By PTI
Members of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Monday tried to enter the Taj Mahal claiming that the Mughal monument was originally a Shiva temple but were stopped by police, an officer said.
The Mahasabha had sought to perform religious rituals at the protected site on the first Monday of the holy month of Shrawan.
The claim that the Taj Mahal was originally a Shiva temple, often referred to by Hindu organisations as “Tejo Mahalaya”, has been repeatedly disputed by historians.
According to police, 11 women associated with the organisation were carrying kanwars — devotees of Lord Shiva — towards the Taj Mahal when they were intercepted en route.
They were later escorted to the Rajeshwar Temple, where they offered holy water and performed jalabhishek or ceremonial bathing of the Shivling.
A police officer said the authorities had prior information that the group was heading towards the Taj Mahal from the western gate to perform religious rituals.
“They were stopped on the way and were taken to the Rajeshwar Temple, where they performed jalabhishek,” the officer said.
This story was originally published in telegraphindia.com. Read the full story here.
