Taj Mahal: Cultural Icon - Essay Example

Taj Mahal holds great importance for the whole world because it is a symbol of true love between a husband and a wife. Shah Jahan, who was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire, built Taj Mahal in the memory of his wife whom he loved a lot. Taj Mahal is not only the symbol of true love but also it is one of the most wonderful and eye-catching architectures of the world. Szczepanski states, “The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, combining architectural elements from across the Muslim lands”.

People, who are interested in architectures, come from all over the world to view this great piece of art and architecture. The design and beauty of Taj Mahal reflects the architectural skills and brilliance of the architects of the seventeenth century. Today, one can say without any doubt that Taj Mahal is a great architecture, which mesmerizes a person and makes him/her feel the existence of true love and affection in the seventeenth century. Importance of Taj Mahal within the Culture of India In Indian culture, preservation of the Mughal architecture is given extreme importance because it reflects the overall culture of India.

Indian people feel proud of having such a wonderful mausoleum in their country. This mausoleum truly reflects the mindset of Indian people. It reflects the importance that the people of India give to their relationships. In Indian culture, relationships hold great importance and people like to maintain true relations. Taj Mahal practically reflects this concept of Indian people. Taj Mahal qualifies as an icon in the Indian culture because it has a special status in the Indian history. “The focal point of the Taj Mahal complex is the tomb itself, which is the impressive and instantly recognizable white marble building” (Glasgow).

Value of this cultural icon is not limited to a specific group of people rather it is an important part of the Indian culture for a wide range of people belonging to all parts of the world. Taj Mahal reflects the power of love that exists within a relationship. In the present era, hardly any person spends so much time or shows concern to do something very special for his/her beloved person. The reason is that the value of true relationships is losing its grounds with the passing time. The world has become so much materialistic these days that only a few people love some other person without any demands.

The things were very different in the seventeenth century. At that time, people used to give extreme importance and value to their relations. The relationship between a husband and a wife was supposed to be the best one in the life of a person and Taj Mahal is a perfect example of that relationship. Taj Mahal has a lot of significance for a very large group of people. It provides people with the power of love to take care of their loved ones. It inspires them and makes them feel the intensity of a true relationship.

A closer view of Taj Mahal really mesmerizes a person and injects a fresh sense of love and inspiration in the mind of that person. Another reason behind the importance of this mausoleum for the Indian people is that it generates high amounts of revenue for their country. The people from all over the world, who are in some kind of relationship, come to India to see this gift of love which was given from a husband to his dead wife. By looking at this