The most recognised symbol of Lord Shiva is the Trishula, the trident. The Trishula is such a powerful symbol of the Lord that when one sees the trishula, one thinks of Shiva.

The most recognised symbol of Lord Shiva is the Trishula, the trident. The Trishula is such a powerful symbol of the Lord that when one sees the trishula, one thinks of Shiva. What makes the trident such a potent symbol of God are its three prongs. In Shaivite theology, the entire manifest universe, its quantitative and qualitative nature, as well as the process by which it emerged from the unmanifest Absolute is described in triadic terms. In short, therefore, Shiva holding the trishula symbolizes that the entire triadic universe is held together by the Lord.

🕉 Shul means problems or suffering. Trishul means that which destroys all kind of suffering.
Three types of pain that arise in life: 1. Aadibhautik (physical) 2. Aadhyaatmik (spiritual) and 3. Aadidaivik (ethereal). What relieves you from all the problems and suffering is the Trishula of Shiva.

🕉 Trishul represents the three aspects of consciousness ; waking, dreaming and sleeping. Holding a trishul (Trident) signifies that Shiva is above all the three states ; waking, dreaming and sleeping, yet is the upholder of these three states.

🕉 Lord Shivas Trident in his right hand represents the three Gunas Rajas, Tamas and Sattva. It is considered that he rules the world through these three Gunas. Shiva is beyond the three gunas, but it holds the three gunas together. He wields the world through these three Gunas. They must be under control of human. The material aspect of trishula also represents that until you dont have control over guna, u cant achieve spiritual knowledge.

🕉 When looked upon as a weapon of Shiva, the trishula is said to destroy the three worlds: the physical world, the world of the forefathers (representing culture drawn from the past) and the world of the mind (representing the processes of sensing and acting). The three worlds are supposed to be destroyed by Shiva into a single non-dual plane of existence, that is bliss alone.

🕉 The three prongs of the trishula represent the three Shaktis of Shiva - the Power of will (Iccha), the Power of knowledge (Jnana) and the Power of action (Kriya). It is through progressive expansion of these Shaktis that the Unmanifest impinges into universal experience.

🕉 Trishula represents the three Aspects of the Divine – Paramashiva, Parashakti (Paranada or Shiva Tattva) and Parabindu (Parameshvara or Shakti Tattva). The three Aspects are the very Being (Aham or "I am") of Shiva, His very Self.

🕉 It represents the three great universal acts of creation, sustenance and dissolution. Shiva is the Master and Controller of all three universal acts. It represents The three personified Divinities of creation, sustenance and dissolution known as Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. The three Divinities depicted as separate entities in mythical stories are one and the same with Shiva. He alone creates, sustains and dissolves the universe.

🕉 it represents the three syllables of Omkara: A (akara), U (ukara) and M (makara). The Omkara is the primal sound, the Word of God, which gave birth to entire universe. Due to this Shiva is also called the Lord of Omkara (Omkareshvara).

🕉 Trishula represents the three impurities - anava, karma and maya - which keep the individual in a feeling that he is separate from Shiva. Shiva is the Ruler over these three impurities, and alone by the descent of His grace can one work through these impurities to realize Him.

🕉 it represents The three essences - Pati, pashu and pasha - which make up the trichotomy of existence. The trichotomy of all existence is held together within Shiva and in Him all three are realized as inseparable from one another.