Woman claims she carried lord Shiva’s Idol stealthily inside Taj Mahal and worshipped the deity:
A controversy has erupted following claims made by a woman leader affiliated with a Hindu organization, who alleged that she successfully entered the Taj Mahal carrying a concealed Shiva linga in her hair and conducted a religious ritual within the premises. The incident, which reportedly took place on Wednesday morning, has drawn significant attention, with both supporters and authorities reacting strongly to the claim.
Meera Rathor, who serves as the Agra district president of the women’s wing of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, spoke to reporters on Thursday, asserting that she had performed a religious ceremony at the Taj Mahal. “I had to worship the god in this temple to Lord Shiva, which was usurped by a Mughal king,” Rathor stated, reiterating the claim made by some Hindu nationalist groups that the iconic 17th-century mausoleum originally stood on the site of an ancient Shiva temple, known as Tejo Mahalaya, before being taken over and repurposed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
According to Rathor, she devised a plan to secretly carry religious items into the premises despite strict security regulations thatprohibitedt such objects. “I carried the Shivalinga, a bottle of Gangajal, and a matchbox — all concealed in my hair bun — on Wednesday on the occasion of Mahashivaratri,” she declared. She further elaborated on her alleged actions, stating, “I worshipped Lord Shiva near the mehmankhana (guesthouse) after purifying the spot with Gangajal brought from the Mahakumbh (in Allahabad).”
The Taj Mahal is known to have stringent security measures in place, including a ban on carrying religious symbols or inflammable objects inside the complex. Authorities have denied any breach of security and have dismissed Rathor’s claims as unsubstantiated. Prince Vajpayee, senior conservation assistant of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the Agra Circle, categorically rejected the assertion that any such religious activity had taken place on the premises.
“Our initial probe indicates that an old video of someone performing a puja on the Taj premises is being circulated on social media. We have checked our CCTVs and found no evidence of such activity taking place on Wednesday,” Vajpayee stated.
In an attempt to support her claims, Rathor posted a video on social media that allegedly shows her performing the ritual. However, ASI officials have expressed skepticism regarding the authenticity of the video and have reiterated that there is no evidence of any recent religious ceremony occurring at the site. Authorities are now investigating whether the video is from a past event or if any laws were violated in its circulation.
The Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of India’s most visited monuments, has often been at the center of historical and political debates. While it is universally recognized as a masterpiece of Mughal architecture built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, certain right-wing groups have repeatedly claimed that it was constructed over an ancient Hindu temple. These claims, however, have been dismissed by mainstream historians and scholars due to a lack of credible historical evidence.
The latest incident has reignited discussions surrounding the monument’s history and the recurring attempts to associate it with religious controversies. Authorities continue to maintain that the Taj Mahal is a protected heritage site where no religious practices—Hindu, Muslim, or otherwise—are permitted. As security officials conduct further inquiries, it remains to be seen whether any legal action will be taken regarding the claims made by Rathor.
For now, the Taj Mahal’s custodians insist that its sanctity and historical significance as a monument of love must be preserved, free from political and religious disputes. The authorities have urged visitors to respect the site’s guidelines and refrain from actions that could lead to unnecessary controversies or disturbances.
