Editing Mandala of the Two Realms (section)

=== Mandala variations ===
Most mandalas in the East Asian tradition are in the form of a "Great Mandala", which depicts the individual images of each deity in human form, using a two dimensional illustration like a textile or a painting. There are three other styles of depicting mandalas:<ref name=":3" /> 
* The Dharma Mandala, in which each Buddha is symbolically represented by a single letter in [[Siddhaṃ script|Siddhaṃ]] script;
* The Samaya Mandala, which depicts each Buddha with a symbolic ''samaya form'', symbolically representing the inner realization of that Buddha;
* The Karma Mandala, three dimensional mandalas, usually with Buddha images arranged within a monastery hall following such a layout, but could also include larger mandalas constructed outside in a field using Buddha statues.

These four types of mandala are collectively called the ''Four Mandalas'' (Jp. ''Shishu Mandara'') in East Asian Esoteric Buddhism.''<ref name=":0" />''<ref name=":3" />