Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

VVV · 10th December 2006, 08:12 PM

Jens and Rick,

You often see this triangular dot pattern on Sumatran weapons too.

I am also guessing but I think it represents Mata Shiva, the 3 eyes of Shiva (2 regular horisontal eyes and one eye above in the forehead).
Maybe combined with the Lingam?
A triangle pointing up is a Hindu symbol of the Lingam (down is of course Yoni).
In the case you describe the Shivaistic male forces of the Lingam is pointing towards the enemy.
But because of the dots, instead of the fully drawn triangle, I think the main meaning is Mata Shiva and the secondary meaning is the Lingam.

Some other explanations could be the trinity of the main gods, as you suggest.
Mahadeva in which the three gods of the Trimurti are all seen as aspects of Shiva.
And then we have f.i. the three aspects of creation, preservation and destruction.

Michael

10th December 2006, 08:12 PM	#18
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Jens and Rick, You often see this triangular dot pattern on Sumatran weapons too. I am also guessing but I think it represents Mata Shiva, the 3 eyes of Shiva (2 regular horisontal eyes and one eye above in the forehead). Maybe combined with the Lingam? A triangle pointing up is a Hindu symbol of the Lingam (down is of course Yoni). In the case you describe the Shivaistic male forces of the Lingam is pointing towards the enemy. But because of the dots, instead of the fully drawn triangle, I think the main meaning is Mata Shiva and the secondary meaning is the Lingam. Some other explanations could be the trinity of the main gods, as you suggest. Mahadeva in which the three gods of the Trimurti are all seen as aspects of Shiva. And then we have f.i. the three aspects of creation, preservation and destruction. Michael Last edited by VVV; 10th December 2006 at 09:01 PM. Reason: added alternative explanations