The Morphology of the ‘Trident’ Weapon

This study analyses the trident (triśūla), regarded as the supreme weapon of Śiva, Durgā and other divinities. Trident forms vary regionally and temporally; the article divides them into northern and southern zones with sub‑types and notes that formal diversification began soon after its earliest appearances. Drawing on textual sources such as the Aparājitapṛcchā, Lākṣaṇasamuccaya and Kāraṇāgama, the author provides precise measurements: the Aparājitapṛcchā assigns 10 units to the staff, one to the holder and five to the weapon head with spear (śūla) and flanking spikes. The Lākṣaṇasamuccaya specifies chamfered edges, horn‑like spikes and a lotus‑leaf , while the Kāraṇāgama describes crescent‑moon shaped spikes and an elliptical. The article compares Indian tridents with Greek tridents: whereas Hellenic prongs are parallel and attach to a cross‑bar, Indian tridents are more organic, with lateral spikes merging into the central. Figures illustrate regional variants from Gupta, Tamil and Javanese contexts, showing how decoration and proportions differ. The author concludes that the trident’s evolution reflects both symbolic meaning and artistic experimentation. He proposes further comparative studies of related weapons such as the vajra.

Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.