Following the revival of religious tattoos, many people opt to get a ‘Trishul’ tattoo. No Lord Shiva image is complete without his favored weapon. When people think of Him, the immediate next link is about his preferred weapon. The Trishul embodies Hindu mythology's holy trinity: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. Now, what exactly is this divine weapon, and why are many people choosing to get a tattoo of it?
The ‘Trishul’ is the divine weapon of Lord Shiva, one of Hindu mythology's three primary deities. This weapon is also said to be one of the many weapons wielded by Goddess Durga. The origin of the word is from the Sanskrit language, from त्रि, meaning ‘three,’ and शूल, meaning ‘a sharp iron pin or stake.’ Lord Shiva is said to use this weapon to defeat evil, usually in the form of demons or ‘asuras.’ The three blades also signify the three Gunas – ‘Rajas, Tamas, and Sattva’ as well as ‘Swarga, Bhumi, and Pataal,’ i.e., heaven, earth, and the underworld. The Trishul tattoo is famous with followers of Shaivism.
The Trishul is a symbol of power; hence many people tend to have it on their bodies to show their power or control over their own lives. It can also be used as a symbol of protection, as the gods used the original Trishul to protect their followers from evil. Some people believe in this weapon as a symbol to ward off evil and temptation from their lives and keep them on the path of good and righteousness. Tattoo lovers could use it to show off one’s love for the open and mysterious seas. Women tend to portray this symbol as the favored weapon of Goddess Durga or a portrayal of their innate strength and power.
An occidental representation of the trident incorporates the definition as death or the realization of one’s mortality, and tattoo-ic portraiture often includes a skull and bones. This interpretation shows that the wearer is aware of their mortality and has accepted it. This weapon is also called a trident and is found in Greek mythology as the favored weapon of the God of the seas, Poseidon, or his Roman counterpart Neptune. The weapon has three prongs, joined in the middle by a staff, which extends downwards and is used as a handle by the user.
Tattoo and Trishul fans tend to place this image on their arms or legs, as it is a small and long design and does not take much space. This tattoo can be created small enough to be placed on one’s finger too. People who have served in the navy or have worked in the maritime industry tend to illustrate this image with waves and sea animals, and if they want to relate it to Poseidon. On the other hand, some also prefer to depict it in the hands of one of the most feared and revered gods in Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva. Such tattoos would be more prominent; hence they are usually placed on the back or sleeve.
Trishul tattoos are rarely rendered without another one of Lord Shiva’s favored instruments, albeit not of destruction but rather of music, the ‘damru’ or the drum. Some tend to include related Sanskrit mantras like the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra or ‘Om Namah Shivaya.’ Depictions of the Trishul and its famous bearer can have various ‘avatars,’ such as Nataraja, to show his love of dance; Ardhanareshwara manifests the unique amalgamations of the masculine and feminine energies with his consort Parvati; Rudra, the embodiment of destruction; and many others. Photorealistic portrayals attempt to reproduce the weapon as realistically as possible, hence recreating God's fierce aura. Double exposure interpretations create an effect of an image inside the other, which is also used many times for a Trishul tattoo.
People tend to hesitate to depict gods as tattoos on their bodies, but there won’t be any karmic repercussions if one does. It is merely an illustration of one’s devotion and faith, and they can choose; however, they want the world to know about it through self-expression. Some people and religions believe that the human body is a temple and should not be defiled, but Hinduism has no such beliefs. Thus people are free to tattoo Hindu religious and mythological symbols to their skin’s content.
Trishul tattoos are one of the foremost and popular tattoos in the religious tattoos topic. One can select many religious designs and some Lord Shiva tattoos to be featured in it. If you would like to make your unique Trishul tattoo, you can also consult our artists by contacting us on the Aliens Tattoo Studio website or visiting your nearest Aliens Tattoo branch for a free consultation.
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