Karma Shak (karma shag) is a temple in the old section of Lhasa to the east of the Jokhang (jo khang) temple. Legend says that this was originally the site of one of the four protector temples built around Lhasa by Songtsen Gampo (srong btsan sgam po). In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries several Karmapa (karma pa) lamas resided here while in Lhasa. In the seventeenth century, the building was given to Sera Mé (se ra smad) monastery and became the home of an oracle of Sera Mé's protector deity, who is also considered a protector of Lhasa. The temple ceased to function as a religious institution in 1959. Today, the temple is mainly a residential building. In 1990 Sera monastery reopened the chapel of the temple and began renovations.