In Hindu mythology, a
lance or pike is one of the most common weapons.
The tri dent (trishul) is the most prominent example of
this, which contains three points, one of which is bigger than the others.
This weapon is most closely connected with Shiva, yet it is
also wielded by some of the Goddess's most formidable manifestations.
This might be a reference to her founding myth, according to
which she was created from the combined radiance of all the gods and got
duplicates of all of their weapons.
The deity Skanda, especially in his southern Indian avatar
as Murugan, is connected with the single-bladed lance.
The lance is commonly referred to as shakti
("power") instead of shula when held by Skanda Murugan.
Discover more about Hindu Art, Architecture, and Iconography here.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
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