Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal's names have been linked to each other throughout history, especially due to their connection with the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan I, also known as Shah Jahan the Magnificent, was the fifth Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1628 to 1658. The cultural achievements and monuments of his reign, including the Taj Mahal, are regarded as the pinnacle of Mughal architecture. The third son of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Shah Jahan, distinguished himself in wars against the Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar and the rebellious Lodi nobles of the Deccan. He was also deeply in love with Mumtaz Mahal, who was known to be intelligent, strong-willed, and graceful. She was not only Shah Jahan's consort but also his confidant and advisor. Shah Jahan is best known for commissioning the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, and the Shah Jahan Mosque, and for entombing his wife, Mumtaz, in the Taj Mahal.

A Monument of Love

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The Taj is also frequently called the “teardrop on the cheek of time,” a symbol of eternal love and perhaps the most beautiful of all Mughal mausolea. Of it, the English poet Sir Edwin Arnold famously said, "It is not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones.” It has often been associated with Mumtaz Mahal's beauty, with the tomb said to have been built in her memory. The resulting architecture is frequently regarded as having feminine features.

True to Muslim tradition, the tomb's crypt is relatively understated. Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are buried in a crypt beneath the inner chamber, their remains placed on the side of the chamber facing Mecca. Calligraphic inscriptions using the Ninety-Nine Names of God are said to have sanctified the space in which the couple are interred, creating a solemn and elegant memorial. The name Taj Mahal may even be a derivation of Mumtaz Mahal's name: some European visitors noted down the name of the monument as the "Taj Mahal" after locals called the empress by the same name. Shah Jahan was originally intended to be buried in his palace at Lahore, but the next emperor, Aurangzeb, had him buried next to his first wife. Aurangzeb's own grave is located to one side of Mumtaz's instead of the center.

The Symbolism

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While a tribute to eternal love, the Taj Mahal also conveys Shah Jahan’s wealth and power, and the strength of his empire. Perfect bilateral symmetry is used in the design to create balance. On a grander scale, the Taj is oriented along a north-south axis. On the summer and winter solstices, the sun rises and sets over the monument’s corners, creating a symbolic horizon. The gardens, building, and attached structures are intended to reflect the Mughal idea of paradise and the emperor’s depiction of the Garden of Eden. Mughal artisans employed parchin kari, a decorative technique where white marble is inlaid with semi-precious stones to create intricate patterns and motifs that symbolize power and grandeur. The color of the Taj Mahal’s marble also changes in different conditions: it may appear pinkish in the morning, milky white at midday, and golden when hit by moonlight. At times, the Taj may even seem to take on a bluish tinge.

The love of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal is an often-told tale that has been lost in legend, folklore, and history books, yet the story of these lovers lives on, not just in the historical records, but also in art and architecture, and above all, in the hearts of all who have been touched by this timeless monument.