Dhum Temple

NEPAL, Patan

Its Sanskrit name is Gunalaksmi Samskarita Gunalaksmi Mahavihara. A chronicle states that the temple was built by King Siddhi Narasimha (reigned 1619–1661) during the Malla dynasty. However, there is a document dated 1562 that makes reference to this temple, which suggests that the temple was only reconstructed by King Siddhi Narasimha. All the buildings have been renovated recently.
The temple consists of a small enclosed courtyard together with the main shrine. This is guarded by two stone lions and flanked by two sets of prayer wheels. Above the doorway there is a tympanum in copper repoussé depicting images of Aksobhya Buddha, Prajnaparamita and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattvas, symbolizing the Triple Gem of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The facade of the shrine has the usual set of five windows in repoussé. At the ends of the windows there are repoussé images of Sariputra and Maudgalyayana. The eaves are braced by six delicately carved struts. At the center of the ridge there are three small copper stupas. Inside the shrine there is a stone image of Aksobhya Buddha facing north.
In the courtyard there is a small stupa. It is white and is in the style of an inverted bowl, whose base is decorated with seated Buddha images on the four sides. There are prayer wheels at the four corners. There is also a vajra within the courtyard, as well as two statues of benefactors, one man and one woman, who made donations to the temple.