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"The above-discussed trident has only an axle
and three powers (i.e. points). He who, o, Goddess, does not knows this
trident of power made as it was shown, accompanying it by the 'ethereal
mudra, he does not rise from the ground. Such a trident is a divine
one" (MV, VIII, 81-82b). Besides this kind of trident there are also
two others: a "powerful" trident and that named "particular". It is
obvious that each means of self-realization has its own trident and
consequently, its own mandala.
The manner of outlining mandala and mainly its
square, differs from text to text. I have presented in the nearby
drawings three such possibilities practiced by Saiva schools (v.Fig. 3&4).
It is necessary to outline with exactitude a mandala because its square
is the center of the world or, more accurately, the center of all the
worlds, a common place where the levels of existent meet simultaneously.
For the Saivite, a mandala is the universe in its process of emanation
and reabsorption. When the tantrika stands in the center of it, he
identifies himself with the forces that govern the universe and collects
their thaumaturgical and mystic powers within himself.
To the same end, the Saiva tantrika will employ
a vase, a round receptacle which has a more ancient source than tantra
itself and which was not abandoned even when the theory of the mandala
was elaborated in all its details and in a definitive manner. After a
certain time a syncretic sadhana appears where the use of vases is mixed
with mandala practice. Thus five vases are placed in the five sectors
of the mandala, one in the middle and one on each of the four sides.