George,
One of my hobbies is to collect keris stories. Compared with my other hobby, to collect keris, It was free of charge. Only need to spend for transportation.
The hobby to collect keris stories, actually, came after. The first is aiming to collect kerises. However, as a university student in Jogjakarta, even to buy a keris which was considered as "beringharjo traditional market class", I had to save 1 or 2 months from my scholarship grant. Then, I modified. Instead of collecting/buying, I went from home to home to gather stories.
The stories have a lot of angels. Some were very interesting. Some were very boring. But, whatever te stories were my commitment was to be a good listener as far as I could. One of side positive impact to be a stories gather. I could map the distibution and the movement of pusakas in my hometown, of course outside Jogja palace. Mr So and So had Kanjeng Kiai Such and Such which based on the legend Kiai Such and Such was used for important mission once upon the time. FUNNY.... I enjoyed it. Another positive impact I always hope, whenever there is a movement keris (considered as pusaka class) and affordable at that moment, I know what should I do.
Logic and Illogic,
Based on tens people I met successfully, they told keris from logical aspects only if considering me as their new acquintance or a stranger. More they talked more they tended to tell something which was illogic aspect of keris. They called that aspect as spiritual, klenik, true-story, macrocosmos, genie, isi et cetera et cetera et cetera. In my conclution was only one: they talked about POWER of KERIS.
I dont know here, in this lovely forum, Keris Waroeng Kopi. Beside of art aspects of Keris, how deep do the members take unspoken consideration of illogical aspect of keris. However, I have never to rise that question since, imho, it is too provocative, isnt it?!
warm salam,
OeS
Romo Somo "zonder mistik, keris is less interesting"
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