He breathes life into ancient temples
S.C. Sharma

HIS old eyes strain to respond to greetings of strangers but when they notice these visitors appreciating his handiwork of decades, they light up and shine warmly.

It is the warmth of an indulgent octogenarian, Dharam Das Dhiman, who has spent the better part of his life hewing and carving slate and wood for the Hatkoti temple complex in Shimla district.

These historical temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga have stood on the right bank of the Pabbar river for over a thousand years. Dharam Das and other residents of the area in fact believe these were built by the Pandavas during their agyatvasa.

Despite their age, the temples are in a remarkably good condition. Over the centuries, the devotion and munificence of the masses and the royalty have greatly contributed to their upkeep. In more recent times, the Dhiman family has played an important role in maintaining them.

Eighty year-old Dharam Das proudly points out the many improvements wrought by his grandfather Mehar Das in the main temples. His own work includes raising the boundary of the complex, crafting its entrance and adding new buildings like a dharamshala, yajnashala, kirtan bhavan and a bhandar griha. But his skill shines most in the baithak made out of the intricately-carved deodar panels.

For the last 40 years, the life of this devout worker has been revolving around these temples. Even at this advanced age, Dharam Das does not wait for the sun to thaw Hatkoti’s morning chill. After a bath, he gets on with the work before the devotees start arriving. His involvement in his work has made him almost renounce his native Daddi Gumsa village. People marvel at his designing and layout skills which he has painstakingly honed over the years. He recounts how, in his absence, artisans engaged by the temple authorities had repeatedly failed to get the complex’s entrance right. Eventually, the management had to fall back on his services.

For many years, Dharam Das single-handedly worked to beautify the temple complex. From fetching deodar logs and slate slabs to carving and arranging them, he did practically everything himself. Now, however, labourers help him with the movement of materials. His son Balwant Dhiman also devotes all his time to the complex.

Dharam Das is now also paying attention to the several ancient temples in this valley which are in ruins. He hopes to restore them to a great extent.

May the deities bless him with days enough to realise this dream!