Dear list members,1) Both Monier-Williams and Apte define pināka as the bow or staff of Shiva but then they both also define it as the trident of Shiva. Though M-W notes the meaning is from the lexicographers and I suspect he is refering to this note in Bohtlink-Roth. Nach den Lexicographen ist pināka m. n. = śūla ( Ak. 3, 4, 1, 14
), = śaṃkarasya śūlam Bhar. zu Ak. Śkdr. = triśūla H. an.
3, 65. Med. k. 119.
1. Can someone clarify the abreviations in the above quote. I'm not a german speaker.
2. Does anyone know any textual references to pināka meaning triśūla of Śiva?
Pīnāka was formerly the three-forked spike of Śiva. Once it fell down from the hands of Śiva and on falling down took the shape of a bow. From then onwards it was used as a bow.
Does anyone know the textual source for this story.