If I were to name this year I’d call this my year of inconsistency. I have never been quite weary of my deadlines ever in my life. This year I am just not finishing my projects if the deadline is something that I came up with and finishing them right on time if it is something that concerns others. I usually use the moon to calculate my progress. That is the main reason why most of my new book releases are around full moon days. This year during the buck moon I was in the Taj Mahal releasing the cover and first chapter of my next book. This day was also the Buddha purnima day. Since I was sitting in the mosquitoes and was quite busy with the cover designing and the next day was also a big day I did not write much that night. Originally because my mobile was dying and I did not want to be without the aid of a mobile phone till I reached my hotel room after the taj view at night.
There are two reasons why I love the moon. One is because it os always a part of the sky when I am home and happy and am with my people. At least it was so when I was a child and the image of the moon is still associated with safe home and cozy family time in my subconscious mind. This brings quiet comfort to me every time I see it. The second reason is that even when I get to see only a fraction of its beauty body I am safe in the knowledge that it will soon be full, if not today. This gives me hope. To a particular percentage my sensitivity to the sun and quite literally physical relief to my eyes and skin that come along with the moon rise do make moon the undisputed love of my life.
The night view of Taj during full moon is still fresh in my mind’s eye. I usually prefer living in the moment and not taking pictures of it mainly because I have a vivid photographic memory. I can still close my eyes and see the beautifully drawn course of facial nerve by my anatomy professor on the black board of mu first year UG class. My vision of the Taj that night was only over a week ago and hence still quite vividly etched 😍
Since today happens to be the international moon day I am sharing this image of a panel painting from the mosque inside the Taj Mahal which shows the original dream project.
Imagine being dedicated to one project for 22 years and having the same vision and passion to repeat the same in just another colour scheme right next to it for approximately the same amount of time. There is a basic concept behind the large Paintings of Buddha. Every Buddha painting or sculpture is made with a prayer. The Monks continue praying till the painting is completed. I have read quite a bit of love poems and none of them have ever made a statement about being so deeply involved in a project for the loved one. I do understand doing something like a painting or a handiwork with their own hands for their muse. The Monalisa took about 4 years. The deepest of poems take about the same amount of time to compose. Imagine ruling a country- of quite a large dimension and building a tomb for one of your wives, being so involved with the project the every bit of it is planned with grandeur and every part of your life is arranged around it so that it is always a window or balcony away. I still am trying to comprehend the dedication that he had had all the while.
The Taj Mahal is quite a testament to Shah Jahan’s Love. I am still wrapping my brain around the idea of one of three wives being the favourite so if not a testament of his love for her it is surely a testament of his love for beauty. The only word that does truly describe the Taj Mahal is - Wonder. It’s truly a wonder. Imagine finishing a wonderful project in 22 years and gearing up to repeat the same. I shall to an extent understand this if it were his profession.
Was it his love for Mumtaz that made him build the Taj Mahal or his love for grandeur and zeal for architectural designing that pushed him to spend most of the Mughal empire’s wealth on this monumental achievement one shall always wonder 🤍🌜🌑🌛
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