Trisula (Trishula, Trident of Shiva)

Trisula means “trident.” The Trisula (or, trishula) is the three-pronged sacred weapon of the Hindu deity Shiva. In a general sense, the trisula represents the deity in his three aspects of Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer. The symbolism od the trisula is similar to that of the Buddhist triratna; its three prongs represent the various triplicities in Shaivism (Shiva worship), including the three principles of pasa (Lordship, the divinity of Shiva), pasu (man’s base animal nature), and pasa (bondage, including illusion and karmic debt) central to Shaivite doctrine. The three also represent the three shaktis (powers): will, action, and wisdom, and the three main nadis (energy channels) ida, pingala, and shushumna, which allow kundalini energy to travel through the chakras. In Buddhism, the trisula is usually found atop the dharmachakra, rather than a lance, and has the same meaning as the triratna.
 

Hindu deity Shiva with Trisula