Buddhist Deities

The Buddhist deities represented here are from the Vajrayana, "Diamond Vehicle", school which originated in northeast and northwest India around the middle of the first millennium.  This form of Buddhism reached Tibet around the 8th century, where it flourished until the Chinese invasion in the 20th century.

It evolved as a branch of Mahayana, "Wide Vehicle" teachings, and is the most mystical school of Buddhism. 

The statues are referred to a rupas, or forms, and many fine examples are still produced in Nepal.