The Shiva Trilogy
Who is Mahadev, what is the significance of Trishul, Why the number THREE (3) or (TRI) holds a place in hinduism, Who is the creator and the destructor of the world ?
Answering all such questions, so here i bring you a series of Shiva trilogy to enlighten your spirituality, so in the first instance of this series , we will tale on with who is Shiv (Mahadev), although it’s impossible define who Mahadev is because” he is everywhere but still he is nowhere” and continuing with the significance of Lord Shiva’s Trishul.
Shiv is one of the most important gods in the Hindu pantheon and, along with Brahma and Vishnu, is considered a member of the holy trinity (Trimurti) of Hinduism. A complex character, he may represent goodness, benevolence, and serve as the Protector but he also has a darker side as the leader of evil spirits, ghosts, and as the master of thieves, villains, and beggars. He is also associated with Time, and particularly as the destroyer of all things. Nevertheless, Shiva is also associated with creation. In Hinduism, the universe is thought to regenerate in cycles (every 2,160,000,000 years). Shiva destroys the universe at the end of each cycle which then allows for a new Creation. Shiva is also the great ascetic, abstaining from all forms of indulgence and pleasure, concentrating rather an on meditation as a means to find perfect happiness. He is the most important Hindu god for the Shaivism sect, the patron of Yogis and Brahmins, and also the protector of the Vedas, the sacred texts.
To fully understand and appreciate the depth of this divine symbol perhaps it is best to start with its etymology. The proper name of this symbol is the Trishul so we shall look at the etymology of the proper name. (The word trident is merely the English reference for this symbol.)
Tri means three. Shul means problems or suffering.
When unified, the Trishul means that which destroys the three-fold suffering. Therefore the Trishul is a symbol that offers relief from the three types of pain that arise in our human life experience:
1. Aadibhautik (physical)
2. Aadhyaatmik (spiritual), and
3. Aadidaivik (ethereal)
As the Trident or Trishul is held upright in the hand of the Divine Lord Shiva, it is held as the one who COMMANDS this healing energy of Divine.
Trishul is polyvalent and rich in nature. polyvalent== Having the property of counteracting several related poisons or giving immunity against many different strains of a microorganism. but in our case, it has the capacity to remove our many different negative qualities which inhibit us to be one with the almighty so helps to make us rich at a spiritual level.
The three prongs of Trishul represents — trinity –Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh; Sarasvati, Lakshmi, and Kali ; 3 — modes of nature –creation, maintenance, and destruction; the 3 –kaala — past, present and future; the 3– Gunas — sat, raj, tam. 3– lokas — swarg, bhu, and patal ; 3– powers — will, action and wisdom ; 3 — types of miseries –physical, mental and spiritual.
Lord Shiva’s Trishul is supposed to destroy — -the physical world — attachment to gross the illusionary world which seems so real; the world of the mind — the ahamkara or ego which is a barrier between Me and HIM -–thus transforms to be in the third world that is the world of spirituality –thus leads to oneness Shiva into a single non-dual plane of existence, that is bliss alone.
The trishula in the human body represents three energy channels — Ida, Pingala, and shushmana meet at the brow. Shushmana, the central one, continues upward to the 7th chakra, or energy center, while the other two ends at the brow, there the 6th chakra is located. The trisula’s central point represents Shushmana, and that is why it is longer than the other two, representing Ida and Pingala.
SHIVA HOLDS THE HANDLE means Lord is BEYOND ALL THE TRIGUNAAS means HE is NIRGUN . As a trident symbol represents auspiciousness ….so by praying and giving pure thoughts to the mind with devotion we can be ONE with the lord by balancing our thoughts and actions which can relieve us from Past, present, and future or the agony of birth, life, and death. Thus help us to lead a life of bliss while still being under the protection of the almighty .
