Tibetans viewed their country as a living entity controlled by "srin ma" (pronounced "sinma"), a wild demoness who opposed the propagation of Buddhism in the country. To thwart her evil intentions, King Songtsen Gampo (the first king of a unified Tibet) developed a plan to build twelve temples across the country. The temples were built in three stages. In the first stage central Tibet was covered with four temples, known as the "four horns" "(ru bzhi)". Four more temples, "(mtha'dul)", were built in the outer areas in the second stage; the last four, the "yang'dul", were built on the country's frontiers. The Jokhang temple was finally built in the heart of the "srin ma", ensuring her subjugation.