Trisula

The ''trishula'' () is a trident, a divine symbol, commonly used as one of the principal symbols in Hinduism. It is most commonly associated with the deity Shiva and widely employed in his iconography.

Etymology

The name ''trishula'' ultimately derives from the Sanskrit word त्रिशूल (triśūla), from त्रि (trí), meaning "three", and शूल (śū́la), meaning "a sharp iron pin or stake", referring in this case to the weapon's three prongs.

Symbolism

The ''trishula'' has a number of interpretations in Hindu belief. The three points of the weapon have various meanings and significance have many stories behind them. They are commonly said to represent various trinities: creation, preservation, and destruction; past, present, and future; body, mind and atman; Dharma (law and order), bliss/mutual enjoyment and emanation/created bodies; compassion, joy and love; spiritual, psychic and relative; happiness, comfort and boredom; pride, repute and egotism; clarity, knowledge and wisdom; heaven, mind and earth; soul, fire and earth; soul, passion and embodied-soul; logic, passion and faith; prayer, manifestation and sublime; insight, serenity and bodhisattvahood or arhatship (anti-conceit); practice, understanding and wisdom; death, ascension and resurrection; creation, order and destruction; the three '' gunas'': sattva, rajas, and tamas.

Literature

According to the ''Shiva Purana'', Shiva is ''svayambhu'', self-created, born of his volitions. He is described to bear a ''trishula'' from the very beginning of creation.

According to the ''Skanda Purana'', Shiva employed the ''trishula'' to behead Ganesha, who refused to allow him passage in order to visit the bathing Parvati.

According to the ''Vishnu Purana'', the sun god Surya married Sanjna, the daughter of the divine architect Vishvakarma. Unable to bear his brilliance, Sanjna brought this issue to her father, who arranged for his energy to be reduced to one-eighth of its previous intensity. The blazing energy descended towards the ground, used by Vishvakarma to create the trishula for Shiva, the Sudarshana Chakra for Vishnu, a palanquin for Kubera, the lance for Kartikeya, and all the other weapons of the gods.

According to the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'', the goddess Durga holds a ''trishula'' among other weapons and attributes in her hands and amongst her accouterment, having received celestial weapons from both Shiva and Vishnu.

Other uses

In Nepal and Thailand, the term also often refers to a short-handled weapon which may be mounted on a ''daṇḍa'' " staff". Unlike the Okinawan sai, the ''trishula'' is often bladed. In Indonesian, ''trisula'' usually refers specifically to a long-handled trident, while the diminutive version is more commonly known as a ''cabang'' or ''tekpi''.

A similar word, ”trushul”, is the Romani word for 'cross' specifically referring to the cross Jesus was crucified on. ''Trisula'' is also the name of a military operation by the ABRI to crack down on PKI remnants in southern Blitar.

Gallery

File:Trishool A4.svg, Shiva's ''trishula'' with damaru.
File:Tridents (Trishul) brought as offerings to Guna Devi., near Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.jpg, ''Trishula'' brought as offerings to Guna Devi, near Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.
File:Trishula-shore-Gosaikunda.jpg, Trishula on the northwest shore of Gosaikunda on Shivaratri.
File:Wat-Arun-menorah-8845.jpg, A seven-pronged ''trishula'' on top of Wat Arun, also known as the "trident of Shiva".
File:Cham Carved Sandstone Sculpture of Shiva, late 12th Cent. (9733101155).jpg, Cham carved sandstone sculpture of Shiva carrying a ''trishula'' in Southeast Asia.
File:Emblem of the House of Chakri.svg, Emblem of the Chakri dynasty, the royal house of Thailand founded in 1782. The emblem of the dynasty consists of the ''trishula'' intertwined with the Sudarshana Chakra, another weapon, to create a Chakri.
File:Extermination of Evil Sendan Kendatsuba crop.jpg, Sendan Kendatsuba (or Candana Gandharva) is depicted using his ''trishula'' to kill evil animals and demons in the set of five paintings '' Extermination of Evil''.

See also

* Kaumodaki
*Pitchfork
*Sai (weapon)
*Tekpi
*Thyrsus
*Trident
* Tryzub
* Columns of Gediminas

References

External links

*

{{Pole weapons

Weapons of Shiva
Weapons in Buddhist mythology
Hindu symbols
Heraldic charges
Indian martial arts
Weapons of India
Buddhist ritual implements
Spears
Indian iconography
Tridents