samaya mandala
In Shingon Buddhism, a mandala where each deity is represented by a symbolic object (such as a lotus, gem, or sword) rather than a figurative image. One of the four types of mandala (四種曼荼羅).
See also: 四種曼荼羅 (ししゅまんだら)
In a samaya mandala, buddhas and bodhisattvas are represented by objects they hold, such as lotus flowers or swords.
The four types of mandala in Shingon Buddhism; 三昧耶曼荼羅 is the samaya mandala, one of the four.
From Sanskrit samaya (symbol, convention) + maṇḍala (circle, mandala). The term was adopted into Japanese Buddhist terminology via Chinese.