Shiva's Trident

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significance in Hindu philosophy The trident holds great significance in Hinduism. It is a spear having three prongs and is the principal weapon of Mahadev, Lord Shiva. He is always depicted holding his Trishul (Trident) in one of his hands. The Sanskrit word Trishul is the combination of two words i.e. "Tri" meaning "three" and "Shul" or "Shool" meaning "a stake". Goddess Durga, the consort of Lord Shiva, is also sometimes seen holding the trident in her arm as one of her weapons. She killed the great demon Mahishasura with it. Some Shaivites (devotees of Lord Shiva) also carry the trident with them as a means of protection. The Vedic scriptures are so vast and detailed that they deal with all aspects of knowledge, both material and spiritual. Anything mentioned in the Vedas is not imaginary or false, it is scientific and based on the knowledge of the Absolute Truth. Hinduism is rich in symbolism and Trident is considered one of the most powerful symbols. Let us know more about the trident and know its significance.

From bondage to salvation

The Trident is seen as a subtle attack on the negative tendencies or Anarthas such as lust, anger, greed, envy, ego, and illusion. These Anarthas pollute the mind and intelligence of the conditioned souls and cover their real identity and consciousness. As a result, they forget their eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord and become engrossed in material existence. The Trident is an awakening for all the forgetful souls to seek spiritual guidance to know about the Absolute Truth.

The attack or stroke of the Trident destroys all the Anarthas within their hearts. When this happens, the person transcends the modes of material nature and is situated in pure goodness (Shuddh Sattva). In this state of existence, he neither laments for the past nor hankers for anything and remains blissful in his spiritual identity. After leaving the material body, he does not take birth again in any of the planetary systems, but rather returns to the eternal abode of the Supreme. Hence, he comes out of the cycle of repeated birth and death and is not subject to the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the material world.

This is achieved when an individual takes the shelter of a Guru (spiritual master), Shastra (scriptures), and Sadhu (saintly persons) which are the most important symbolic representation of the three points of the Trident. Thus he breaks free from the bondage of the ocean of nescience and becomes liberated.