Origin of the Taj Mahal
In the year of 1631, Emporer Shah Jahan's wife passed away while giving birth to his 14th child. Being devastated Emporer Shah Jahan wanted to built a proper burial for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. In the year of 1632 the construction of the Taj Mahal began. The Taj Mahal symbolizes the love between the emporer and his wife. The building was then finished five years later. Emporer Shah Jahan described the Taj Mahal in these words:
"Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory."
"Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory."