I'm not sure that Jagabuwana's questions were focusses on the Durga hilt so much as they are on the blade. We have certainly spent a bit of time on this forum discussing these hilts, but they have always been a bit inconclusive.
More than researching Durga in Hinduism i think perhaps the focus needs to be more specific; that is Durga in Indonesia (and perhaps specifically Jawa and Bali as i don't believe i have seen these Durga hilts from any other areas). Hinduism in the Mojopahit Empire (and subsequently in Bali) has its own unique character. I don't claim to have a complete understanding of it, but think it should be noted that what might be true for Hinduism in India might well be different in Jawa and Bali. Durga certainly went through some changes when she reached what is now Indonesia.
Durga is a diety that has many aspects. Some traditions refer to the Navadurgā (nine forms of Durga). Though even when she has a terrible and destructive aspect i believe the intention was always that those powers were to be used against demonic forces to combat evil. She is also associated with protection, strength and motherhood. So i am not so sure her intention is to scare the little children.
But in Java and Bali, Durga became associated with Calon Arang and the widow Rangda who became a devotee of Durga. The emphasis in this legend is placed upon a more terrible aspect of the goddess. In a sense we see a demonization of the goddess in this case as the witch Rangda becomes not just associated with Durga, but is seen as an aspect of her.
There are at least 135 know statues of Durga erected at temples throughout Indonesia. I find it interesting that none of them represent this "veiled" aspect that appears in this particular hilt form. Nor do these Durga hilts display any of the known attributes or associations that are traditionally connected with Durga. This doesn't mean that these hilts are not meant to depict some aspect of the goddess, but it does raise questions in my mind. I have attached a few statues of Durga. I believe these might all originate in Jawa. I have never seen this "veiled" aspect depicted anywhere else but in these particular keris hilts from Jawa and Bali.
But none of the questions you asked were about the hilt.
* When did Quranic inscriptions start appearing on keris?
Good question that i don't know the answer to beyond, of course, some time after the fall of the Mojopahit. But i must say that i always approach keris with Quranic inscriptions with a skeptical eye. While i am sure such inscription were at times applied legitimately, i have seen many, many more that seem to have been added at some later date to make a keris appear more, rare, sacred, desirable, etc. for the marketplace. I have never thought that was the case with this particular keris however.
* Why do you think we don't see more examples of old keris with overtly
Muslim features given the importance of Islam in the royal courts of Java
Again i do not know for sure. As i just mentioned, i don't believe there are a lot of legitimate old keris with such features on them. The keris was kept and incorporated into Islamic culture relatively unchanged in form. Many aspects of that form have the features of the original Hindu symbolism intact. These aspects (naga, ron dha, etc.) weren't physically changed, though the original philosophies towards them may have been reinterpreted. Perhaps it was just considered such a venerated and sacred object that adding overtly Islamic features was not considered necessary, especially if they could be looked at and become inclusive of Islamic thinking.
* Does anyone know anything more about this specific keris that can be shared? Someone must. LOL! This is an old photograph (turn of the century 1900?) and i don't believe i have ever seen any other photos of it. Does anyone even know where this beautiful keris is today?
* How likely is it that this a well-kept keris buda which had been added to? Well, given the time-frame of the photograph it certainly wasn't added recently. LOL! I suppose it is quite possible it was added after the fact of the original manufacture. Hard to say when that would have been though. You say well kept, which i suppose it is to some extent. But i am not convinced this keris buda was created in the original time-frame for that form. It seems to have a nice old mendak, not the methuk that we would see with original keris buda. I suspect that this keris may well have been created in Islamic Jawa. Exactly when or just how old it was when photographed is an open question.
* Is there anything to be made about this keris, such as if it is one that we would expect to be fine and expensive in its time?
To my non-expert eye this is a finely made, beautifully formed example of this form. I wouldn't image it would have been cheaply made in its time.
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