Sambodhi 2011 Vol 34

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 20

M. A. Dhaky
SAMBODHI
NOTES 1. Śūla actually means 'spear', but if not infrequently stands for 'trident.' 2. Of course, the Greek oceanic deity Poseidon also carries the trident weapon. His Indian
counterpart-Varuņa-carries pāśa. 3. Śiva usually is represented the 'linga', but in his rather rare figural representation often
two armed, his right arm carries trident. In his Javanese representation he also carries
câmara, the signification of which is not clear. 4. In the Sunga terracotta figurines of the famous primordial Durgā from Tāmralipti and
the like. The Buddhist triratna symbol has been time and again suggested as precursor of the trident, which may not perhaps be in fact. The trident-like head wear noticeable on Indus seals figures possibly signifying divinity figures (including the one generally identified as Siva Pasupati) is sometimes alluded to as the plausible forerunner of trident.
The subject needs a separate, long and patient inquiry. 5. Those carried by the two Śivaite dvărapālas in the door frame of the Pārvati temple at
Nächnā Kuthārā in Madhya Pradesh, and some other stray sculptures: (cf. here fig. 4). See C. Sivaramamurti, p. 53, fig. 34. In the medieval period one often encounters good examples such as here illustrated in fig. 5. A paper entitled "Forms of the Trident in Indian Iconography" had been planned and the tracings were made for the proposed Bulletin of the Department of Archaeology, Government of Gujarat, which, however, never materialized. Karņātadeśa, by virtue of its geographical position and historical associations, knew Deccan (lower Maharastra ) and lower Central India fairly intimately and the Deccani as well as Central Indian influences have time and again trickled down to Karnāta country. The earlier trident forms in the Karnātan imagery is akin more to Northern than to Tamilian: (cf. Sivaramamurti, figs. 33 and 34). The Tamilian types are crescent or horn shaped. The Karnātan is a variation of the usual wavy pronged type of the North. More will be said about the truly southern i. e., Tamilian types as the discussion
progresses. 9. Discussion on this I reserve for the second paper. 10. Gaekwad's Oriental Series, No. CXV, Ed. Popatbhai Ambashankar Mankad, Baroda 1950. 11. Pratisthalaksanasamuccaya, pt L. Ed. Damodar Sharma, Nepal V. S. 2023. The evidence
concerning its date is rather conflicting. I am discussing it in a separate paper. 12. Unpublished. I consulted a transcript of mss. (R. 16784) in the Government Oriental
Manusciipts Library, Madras of the selfsame work. 13. My paper discussing the date of its chapters concerning architecture is in press. 14. The older parts contrast sharply with the later additions both in language and content
even though the general form for the added chapters has been outwardly brought in line with the older. The formal relationship between Kulisa and trident will be clarified in the discussion to follow.