Nepal has a time honoured tradition of art and culture embedded with Buddhism. In fact, the artistic tradition of Nepalese people is instrumental in elevating the status of Nepal in the world. In the past Nepalese artists produced many excellent.images and were sent to Tibet, China, Japan and Mongolia. The bronze statue of Buddha Akshobhya Vajra (in Lhasa at Ramoche temple) is considered to be one of the most excellent images ever produced by the artists of Nepal, which was taken to Lhasa by Nepalese princess Bhrikuti Devi in the seventh century.

Although the artistic heritage has come a long way through the lives and lifestyle of Nepalese people, the exact meanings and implications as regard to the different images or deities relating to Vajrayana Buddhism has slowly gone out of focus during the passage of time. Even today there are many sculptors, artists and painters who can meticulously carve or paint such images or deities with excellent results, but the incumbent meanings however cannot be found with ease.

The purpose of this monograph is to provide some facts, materials and information on Buddhist Iconography gathered through extensive study of canonical texts relating to Vajrayana Buddhism prevailing in Nepal and some from Tibet albeit in a humble way. The readers are specifically sculptors, artists, painters and students of Buddhism interested in Buddhist Iconography and general public people. The monograph describes important deities and images specially relevant in Nepalese context along with their functions, utility, virtues and wisdom in the path to enlightenment.