I am not sure if this is a shared believe in Islam but once I was told by a muslim acquaintence that Taj Mahal in their eyes is just a Makbara (monument where the graves are located). I don't think that they associate it with love, purity or any such emotion. In fact they refuse to keep one in their house because it is a makbara

Let me clarify Makbara is more clearly where graves of Muslim emperors or royalty are located.

Wow, that's interesting and helps explain away my disconnect...can anyone confirm or deny?

Nothing new here. It has always been the practice to cover the Taj Mahal with canvas during war. As an example, see the second paragaraph of this article.

Maybe the islamic fanatics found out that.....

The Tajmahal is Tejomahalay a Hindu Temple : http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/modern/taj_oak.html

The Photographic Evidence : http://www.stephen-knapp.com/was_the_taj_mahal_a_vedic_temple.htm

;)

some schools of islam frown upon anything that might be perceived as an object of idolatry. remember, the wahhabis in arabia attacked the tomb of the prophet! but this is not a universal islamic belief, veneration of saints and sacral sites is not uncommon throughout the islamic world.

More on Post 4:

A Google search with the keywords "war taj mahal camouflage" yields several hits. See the 14th paragraph of this article. For a contrary point of view, see this article.

anna asks

can anyone confirm or deny?

dont know how to alleviate anna's anguish on that particular issue

Well, kindly allow me to alleviate any anguish you might be experiencing with regards to alleviating my anguish on this particular issue-- you don't need to know how. I was merely asking for more knowledgable heads to step forward, just as you did; so thank you, the rest of your comment was very edifying.

Nothing new here. It has always been the practice to cover the Taj Mahal with canvas during war.

That was done for strategic reasons since in the pre-GPS and extra precision equipment world, monuments like Taj Mahal would be used for guidance during night time air-raids/ sortees.

Often, huge religious monuments are not bombed purposefully as a PR exercise in wars even by enemies and are used for triangulation. Unless, they (the generic enemy) are going for carpet-bombing.

Such practises go back to World Wars all over the world.

The letters are written in Hindi...

Maybe it's a scared kid trying to protect the Taj Mahal; he wrote the letters so there would be extra security around it in this time of uncertainty.
Just a thought.

And maybe I'm just too optimistic...
Another thought :)

Well, kindly allow me to alleviate any anguish you might be experiencing with regards to alleviating my anguish on this particular issue-- you don't need to know how.

I question the timing. My suggestion is to look for left-handed, Hindi-speaking Lieberman supporters in Uttar Pradesh.

How many of those do ya think would be around, huh?

The Taj Mahal is a monument to vanity and wasteful extravagance. It served no useful purpose when it was built, and is probably one of the reasons why Shah Jahan was deposed and imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb.

The Al-Qaeda, who are wahhabis, see all tombs as idol worship. They have made Saudi Arabia a tomb-free zone. Even Mohammad isnt allowed any grave markers, much less a fancy building, atop his grave. But if you try to reason with these wild-eyed whackjobs and point out that prostrating towards the Kaaba five times a day is itself idol worship, they will probably try to slit your throat halal-style :)

almost certainly this is going to be a hoax...i can feel it for some reason

So, one of the greatest physical manifestations of love the world has ever known is now endangered because of hate.

While the Taj Mahal is a beautiful structure from an artistic pov, not sure is there was that much "love" extended to the people who built it... Shah Jahan supposedly cut off the hand of the chief mason on its completion to prevent it from being duplicated.

Mumtaz Mahal led a hard life having to be by Shah Jehan's side all the time. She is said to have died during her 17th pregnancy. Love? Maniacal obsession is more like it.

It is a structure of beauty. I'd hate to see it blown apart, just like a didn't enjoy seeing the great Buddhas of Bamhazar destroyed. It is an architectural magnificence of a sort I suppose.

-Khshemwais

She is said to have died during her 17th pregnancy.

Damn, thas a lot of children. My greatgrandmo from the village of Bar-Barakshem I think was said to have had 19. I didn't even think that was possible until recently.

There are many sects in Islam. Some muslims claim that hadiths that mention killing of 'idolators' etc etc is not part of quran and not Islamic. However, the same hadiths are part of Islam to the people who believe in them. People in the western media also greatly underestimate the percentage of muslims that support radical version of Islam. I would say it approaches almost 80% of the population in large areas of pakistan where the only source of any education was the Madrasas.

sigh.

She was married at the age of 19, on 10 May 1612, to then-Prince Khurram, who would later ascend the Peacock Throne as Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I. She was his second wife, and named Mumtaz Mahal, which means "beloved ornament of the palace" in Persian. She became his favorite wife. She died June 17, 1631 in Burhanpur in the Deccan, now in Madhya Pradesh, during the birth of her fourteenth child, a daughter named Shahzadi Gauhara Begum, and was buried in the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Not much is known about her except that she was a woman of legendary beauty and virtue, who had a very deep and loving marriage with Shah Jahan. Even during her lifetime, poets would espouse her beauty, gracefulness and compassion. It was said that even the moon would hide in shame from her beauty. Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan's trusted companion, traveling with him all over the Mughal empire, and visiting the lands. He trusted her so far, that he even gave her his imperial seal, the Muhr Uzah. She was a big influence on him, apparently often intervening on behalf of the poor and destitute. But she also enjoyed watching elephant and combat fights performed for the court.

They had fourteen children, seven of whom died young. Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth, while accompanying Shah Jahan during a war campaign against the Lodi lords in the Deccan. Legend has it that on her deathbed, her last wish to the emperor was for a symbol or a monument to their love. Inconsolable, the emperor promised immediately. Apparently after her death, Shah Jahan went into secluded mourning for a year, when he appeared again his hair had turned white, his back was bent, and his face worn out. He kept his promise and built her tomb, the Taj Mahal, in Agra. It took more than 20 years, and most of the treasury, to finish it. Today, it stands as the ultimate monument to love, and an homage to her beauty and life.

radical version of Islam. I would say it approaches almost 80% of the population in large areas of pakistan where the only source of any education was the Madrasas.

Balochistan supposedly supports Israel. FATA NWF and the Northern Areas are where many of the "radicals" reside.

Is it really that surprising? I m surprised the Taj hasnt been targeted yet.
PS: Do you think logical questions like "How else could anyone aim such evil at something so magnificent?" matter to the militant mind?

Do you think logical questions like "How else could anyone aim such evil at something so magnificent?" matter to the militant mind?

Huh? That question didn't strike me as as much logical as emotionally affected. There are words in there which make it an emotional affectation rather than a statement in logic. You sure that's a logical question? lol jus playin;)

But then, this is not about logic. A N N A is obviously emotionally touched by this. I can feel her on the issue.

The Taj is not a religious structure. And while I shared the same sense of disconnect when I read today's headlines, I realised that Taj is a very meaningful target for these reasons:

a] Large number of fatalities, as it is the most visited monument in the country
b] Adverse impact on Indian tourism
c] Symbolically, Taj represents India more than it represents Islam. At least for most of the world. It is probably the first thing people think of when they think of India. Just think of all the movies, comics etc where you know you are India because the Taj in the frame.

Brilliant!

written with the left hand

How sinister.

Left-Sinister connection. I hope that was intentional, but if not, a serendipitous coincidence.

Thank you for noticing. :)

Anna: I do not know whether the momument is "sacred" or not, but many decades ago a very melodius film song in praise of Taj Mahal went something like this:
"EK SHAHANSHAH NE BAVA KE HASEEN TAJ MAHAL, SAREE DUNIYA KO MOHAABAT KI NISHANI DI HEIN"

In response to this a voice of "Lover" who was desperately poor and completely broke wrote:

ANGINAT LOGONE DUNIYAMEIN MOHHABAT KI HEIN
KAUN KAHTA HEIN KE SADIIQ NAA THE JAJBEIN UNKE?

EK SHAHANSHAH NE AAPNI DAULAT KA SAHARA LE KAR
HUM GARIBON KI MOHHABAT KA UDAYA HEIN MAJAAK....
MERI JAAN KAHIN AUR MILAA KAR MUJHE....

I hope you are good in "Hindi" and get the gist of this. Regardless, a structure like TAJ ought to be preserved for future generations - if for nothing else - it's "Architectural Beauty".

Anna: I do not know whether the momument is "sacred" or not, but many decades ago a very melodius film song in praise of Taj Mahal went something like this: "EK SHAHANSHAH NE BAVA KE HASEEN TAJ MAHAL, SAREE DUNIYA KO MOHAABAT KI NISHANI DI HEIN"

In response to this a voice of "Lover" who was desperately poor and completely broke wrote:

ANGINAT LOGONE DUNIYAMEIN MOHHABAT KI HEIN
KAUN KAHTA HEIN KE SADIIQ NAA THE JAJBEIN UNKE?

EK SHAHANSHAH NE AAPNI DAULAT KA SAHARA LE KAR
HUM GARIBON KI MOHHABAT KA UDAYA HEIN MAJAAK....
MERI JAAN KAHIN AUR MILAA KAR MUJHE....

I hope you are good in "Hindi" and get the gist of this. Regardless, a structure like TAJ ought to be preserved for future generations - if for nothing else - it's "Architectural Beauty".

no habla anything. some help please?

The Taj land was owned by the Raja of Amber. There are no reports of the Taj being constructed in any Mogul document and usually several references are available re other major structures. Recently we wanted to make a documentary re its origin and gave it up because it appeared to be Hindu. Sick and wary of provoking unnecessary problems, we decided not to proceed. Incidentally Warren Hastings wanted to dismantle it and send big chunks to beautify estates in Sussez. He thought it was particularly ugly, especially the minarets s and thought the marble could be better use. This opinion is documented. The dismantling was not carried out because of lack of interest in Sussex.

Puliogre in Da USA: Let me try and translate this for you.
One king of kings by building the beautiful Taj Mahal has given the entire world a symbol of LOVE !
(Most probably written by Shakeel Badaauni)

Poor Shaair's response:
Countless people in this world have fallen into love
Who says that their love was not pure?
...............
One king of kings, with the aid of his wealth
have made a mockery of love, of us poors.
My love, please meet me somewhere else !!

(Probably written by Saahir Ludhiyanvi)??