In the construction of the Taj Mahal three types of
stones have been used : (1) Semi-precious stones like Aqiq (agate),
Yemeni, Firoza (turquoise), Lajwad (Lapis- lazuli); moonga (coral),
Sulaimani (onyx), Lahsunia (cat's eye), Yasheb (jade) and Pitunia (blood
stone). These were mainly used for inlaying work. (2) Rare and scarce
stones such as Tilai (goldstone), Zahar-mohra, Ajuba, Abri, Khathu,
Nakhod and Maknatis (magnet stone) were used for bold inlay and mosaic
work chiefly on floors, exterior dados and turrets and (3) Common
stones: sang-i-Gwaliari (grey and yellow sandstone) sang-i-Surkh (red
sandstone), sang-i-moosa (black slate) and sang-i-Rukhan (sang-i-marmar;
white marble) were used in foundations, masonry and for giving finishing
touch to the external surfaces. Red stone was brought from the
neighboring towns like Fatehpur Sikri, Karauli-Hindaun, Tantpur and
Paharpur whereas white marble was brought from Makrana mines
(Rajasthan). Semi precious and rare stones were occasionally brought
from as distant places such as Upper Tibet, Kumaon, Jaisalmer, Cambay
and Ceylon.
Other materials which were used for the construction of Taj Mahal
included different kind of bricks, Gaj-i-Shirin (sweet limestone),
Khaprel or tiles, Qulba or Spouts to lead off water, San, Gum,
Sirish-i-Kahli or reed glue, Gul-i-Surkh or red clay, Simgil (silver
clay) and glass. The center and skeleton of the main building is made up
of extra strong brick masonary in which massive white marble slabs, have
been used on the headers and stretchers system to give it a white marble
outlook. Country ingredients such as molasses; batashe (sugar-bubbles),
belgiri-water, urd-pulse, curd, jute and Kankar (pieces of fossilized
soil) were mixed with lime mortar to make it an ideal cementing
material.
The Mughals believed that the precious and semiprecious stones have
different effects on the fortunes of different persons and places; they
may be auspicious or inauspicious. This has exactly been calculated and
strictly adhered to in the adornment of the Taj Mahal. It is primarily
because of these reasons that we see predominance of one or the other
stone on a particular feature of its architecture. A number of marks are
engraved on red stone slabs, on the pathways, stairs, plinths and
pavements of the Taj Mahal. Some of them are- Symbolic motifs Swastika,
Cakra, âako¸a (Hexagon), Paµcako¸a (Pentagon), áa´kh
(conch-shell), Animate motifs - fish, bi rd, Geometrical motifs -
triangle, Square, rectangle, Floral motifs- leaves and petals of the
flowers chiefly lotus.
Find information on building Mmterials used for
the construction of Taj Mahal at Agra, India