedes Benz. The results of this decision proved to be tragic.

riding a camel is only slightly better than an elephant

Muntaz died during childbirth, but the child - a baby girl - miraculously survived. It was the fourteenth time she had given birth, and the first promise the Shah made was to take care of the remaining children – three girls and four boys.

notice the symmetry from every angle?

Shah Jahan was the grandson of the Mughal king who had conquered northern India two generations earlier, and his grandfather Akbar ordered the construction of dozens of spectacular buildings, many of which are standing to this day.

our assistant Kalyani

The second promise Shah Jahan made to Muntaz was never to marry again. While this might sound reasonable to us today, for the time and culture it was unheard of. The nobility practiced polygamy in Shah Jahan's day, and, in fact, Muntaz was his third wife. In spite of this, Shah Jahan kept his promise and never married again.

this screen is made from a single piece of translucent marble

The third promise made to his dying wife was to create a monument to their love.

Gary with his beloved Radha

This breathtaking mausoleum is the reason we braved six hours of traffic before reaching Jaypee Palace, our hotel located just ten minutes from the Taj Mahal. Furthermore, security around the Taj is tremendous, and unlike the nine other visits Radha and I have made to Agra, it took us over an hour to go through the screening process. It was worth every second of the process, though, and our group was able to see the Taj illuminated by the full moon sky.

views of the East Gate security checkpoint

We got back to our hotel by 1:30 AM, slept, and returned in the next morning to spend a few hours in at the Taj in the daylight.

Gary practicing his tree pose

Radha and I have visited certain places on the planet that seem to be portals to another dimension, and many people believe that places like Chartres Cathedral in France or Stonehenge in England are places where lines of energy intersect. Civilizations build on these same locations time and time again, drawn by the magnetism of something from beyond. The Taj Mahal is one of these places.

The Taj simply takes your breath away, and even though it's impossible to take it all in, it's equally impossible to pull your eyes away. The photos speak for themselves, and suffice to say that everyone in our group wished they had more time to spend at the Taj. Radha and I agreed, telling them that we felt unsatisfied after every visit. We have spent entire days just sitting on the lawn staring, meditating and absorbing in the beauty.

Our theory about the Taj Mahal is that the building's physical beauty is a mere teaser. The real experience is the feeling it inspires in everyone who sees it. Take a close look at the above photo, then close your eyes and follow the intense sensation deep within your mind. You will reach a place that is always with you - the emotion of love.

It has been said many times, and in many ways,
that Love is a reflection of the Divine.