Triśūla (त्रिशूल) a trident, spear or pointed weapon (cf. sulam); The trisula represents either the triple function of God – Creation, Protection and Destruction or the three attributes or gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

Trident, the favourite weapon of Śiva. ‘Tri’ means three an ‘śula’ means point. It consists of a long wooden handl topped by three sharp metal pikes.

Related Terms